UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC)
IN FOCUS
This publication produced by the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action “Water for Life 2005-2015”explains what has changed and the lessons learned during the last ten years on Water Supply and Sanitation, Women Engagement, Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Cooperation and Global Actors and Processes. It includes testimonies of people who have benefited from the improvements.
>> Download the document here
The UN Office to Support the Water Decade won iAgua awards 2015 as the Best International Organization. The award ceremony took place in Madrid on 17 December. ON 19 of December the Office received in Zaragoza the Aragonia Award. On 21 and 22 December, the Office participated and organized different activities to mark the end of the decade. This included an event with the UNESCO associated Schools in the Aragon Parliament (Palace of Aljaferia) reviewing the achievements of the last 10 years of the schools, and an event in Casa Solans (office building) with the participation of the Mayor of Zaragoza and the Aragon Minister of Agriculture. During this event in Casa Solans, the local authorities expressed their support and satisfaction for the work of the Office. The publication of the 10 year story: a Water for Life Decade and beyond - and a summary video of the decade- was presented. These have had ample coverage in the local press.
>> Video of the reception at Casa Solans
>> UNESCO Associated Schools Event
On 28 December the UN Water Office in Zaragoza and the World Council of Civil Engineers organized an event to celebrate the decade's achievements at the Engineering Association of Spain in Madrid. The Secretary of State of Foreign Affairs participated in its closure. During the event two publications were presented: "10 year story: The Water for Life Decade and Beyond" and the Monograph on Water and Sustainable Development, including different articles by UN Water members and partners participating in the 2015 UN-Water Zaragoza Conference.
>> Closing office event at the Engineers Association in Madrid
>> See video of the closing event at the Engineers Association in Madrid
>> Download Water Monographies 3: Water and Sustainable Development
NEWS
Aquae Foundation, the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life 2005-2015" and the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE), in an effort to raise awareness of water challenges, spread its immense value and contribute to situate it in the global agenda for debate, have collaborated to develop a new Water Monograph: Water and Sustainable Development. This third edition maintains the characteristics of the previous two: a publication of scientific rigor from leading experts to be promoted and disseminated to the general public, not necessarily a specialized audience. To support the launch of this monograph, the three institutions launched a video presentation with the participation of Asuncion Martinez, a member of Aqua Foundation Board, Josefina Maestu, Director of the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action, Water for Life 20015-2015, and Thomas Sancho, President of the World Council of Civil Engineers (WCCE). The video also features the contribution of scientist Eduardo Saenz de Cabezon, Irene Puerto and Monica F. Aceytuno - Environment National Prize. The video also has the participation of the general public, it is of great importance to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
>> Download Water Monographies 3: Water and Sustainable Development:
On 24 October 2015, hundreds of visitors of all ages took part in the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of signing the entry into force of the Founding Charter of the United Nations.
The celebrations took place in Conde Duque Cultural Center of Madrid. Through an exhibition in which 14 agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations based in Spain presented their work with photographic exhibitions, debates and activities for children, visitors were able to have the opportunity to learn more about the UN Family. In this first joint action taking place in Spain, visitors were able to leave their messages and wishes written to the United Nations as well as interact with the staff of the agencies that are represented in Spain.
One of the highlights of the celebrations was the release of balloons carrying collective wishes written by visitors, in which hundreds of people counted down with the journalist Teresa Viejo, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, who moderated the meeting with civil society in the afternoon. It was represented by social action organizations, human rights, women, environmentalists, labor, business and NGOs. At the meeting, there was a video message from Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary General on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Organization, and representatives of agencies in Spain as well as civil society organizations were presented.
This joint celebration of all agencies located in Spain is part of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary that will continue with the visit of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who will be in Spain between 28 and 30 October.
>> Programme:
>> See video 'Voices of school' by the students of UNESCO network of schools:
On 29 October 2015 in Madrid, the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) together with the UN entities with a presence in Spain met with the Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, during his official visit to Spain. The meeting coincided with the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations and the 60th anniversary of Spain's entry into the Organization.
>> More information:
- The UN High-Level Water and Sanitation Days 2015 are a set of coordinated events taking place from 18-20 November 2015 at UN Headquarters in New York:
- Final UNSGAB Meeting and Ceremony, 18-20 November.
- Second UN Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters , 18 November.
- UN World Toilet Day, 19 November.
>> More information:
On 13 October 2015, the UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) together with the UN entities with a presence in Spain attended an invitation of the Mayor of Madrid, Manuela Carmena.
The agenda contained the presentation of UN entities in Spain, activities programmed the 70th Anniversary of the UN and the visit of the Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to Madrid on 28-29 October.
