WASAG at the 2019 Stockholm World Water Week
The World Water Week in Stockholm is the annual focal point for the globe’s water issues. It is organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). This year, the theme was “Water for society: Including all”. Since its establishment in April 2017, WASAG has consistently participated in the Stockholm World Water Week, first with a showcase event in August 2017, followed by four technical sessions in 2018. This year, the WASAG partners hosted the following events:
- Monday 26 August | 14.00-15.30 - Water, migration and rural development: from knowledge to action (Water and Migration)
- Tuesday 27 August | 09.00-10.30 - The multiple bridges connecting the water-nutrition divide: what’s new? (Water and Nutrition)
- Tuesday 27 August | 14.00-15.30 - A big push for drought resilience–can it include all? (Drought Preparedness)
- Tuesday 27 August | 14.00-15.30 - WASAG - Focus on Cabo Verde and on innovative financing (Showcase Event on Cabo Verde)
- Wednesday 28 August | 13.30-15.30 - Meeting of the Partners of WASAG
- “While we recognize the key role of irrigation, we cannot underestimate the potential of rainfed agriculture. A high percentage of African farmers rely on rain fed agriculture, we need to focus on improving the soil moisture retention of their farms.” - Dr. Marlos De Souza, Senior Officer, FAO; panel discussion of the WASAG session on Water and Nutrition
The 2019 Stockholm World Water Week provided a unique forum and opportunity for existing and prospective new WASAG partners to network. With its Partners Meeting and its four sessions, commitments were strengthened to further collaborate in the context of WASAG.
This year also showed great progress for WASAG. During the 2017 WWW, the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture hosted only one showcase event. In 2018, WASAG held four events, all submitted and funded by FAO. This year, WASAG partners submitted and co-funded their respective sessions at the 2019 Stockholm WWW, demonstrating their commitment to address water scarcity in agriculture in the context of WASAG.
The WASAG activities during the World Water Week were a step towards translating into action the 17 commitments taken during the First WASAG International Forum in Praia, Cabo Verde in March 2019.