Indonesia will focus on six key issues for the 10th World Water Forum (WWF), jointly organised by international think tank World Water Council and Indonesia. It is set to take place from 18-24 May 2024 in Bali. Speaking at the WWF kick-off meeting in Jakarta, vice-chairman of the WWF national organising committee, Basuki Hadimuljono, framed the agenda which will guide discussions over the next 15 months.
Hadimuljono, who also serves as Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), said that the major water resource problems were water for humans and nature, water security and prosperity, disaster risk reduction and management, cooperation and hydro-diplomacy, water and innovative finance, as well as knowledge and innovation.
Measured discussion of these issues will be conducted through political, thematic, and regional processes, necessitating deliberation to find solutions, innovation, and implementation of action plans. The Indonesian government will promote the WWF agenda at the UN Water Conference in New York City from 22-24 March 2023.
President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated his expectation that the 10th WWF yield concrete recommendations on overcoming the global water crisis: “These agendas must be addressed as joint efforts, through community participation and support from various stakeholders, as well as dialogue and partnerships between countries in the spirit of togetherness for the welfare of the global community.”
The president of World Water Council, Loic Fauchon said: “Together, while coordinating implementation of the 10th WWF, we will strive to provide new solutions, which will help to increase the access to water for billions of people.”
As a cross-border event that discusses water resources issues, WWF serves as a forum for sharing experiences and innovations to respond to global water management challenges. Indonesia has formed the national organising committee for the 10th WWF, comprising various ministries and supported by specialists and professors in the field of water-related issues from Indonesian universities.
The kick-off meeting which was also the first stakeholders meeting was attended by 1,300 delegates from 56 countries. It aimed to provide information to mobilise stakeholders in the WWF process until the forum launches next year. The event will continue with regular pre-summit discussions and workshops to set the stage for the 10th WWF.