The following entities attended the meeting: World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Labour Organisation (ILO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Food Programme, Global Compact, UNICEF, United Nations Regional Information Centre (UNRIC), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the United Nations Support Base Valencia (UNSB-V).
2015 is a special year for global governance and the United Nations System. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the organization, the 60th anniversary of the entry of Spain to the UN, and the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in September in New York by the General Assembly. This is an action plan that commits all countries of the world in the next 15 years to reorient the development agenda towards sustainable development.
The different agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations with presence in Spain have recorded a number of programs with National Radio of Spain (RNE) explaining the work of the United Nations. The programs are available from Monday 28 September, and every day of the week, Monday through Friday, at 11:07 am, Saturdays at 9:22 and Sundays at 9:20 pm
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/audios/70-anos-de-naciones-unidas/
Launching today is the finalised Means of Implementation and Tools as gathered at the UN-Water International Zaragoza Conference in January 2015.
The full title of the document is Water and Sustainable Development: From Vision to Action; Means and Tools for Implementation and the roles of Different Actors: Outcomes of the Zaragoza Conference Water and Sustainable Development 2015.
The means of implementation refers to real concrete solutions and best practices gathered from some of the top experts working in water today, including contributions from the private sector, such as Veolia and the UN-Global Compact; governments, such as those of Nigeria, Spain and Brazil; academia, such as the University of Middlesex; and civil society, such as the Tegemeo Women's Group.
The January conference demanded a move From Vision to Action (which was itself the buzz-phrase of the four day event), and this document represents the outcomes of that mission. This document then includes the views of different stakeholders about their role and their views on each other's roles in the implementation of the water related SDGs.
>> Download here:
>> Or view online at the Water for Life Voices site:
Josefina Maestu, Director of United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action «Water for Life 2005-2015», implementing the UN-Water Programme on Advocacy and Communication; explains about the risks to a planet that neglects its vital element. The documentary has been broadcasted by RTVE on 14 May 2015.
The Water for Life Voices Exhibit has successfully closed on 14 April 2015 in the UNHQ in New York. The Opening of the Exhibit took place on 30 March with the participation of Cristina Gallach the UN USG of the Department of Public Information, Blanca Jimenez, Secretary of UNESCO's IHP and the Ambassadors and Representatives of Spain, Korea and Tajikistan, among others. The digital exhibit has travelled in April to Daegu's World Water Forum where it was displayed at the Spanish Stand >> Full Exhibit.
There are plans for display at Madrid UNWTO and Valencia UN Logistics base and during the celebrations of the 70 Anniversary of the UN. In June, the full exhibition will be displayed in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, during the High-Level International Conference on the Implementation of the International Decade for Action "Water for life" 2005-2015 to be held in Dushanbe on 9-11 June 2015. It is also foreseen to be display in the following cities: Venice, Sydney and Madrid.
Place: Casa Solans (Av. Cataluña No. 60, 50014 Zaragoza)
Organisers: University of Oxford and UN-Water Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC)
On 18 March, the UN-Water Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) received group of 33 people composed by students from 15 countries and staff from University of Oxford. The students were graduates from the School of Geography and the Environment in its annual event trip. Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, welcome the visitors with a presentation about the work of UNW-DPAC and UN-Water.
>> Watch the video and access interviews with other Conference participants
Ursula Schaefer-Preuss was a panelist in the session on Progress in the International Water Decade, 15 January 2015.
>> View the session here
Place: Confederación Hidrográfica del Ebro, Paseo de Sagasta 24, Zaragoza
The UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC), the World Council of Civil Engineers and Fundación Aquae, presented the second 'Water Monographs', in which the three entities have been collaborating since 2013 to raise awareness of topics identified by UN as priorities for the last three years of the 'Water for Life Decade': water cooperation (2013), water and energy (2014) and sustainable development (2015), at the 2015 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference. The presentation took place in the framework of the side event "Management and innovation in water and energy in Ibero-America", under the auspices of the three institutions.
>> Video presentation of Water Monographs at UN-Water Zaragoza Conference
>> Water Monographs video presentation
>> Water & Energy monograph
>> Water & Energy monograph
EVENTS
Place: Auditorium of the E.T.S. Agricultural Engineering (Avenida de Madrid, 57 34004 Palencia)
Organisers: Buendia Center, University of Valladolid
Buendia Center of University of Valladolid organizes the course "Towards fair water for men, rivers, cities and towns" with the aim to reflect about water in its various forms and places : in the city, in industry, in agriculture, in nature, in the near and distant countries, and in politics. The course is divided into five thematic units. Each unit is held every Thursday evening and ends with a panel discussion with all speakers involved. Josefina Maestu, director of UNW-DPAC, participates in a roundtable on 3 December with the theme "Access to water as an essential element for development."
