The World Water Forum punctuates the international calendar every three years as one of the largest gatherings of water-related multi-stakeholders. The Water4All Partnership was present in the 10th World Water Forum, which took place on 20-25 May 2024 in Bali, Indonesia, counting with 20.000 delegates from 160 different countries, 254 exhibition fairs, and 64.000 participants. The main theme was ‘Water for Shared Prosperity’, one-in-sync with Water4All’s motto ‘Water security for the Planet’.

For the main programme, Water4All organized two Thematic Sessions and one High-Level Panel Session under Topic 6 ‘Knowledge & Innovation’ coordinated by UNESCO:

• T6D2 ‘Boosting data sharing and governance’ & HLP20 ‘Water information systems’, facilitated by Henrik Dissing (DMP), reflected on the importance of sharing data and the need for a data management strategy as a lever for research to deliver relevant outputs for end-users in the water sector.
• T6A3 ‘Methods and tools for measuring and improving Smart Water Management Capabilities’, facilitated by Katrien Van Hooydonk (VITO), highlighted the advances in the field and the urgency to include a holistic perspective reflecting on economic, policy and human factors. A big focus was put on inclusive and participatory approaches, with the involvement of local voices, by inviting a local Balinese farmer on stage.

But that was not all! Jointly with the European Commission, Water4All hosted a pavilion at the exhibition fair. This was a place for all partners to meet, network, exchange ideas and enhance further collaboration.

The pavilion counted with several side-events throughout the entire week:

• Launch of the Water4All Partnership presentation video.
• EU project SD-WISHEES workshop on the linkage between extreme water events and the effects on our cultural heritage, including the importance of indigenous and ancestral knowledge for climate adaptation.
• Human Right 2 Water workshop on water policies to support investments in humans and in nature.
• Presentation of the Water4All Partnership with the participation of the CEO Ariane Blum and the Chair Bjorn Jensen, together with DG Henriette Faergemann, from the European Commission delegation in Indonesia.
• Presentation of Water4All’s Strategic & Research Agenda (Pillar A), as well as the Data Sharing Strategy (Pillar C), and the International Strategy (Pillar E).
• Launching of the Water-Oriented Living Labs Atlas (Pillar D) facilitated by Water Europe, and with the participation of two of the WoLLs: Lisbon Water Smart Living Lab (Helena Alegre, LNEC) and WaterClimateHub (Inge Genné, VITO).
• Signature of the MoU agreement between CNR and INRH, the Cuban Hydraulic Resources Institute, enabling Cuba to join the Partnership as Observing Partner.
• Lake Tanganyika Dynamics session in collaboration with DG Intpa, JRC, Enabel and VITO, as an excellent example of transboundary cooperation, counting with the presence of the local administrative body from Africa, the Lake Tanganyika Authority.

Once again, the World Water Forum proves to be a relevant stage, where the ‘water talks’ come to action! Water4All would like to acknowledge and recognize the efforts from all partners that were involved in the organization and that attended the Forum. The next edition ‘Action for a Better Future’ will take place in 2027 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Find more about concrete deliverables and actions from the official ministerial declaration at: outcomes | 10th World Water Forum 2024