Water is vital as a basic human need; a necessity for survival and central to enhancing the health, productivity and quality of life in both rural and urban areas. It is a fundamental part of all ecosystems, and a requirement for the integrity and sustainability of the environment.
Water is also an essential factor in all sectors of economic and social development, as it is a necessary input for all types of economic activity and livelihood practices. Adequate, reliable water availability is a prerequisite for investment, growth and poverty alleviation.
The allocation of water across different uses, and the policies and practices that are used to manage, deliver and finance water, create incentives and disincentives for specific economic activities in particular geographical areas. These incentives influence the structure of the economy, reinforce and induce specific spatial patterns of growth, which, in turn, have an overall impact on national development paths, local economic growth, distributive equity and environmental transformation.
These broad ranging impacts of water resources development and management, and the value of the contribution of water to all aspects of development and specially in the improvement of the quality of life of the less affluent populations, should be recognized not only by Water Ministers, but demonstrated especially to Ministers of Finance, and indeed the whole of government.
Primary Discussion Aspects
Inputs sought for local actions -already underway or planned- comprising the following aspects:
The understanding of the contribution of water (i.e. domestic and industrial water supply, energy generation, irrigation and drainage, flood protection, navigation, recreation energy, etc.) to national, regional and local economic and social development.
The levels of investment in water infrastructure needed to trigger and sustain social and economic development; examples of investment initiatives orientated to have an effect on poverty alleviation.
The trade-offs between ecological and socio-economic variables (ex-ante) in decision making for water related projects.
Analysis and examples of local initiatives aimed at the efficient allocation of investments in water versus other policy sectors.
Actions aimed at convincing politicians, parliamentarians and local authorities of the need to give priority to investments in water resources development.
Local initiatives aimed at the efficient and conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources.
Narratives -from the end users' perspective- on the impact of international cooperation in water related local and regional development.
Last update: February 9, 2010
4th World Water Forum, Mexico City, March 16-22, 2006
Water is vital as a basic human need; a necessity for survival and central to enhancing the health, productivity and quality of life in both rural and urban areas. It is a fundamental part of all ecosystems, and a requirement for the integrity and sustainability of the environment.