>> Flyer:
>> More information:
Place: United Nations Headquarters, New York
Organisers: UN Secretary-General, the UN Secretary-Generals' Special Envoy for Disaster Risk Reduction and Water and High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP)
During the past decade, climate and water-related disasters have not only struck more frequently, but have also been more severe. Water-related disasters must be addressed with firm determination and without delay to make sustainable development a reality. To advance this effort, the Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters aims to develop both messages and recommendations for major UN conferences, including the UNFCCC COP 21 "Paris 2015" (Nov./Dec. 2015), the Humanitarian Summit (May 2016), and Habitat III (October 2016). Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, participates in the Major Group Panel – "Multi-stakeholder Partnership for Water-related DRR" as moderator.
>> More information
>> Draft concept note including agenda :
>> See flyer:
Place: United Nations Headquarters, New York (Conference Room #2)
Organisers: Department of Economics and Social Affairs (Division of Sustainable Development and United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life 2005-2015") supported by the Governments of Spain and Egypt, FAO, UNCCD and IAMZ-CIHEAM Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza
In the framework of the 70th session of the Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee), the Department of Economics and Social Affairs (Division of Sustainable Development and United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life 2005-2015") supported by the Governments of Spain and Egypt, FAO, UNCCD and IAMZ-CIHEAM Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza are organizing a side event on 06 November that will focus on the specific challenges, solutions and role of international cooperation to support capacity development for the implementation of water scarcity and drought-related goals and targets under the SDGs. Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, participated as moderator in the panel "Challenges and priorities for implementing the water-related SDGS in contexts of water scarcity".
>> More information available at:
>> See video of the session:
Place: OECD Headquarters, Paris
Organisers: OECD
The OECD Water Governance Initiative (WGI) is an international multi-stakeholder network of 120+ delegates from public, private and not-for-profit sectors gathering twice a year in a Policy Forum to share experience on reforms, projects, lessons and good practices in support of better governance in the water sector. Objectives of the 6th WGI Meeting are:
-Follow-up on the adoption of OECD Principles on Water Governance on 3-4 June 2015
-Contribute to the Global Agenda, in particular SDGs, World Water Forum and COP 21
-Peer-review analytical work on Water Governance in Cities
-Share knowledge on latest water governance research and developments
-Put water governance in practice through participatory modelling and simulation exercises
Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, will participate in this meeting as speaker with a presentation titled: Analysis of indicators on Water Governance Scoping note.
>> See the updated agenda
Place: Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Australia
Organiser: Instituto Cervantes
The "Australia - Spain Water Forum" is organised by the Cátedra Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes Australia Academic Forum), the Spanish Researchers in Australia Pacific with the sponsorship of Macquarie University, New South Wales Trade & Investment and the Spain-Australia Council Foundation.
The Forum will address the crucial importance of water at present, from the point of view of health as well as energy, social and cultural development. Spain and Australia share a high concern for the protection, use and management of water resources and the Forum will provide an opportunity for some of the most prestigious Spanish and Australian specialists to exchange information and share knowledge on these important issues.
Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, will participate with a presentation.
More information available at: http://srap-ieap.org/waterforum2015/index.html
Place: Melbourne, Australia
Organiser: Instituto Cervantes
Instituto Cervantes in Australia in collaboration with Cátedra Instituto Cervantes (Instituto Cervantes Australia Academic Forum), the Consulate General of Spain in Melbourne, the University of Melbourne and the Spanish Researchers in Australia Pacific are organizing a Conference: International Decade for Action 'Water for Life' 2005-2015.
The purpose of this conference is to address the crucial importance of water at present, from the point of view of health as well as energy, social and cultural development. Spain and Australia share a high concern for water resources, water treatment and water management, the marine environment and the economic and social implications involved. Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, will participate with a presentation.
Place: Centro Cultural Conde Duque, Calle Conde Duque, 11, 28015 Madrid
Organisers: Agencies, funds and programs of the UN with presence in Spain
In the framework of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, the agencies, funds and programs of the United Nations with presence in Spain organize a series of activities in Conde Duque Cultural Center. Throughout the day, (from 10:30 to 21:00 hours) it is display an exhibition 'United Nations, a Global Village ' with stands and facilities showing the work of each agency. It is included activities for children. Also, from 18:30 to 20:00 hours, you are invited to a seminar with civil society and citizens to meet and hear from representatives of the main NGOs and social actors who support and collaborate with the United Nations in order to create a more sustainable future.
