| Issue 18. 8 November 2013 | www.un.org/waterforlifedecade |
| This week in focus | Editor’s note
Welcome to the Decade’s Weekly! Every week it brings you the latest news from the International Decade for Action ’Water for Life’ 2005-2015. Please feel free to forward this newsletter. You can also access this newsletter online. Tip of the week
In Africa, 90% of the work of gathering water and wood, for the household and for food preparation, is done by women. Providing access to clean water close to the home can dramatically reduce women’s workloads, and free up time for other economic activities. For their daughters, this time can be used to attend school. >> Visit the gender and water section on the Water for Life Decade’s website |
| #Water&Energy Save the date! 2014 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. Preparing for World Water Day 2014: Water and Energy
Date: 13-16 January 2014 Water and energy (W&E) are closely interlinked and interdependent. W&E inter-linkages have an important role in the post-2015 agenda and the conceptualization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are indeed some main challenges, interconnections and opportunities for realizing synergies and benefits from joint responses on the water and energy nexus, including for the design of climate resilience and green economies. Partnerships amongst institutions, agencies and stakeholders can help in achieving some of these benefits. The UN-Water Annual Zaragoza Conferences serve UN-Water to prepare for World Water Day. This conference is part of the road map for World Water Day 2014 focused on the nexus of water and energy. The conference will analyze the commonalities and differences on the water and energy sectors and the advantages and disadvantages of partnerships. The Conference aims to draw lessons on what are the factors that make successful partnerships in water and energy, the role of different actors and how to scale up partnerships. |
| In the news | Forthcoming events |
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#Women
Empowering women to manage natural resources vital for conflict recovery
Giving women access to and control of natural resources such as land, water, forests and minerals is essential to ensure war-torn countries can achieve long-term peace, according to a United Nations report released on 6 November. The report, Women and natural resources: Unlocking the peacebuilding potential, states that while women in conflict-affected countries are often primarily responsible for meeting the water, food and energy needs of households and communities, they are largely excluded from owning land, benefiting from resource wealth, or participating in decisions about resource management.
The 2013 International Hydrology Prize has been awarded to Professor Günther Blöschl of the Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien) in Austria in recognition of his pioneering work on linking patterns and processes in catchment hydrology and for his inspirational leadership in advancing Predictions in Ungauged Basins (PUB). The International Hydrology Prize is awarded annually on an individual basis in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the science. The Committee consists of the President and a Vice-President of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and representatives of UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).
Member States must ensure that the post-2015 development agenda addresses inequalities that prevent millions of people from getting access to basic services, various United Nations entities stressed on 30 October. In a joint statement, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Friends of Water, and the Special Rapporteur on the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, urged countries to frame the new development agenda around the principles of equality and non-discrimination. |
#Sanitation
World Toilet Day
Date: 19 November 2013 This international day of action aims to break the taboo around toilets and draw attention to the global sanitation challenge. Celebrated since 2001, the day has been recognized in 2013 by the United Nations General Assembly. You can participate by attending one of the many official World Toilet Day events taking place worldwide or through the virtual social media campaign to highlight the plight of the 2.5 billion people without access to a clean, private toilet.
Date: 20-22 November 2013
Experts in environmental-economic accounts for water and water statistics from countries and international/regional organizations will meet to review and discuss the guidelines for the compilation of water accounts and statistics. The guidelines will provide country experts and trainers with a comprehensive and reliable set of materials for assisting the staff of national statistics offices, water ministries, and agencies and other stakeholders in countries, with the process of implementation of water accounts and statistics for developing a monitoring system for water policies.
Date: 27-29 November 2013
This Congress will bring together utilities, water operators practitioners, donors, knowledge institutions and interested stakeholders to exchange experience, advance knowledge and initiate action on Water Operators’ Partnerships. On the third day of the Congress, the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance General Assembly will be held. |
- Distance learning course "Hydrogeology applied to Projects on International Cooperation for Development and Emergencies". 1st edition: January-July 2014
Organized by the Centro Internacional de Hidrología Subterránea (FCIHS), the distance learning course "Hydrogeology applied to International Cooperation Projects for Development and Emergencies" will introduce theoretical and practical knowledge in the field of hydrogeology directly applicable in international cooperation for development and emergencies activities. The overall objective of the course is to improve staff training and professionalization in the field of groundwater. This course has joined the Water for Life Decade campaign and the Decade’s logo will be included in the course’s brochure.
>>More info
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- EKOMURO H2O+ rainwater collection
Ekomuro H2O+ is a system for rainwater collection which interconnects reused plastic bottles forming a water container which is compact and resistant to water pressure. The system occupies very little space and is designed to meet water saving needs in urban housing and also complement environmental school projects. This initiative has joined the Water for Life Decade’s campaign and the logo will be included in the ecological murals designed by the students and in posters and leaflets.
>>Contact
- II Science Week, Quart de Poblet, Valencia
The "Quart és Ciència" Association, which promotes the popularisation of science and technology amongst the citizens of the municipality of Quart de Poblet, Valencia, Spain, has organized its 2nd Science Week. Among the activities scheduled, and in the framework of the International Year of Cooperation, the exhibition "The water sphere" was displayed and the workshop and debate "Water: an engine for development" took place on 5 November 2013. This initiative has joined the Water for Life Decade campaign and its logo is displayed on the website and in the week’s agenda.
>>Contact