4,200 participants from 140 countries joined the 6th G-STIC (Global Sustainable Technology & Innovation Community) conference in Rio de Janeiro 

The focus of this conference went beyond the importance of mainstream science, technology and innovation to accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. It also showcased social technologies and citizen science as tools to manage the most pressing global challenges. 

Over 250 speakers shared their knowledge and insights into policies and technological solutions for attaining the SDGs during 46 sessions on climate, oceans, energy, health, water, education, biodiversity, and more. 

The water team did organize 4 sessions on water: a Special Session on the Water-Food-Energy Nexus, a deep dive on Sustainable WASH in peri-urban and rural areas, a deep dive on Risks to the health of pollutants and emerging contaminants in water, and last but not least a Plenary Session on Institutional and economic barriers to access WASH (SDGs 6.1 & 6.2). In the Plenary panel session the Water4All partnership was being presented by Antonio Lo Porto of CNR (Italy) and Katrien Van Hooydonk of VITO (Belgium), with a particular focus on the internationalization of the ambitious partnership.  

Plenary Session on Institutional and economic barriers to access WASH (SDGs 6.1 & 6.2) 

The World Health Organization Joint Monitoring Programme estimates that more than 700 million people, primarily from the most vulnerable and poor communities, still lack basic access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1 (universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water) and SDG 6.2 (access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene) were created precisely to help tackle this daunting problem. 

The main bottleneck in the provision of WASH is the large capital investment needed for infrastructure, operations, and maintenance, which is why transparent financing and governance practices must go hand-in-hand in such projects. Subsidization and tariffication are two strategies currently used by some developing countries where, despite the reluctance to pay, there are clear social benefits. Ideally, effective policy making concerning WASH should be coordinated with local knowledge, especially in rural and remote areas where decentralized systems are often the only feasible solution. 

Better integration of research and innovation in this field and governance decision-making remains a challenge but valuable information can be gained by sharing the lessons learned from other examples of WASH projects around the world. During this session, the panel of experts will discuss ways to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water (SDG 6.1) and access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all (SDG 6.2). They will look at the possibilities to provide a platform for youth representatives to highlight the human right to access WASH and propose strategies for international cooperation and partnerships to accelerate the realization of SDG 6. 

António Lo Porto & Katrien Van Hooydonk did present the Water4All Partnership to 150 participants (onsite & online). Water4All aims to promote international partnerships to accelerate the achievement of SDG6. The aims are the development of the international strategy on R&I in the water sector, and the search for opportunities to enlarge cooperation with new partners around the globe. 

In a nutshell Water4all brings 79 partners together from 23 Eu member states and 8 non-European states. The partnership started in June last year and will last until 2031, the actual two year grant agreement has a budget of 86 Million euros, but the idea is to mobilize up to 420 M euros in this decade.  

Water4all is NOT a new story, it builts further on more than 2 years of intensive work of the consortium and on previous initiatives (Water JPI, EIP Water, Water Europe Technology Platform,...) 

But it is a  new and ambitious opportunity to work together and to have more and more impact (end-users, economy, citizens...). The aims are the development of the international strategy on R&I in the water sector, and the search for opportunities to enlarge cooperation with new partners around the globe.  

The consortium is open to new partners. There is a possibility to engage as an observing partner and apply to the yearly calls or joining networking events. In the internationalization the aim is to increase view on existing agreements and to increase the amount of qualitative memorandum of understanding to support the achievement of the SDGs and to enhance international cooperation. The Water4all partnership did start in June 2022, so we do not dare to give too many results yet, but the impact will be monitored and communicated frequently.  

Keynote remarks  

• Technology and innovation is key in assuring human right to WASH as innovation doesn’t need to be technological, also innovation in management, as for instance community-based management need to be considered.  

• Digital services can provide a large step forward in the provision of basic services in Wash in marginalised and vulnerable communities.  

• G-Stic Rio is stepping stone towards the UN Water Conference, March 2023.  

Review the full session: G-STIC Conference 2023: Plenary session: Human right to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) – Barriers and solutions on Vimeo