WaterSan Perspective
May 26, 2013
Water users, development practitioners, researchers, policy makers, water professionals and capacity development specialists from across the world are converging in Delft, The Netherlands this week, for the 5th Delft Symposium on Water Sector Capacity Development.
In the face of rising challenges for, and mixed experiences with, water sector capacity development, the primary aim of the 5th Delft Symposium is to address who is taking the lead in knowledge and capacity development across sectors, disciplines and other boundaries so they can be leveraged to become more effective and efficient.
The challenges, current realities and new opportunities for knowledge and capacity development in the water sector will be discussed during this international forum. The outcomes will make significant contributions to the debate on water-related Sustainable Development Goals.
The Symposium is being organized by UNESCO-IHE in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank, Cap-Net UNDP, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The Netherlands and Vitens-Evides International.
In his welcome remarks, Professor A. Szöllösi-Nagy- Rector, UNESCO-IHE Institute for
Water Education says, “capacity development is more relevant than ever before if we are to avoid the same pitfalls in setting sustainable development goals beyond 2015.”
“The Symposium is meant as a contribution to the ongoing world-wide discussion concerning the development of a new set of goals, the so-called Sustainable Development Goals, beyond 2015 for the water and sanitation sector. It is, therefore, a contribution to the Budapest Water Summit, the IWA Development Congress and the process of the Seventh World Water Forum to be held in Daegu, Republic of Korea.”
According to the Symposium Organizing Committee, each Symposium day of the symposium will focus on a different theme.
On 29 May, the challenges for water sector capacity development will be discussed, followed by panel discussions and parallel sessions on 30 May when experiences are shared on leadership in knowledge and capacity development in the water sector. The last day of the Symposium focuses on innovation and new opportunities for capacity development.
Prior to the Symposium, on 27 and 28 May, an Expert Workshop takes place at UNESCO-IHE. Almost 50 experts from all over the world will share their knowledge and experiences on critical issues that need to be addressed to make knowledge and capacity development in the water sector more effective and efficient. Outcomes of the workshop will feed into selected Symposium sessions.