>> More information
Place: New York, USA
Organisers: Permanent Mission of Tajikistan to the UN, in cooperation with other delegations to the UN and the United Nations Development Programme
This High-level Special Event "Catalysing Implementation and Achievement of the Water Related SDGs" in the format of a breakfast on 27 September 2015, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., is organized in the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015. It aims at mobilize political will and further actions for the support of sustainable development of water resources as key to implementation of a new development agenda, which is going to be adopted at the Summit. Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, will attend the event and be a Rapporteur.
Place: Iguassu Falls, Brazil
Organisers: Itaipú Binacional –Programme Cultivating Good Water and Ecology and Development Foundation (ECODES) in collaboration with the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life 2005-2015"(UNO-IDfA/UNW-DPAC)
Itaipú Binacional –Programme Cultivating Good Water and Ecology and Development Foundation (ECODES) in collaboration with the United Nations Office to Support the International Decade for Action "Water for Life 2005-2015"(UNO-IDfA/UNW-DPAC) are organizing a meeting to celebrate the 5 years of the UN-Water Best Practices Award 'Water for Life' and a seminar to exchange experiences and knowledge. The celebrations and the seminar "Meeting of innovating and pioneering experiences of social participation in water management. Building a global network" will exchange experiences and knowledge of key elements of social processes in water management to articulate a global network of innovative initiatives. Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, participates as speaker at the inauguration and with an analysis of social processes in water management. She is also presenting the publication "5 year of the UN-Water water for life Award".
Date: 23-28 August 2015
Place: Stockholm, Sweden
Organisers: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)
During the 2015 World Water Week the most relevant topics relating to “Water for Development” are discussed: Financing, SDGs, Integrity, Gender issues, Climate Change, Energy, Sanitation, Food, Conflict Resolution, Water Management. In addressing the role of “Water for Development” it is important to bring into focus how we go beyond the discussions about global goals and targets to address the actual implementation of the new Post-2015 development agenda in the local context. UNW-DPAC participated in different sessions as follows:
- Water for a Sustainable World: main findings of the WWDR2015 on Sunday, 23 August from 11:00-12:30 hrs. The Director of UNW-DPAC participated as moderator of one of the sessions on Perspectives.
- Water-related Disaster Risk Reduction: Time for preventive action on Sunday, 23 August from 16:00-17:30 hrs. The Director of UNW-DPAC, participated with a keynote presentation: "Water for sustainable development and Disaster Risk Reduction".
- Feeding Nine Billion People: How Water Stewardship Can Help on Tuesday, 25 August from 11:00-12:30 hrs. The Director UNW-DPAC was invited as guest in a dialogue on the contribution of the Water Footprint to improve water efficiency.
- CEO Water Mandate Multi-Stakeholder Working Session: Corporate Water Stewardship in Support of a Water SDG on Wednesday, 26 August from 11:00–15:35 hrs. The Director UNW-DPAC participated in the discussion panel on Water and Sanitation SDG.
- A Pathway to Sustainable Development: Water and Green Growth on Thursday 27 August 14:00-15:30 hrs. The Director UNW-DPAC was invited as a key note speaker presenting an opening speech " A Path to Sustainable Development" and as a panelist in the panel discussion "Beyond the theory for a Sustainable Future".
The digital version of the Water for Life Voices Exhibit was also displayed at the UN-Water stand.
>> More information
Place: Bonn, Germany
Organisers: Global Water System Project
The Global Water System Project (GWSP) and Future Earth with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) are organizing the conference “Sustainable Development Goals : A water perspective” . This conference will bring together available information, identify knowledge and action gaps, share lessons on viable instruments and approaches, facilitate networks and create a platform for moving toward action on the SDGs with a perspective on water. The conference will focus on the three "I"s-Indicators, Interlinkages and Implementation. Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, participates as panelist on 17 August on the panel “Governance of Risks towards the Implementation of Water SDGs” convened by the University of Osnabruck. The programe is available at: http://sdg2015.gwsp.org/391/#c1406
Place: La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz) Andalucía, Spain
Organisers: UNESCO Associated Schools Network in Spain
UNESCO Associated Schools Network in Spain organizes the XXVIII Meeting of UNESCO Associated Schools Network in Spain: The Strait, crossroads of civilizations. The aim of the meeting will focus on the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022), one of the areas of work of the UNESCO associated schools plan considered of great interest to face the current challenges in a global world. In the framework of the 70th anniversary of the United Nations, Josefina Maestu, Director of UNW-DPAC, participates on 7 July with a presentation on "The organization of the United Nations system".
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