10th World Water Forum

The 2024 World Water Forum (10^th WWF)—under the theme of Water for Shared Prosperity—is jointly organized by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the World Water Council. The Forum is the world's largest event on water organized, since 1997, every three years with a different host country. The Forum provides a unique platform for the water community and key decision-makers to collaborate and make long-term progress commitments on global water challenges to provide clean and fair water for all.

The Forum’s raison d'être is to bring together participants from all levels and areas, including political actors, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society, and the private sector, among others. Over the years, the number of people participating in the Forum has grown from a few hundred to tens of thousands, from both the international community and host countries.

This year’s theme emphasizes the need to work together to promote efficient and integrated water resources management to common prosperity. The 10^th WWF’s six subthemes are: Water Security and Prosperity; Water for Humans and Nature; Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; Governance, Cooperation and Hydro-diplomacy; Sustainable Water Finance; and Knowledge and Innovation. This year, the Forum is expected to host 350 sessions, and receive 100,000 participants and visitors, 56 ministers, 12 heads of state, and about 2,000 journalists.

Monday, May 20

HIGH LEVEL PANEL
Paddies for the Planet and People
Time (Bali): 16:40-18:10
Location: BNDCC 1, MEZZANINE FLOOR, KINTAMANI 6

Global agriculture is entering a transformative era. Small and marginal farmers who operate from over 80% of the world’s farms must cope with a host of risks such as depleting inputs for production, extreme and erratic climate, and market volatility. While they must produce more in the context of these dwindling resources and increasing risks, scientists say that some of the world's most important crops including rice, will contain fewer crucial nutrients when they grow in such an environment.

Rice production presents often overlooked opportunities for mitigating Green House Gas (GHG) emissions, while also attaining increased production, savings in water consumption, and health benefits. Improved technologies for rice production are well known, but their implementation will require bold action. This will include simultaneously mobilizing many millions of farmers, along with private sector and government actors, through restructuring the relevant policy, financing instruments, available technology, and learning methods – all as part of an overarching and ambitious transformation agenda.

Bringing together senior political and government leadership along with private sector and development partners, this 90-minute session will put a spotlight on creating a consensus to prioritize the adoption of low-methane rice cultivation by weighing the pros and cons of the practice. Efficient irrigation management offers new opportunities to discuss new ways to carry out irrigation practices; and showcase perspectives on innovations and financing (water, irrigation, carbon).

Tuesday, May 21
HIGH LEVEL PANEL Water for Shared Prosperity: Quiescent or Jump Through Hoops? Time (Bali): 10:20-11:50 Location: BICC, 1st FLOOR, NUSANTARA 2
The Government of Indonesia and the World Bank’s Water Global Practice will be presenting their joint publication on “Water for Shared Prosperity”. The global scope of the flagship report provides the evidence needed to promote and coordinate active international dialogues and actions to address pressing water challenges affecting all countries. The intention of this high-level session is to exchange experiences, share success stories, and strategically discuss transformative approaches of the water sector. The forum will be the setting to deliver ideas for policy makers worldwide to raise more awareness about the economic, social, and environmental implications of the water crisis. The policy dialogue will further help justify an unprecedented mobilization of financial resources needed in the sector, as well as promote more cooperation and coordination within and between countries, placing water at the forefront of human prosperity. Panelists include the World Bank Group leadership, Ministers of Finance and of Water, private sector executives, and other high-level industry experts.

Wednesday, May 22

Water Knowledge Exchange
Reducing Non-Revenue Water
Time: 10:30-11:15
Location: World Bank Group Booth - BNDCC 2, Pecatu Hall, PC05

Managing water losses is a major topic of concern for many water utilities. This session will focus on best practices for Non-Revenue Water management. It will also feature the support of the WB for NRW projects and initiatives, including different ways of mobilizing private sector participation.

Water Knowledge Exchange
An EPIC Response: Innovative Governance for Flood and Drought Management
Time: 15:00-15:45
Location: World Bank Group Booth - BNDCC 2, Pecatu Hall, PC05

The management of floods and droughts is often fragmented among different government agencies. The discussion will focus on a recently published a World Bank flagship report which provides a framework for assessing the performance of hydro-climatic governance systems. The framework provides guidance on a joined-up government approach, a whole of society effort, and managing floods and droughts synergistically.

Too much, too little, too polluted – Water security in the context of establishing resilience and livable cities
Time (Bali): 13:00-14:30
Location: BNDCC 1, MEZZANINE FLOOR, KINTAMANI 7

This session will highlight and emphasize the importance of linking/incorporating full urban water cycle management (from abstraction to wastewater disposal) in city/spatial planning towards climate resilience and livable cities. Through a moderated panel discussion showcasing examples from the different cities, the session will provide delegations with knowledge, best practices, and tools to improve water security in cities.

Thursday, May 23

Water Knowledge Exchange
Groundwater for Shared Prosperity and Climate Adaptation
Time (Bali): 9:00-9:45
Location: World Bank Group Booth - BNDCC 2, Pecatu Hall, PC05

Groundwater is one of our most important freshwater resources. Yet, it has been undervalued and overexploited in no small part due to the lack of systematic analysis of its economic importance, which has kept the issue mostly hidden from policymakers and citizens. Groundwater is key to shared prosperity and will be critical to climate change adaptation. The discussion proposes to engage with the audience on the new data and evidence from the World Bank recent flagship on the economics of groundwater (the Hidden Wealth of Nations) that advances the understanding of the value of groundwater, the costs of mismanagement, and the opportunities to leverage its potential.

Special Session
Water for Shared Prosperity Book Discussion
Time (Bali): 10:00-11:30
Location: BNDCC 2, GROUND FLOOR, PECATU 5

The Water for Shared Prosperity report explores the connection between water, economic growth, and shared prosperity. It highlights the global inequalities in water access and recommends pro-poor and inclusive interventions to improve water security and strengthen climate resilience while reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity. The session will consist of the report presentation followed by a discussion in English and Indonesian.

Friday, May 24

Water Knowledge Exchange
Innovations in Performance-based Irrigation Management
Time (Bali): 10:30-11:15
Location: World Bank Group Booth - BNDCC 2, Pecatu Hall, PC05

This session will discuss governance and service delivery in irrigation. Reliable irrigation services are critical for agricultural intensification and diversification, producing for markets and increasing farmers’ incomes. Recent developments in remote sensing have triggered a quantum leap in the accuracy of monitoring of irrigation performance, and have brought performance-based irrigation management contracts within reach. This session will discuss these developments and will present the findings of a pilot performance assessment that has been conducted in the Jatiluhur irrigation system in West Java.

10th World Water Forum

Monday, May 20

Tuesday, May 21

Wednesday, May 22

Thursday, May 23

Friday, May 24

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