UN 2023 Water Conference – Side Event

Water Security for All – A powerful partnership to ensure all children have access to sustainable, climate resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030

Date and Time: Thursday 23^rd March 5:00 – 6:15 PM EST – followed by reception

Location: in person and live streamed, Danny Kaye Hall, UNICEF House, 3 UN Plaza, New York, 10017

 

Event Description

This high-level event will highlight the unprecedented water scarcity crises with 1.42 billion people, including 450 million children who live in areas of high-water vulnerability. The current situation will be further compounded by the climate crisis, with an estimated half of the world population expected to be living in water-stressed conditions by 2023. These shortcomings have devastating impacts on children. Every day, over 1,000 children under age 5 die from diseases linked to unsafe water, sanitation, and poor hygiene. But with urgent action this crisis can be addressed. 

UNICEF’s ED Catherine Russell and Goodwill Ambassador Vanessa Nakate will be joined by senior representatives from government and business to discuss how to urgently reimagine our approach to water: from water resources availability, supply to usage, infrastructure, governance, and sustainable management and encompassing an increased push to climate resilient water and sanitation and strengthening WASH nexus programing across development, humanitarian and peace building.  The session will launch the Call to Action for “Water Security for All” calling for innovations and partnerships to accelerate sector reforms in 65 priority countries and reach the unreachable facing severe water insecurity.  

 

Agenda

Welcome - Event Moderator (UNICEF - Naysan Sahba - Global Communication Director)

 

Insights from UNICEF’s Good will Ambassador Vanessa Nakate

• What is the challenge? Insights from visit to regions affected by water scarcity and the climate-induced water crisis.

 

Opening remarks on the water crises

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• Statement on the worsening situation of the water crisis and call for a swift and bolder action to address it (Madagascar – H.E. Fidiniavo Ravokatra – Minister of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene)
• Statement on the worsening situation of the water crisis and call for a swift and bolder action to address it (Denmark, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations, Ambassador Martin Bille Hermann)
• Statement on the worsening situation of the water crisis and call for a swift and bolder action to address it (Colombia – H. E. Catalina Velasco Campuzano – Minister of Housing, City and Territory)
• Remarks on UNICEF’s commitment to water security and a holistic approach to Water Sanitation and Hygiene and presents UNICEF’s Water Security for All initiative (UNICEF’s ED Catherine Russell)

 

Panel discussion: What progress are we having in addressing the water security crisis? The importance of collaboration to achieve scale.

The panel will present success stories in addressing the water security crisis, including examples of new collaborations to achieve scale.

Panelists:

• Germany, BMZ - Germany KFW/BMZ: Bernd Schönewald, Senior Sector Economist, Water and Sanitation
• EU, DG INTPA - Marjeta Jager - Deputy Director General
• Xylem - Albert Cho - Senior Vice President
• Grundfos - Poul Due Jensen - CEO  
• UNILEVER - Rebecca Marmot - Chief Sustainability Office
• SWA - Catarina de Albuquerque - CEO

 

Closing remarks, thanks to supporters and partners, and further call to action 

• Closing remarks on importance of collaboration between private and public sector to address water security and the impact of climate change (UN Water – Johannes Cullmann - Vice-Chair)
• Signing ceremony for a new collaboration between DG INTPA, UNICEF, SWA, and UN Water