The ninth World Water Forum, held every three years in cooperation with the World Water Council and the host country, was organized by Senegal, with a one-year delay due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Representing the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, a delegation of nine officials from Turkish Water Institute (SUEN), General Directorate of Water Affairs (DSİ) and General Directorate of Water Management attended the 9th World Water Forum (WWF) which was held under the central theme of “Water Security for Peace and Development” in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, between 21-26 March 2022.
The delegation chaired by SUEN President Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Saatçı, Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden (Policy Development Coordinator), Assoc. Dr. Bilge Kocamemi (Project Consultant) and Burcu Çallı (Expert), on behalf of SUEN, actively took part in the thematic preparations of the Forum as from 2019.
With the Covid-19 outbreak, a "Covid-19 Task Force" was established under the World Water Council and the chairmanship of SUEN, and the studies carried out were transferred to the 9th WWF by the international organizations in the task force. As part of the task force, a high-level session and a special session were held by SUEN within the Forum.
Sessions Organized by SUEN
Special Session 5: Enhance Global Collaboration in the Field of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Assoc. Dr. Bilge Kocamemi and Burcu Çallı co-moderated the session, in which representatives of different institutions and organizations working in the field of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in the world, from the public sector to the private sector, from civil society to international and regional organizations took part. In the session, the studies conducted in the field of WASH against the Covid-19 pandemic were discussed and cooperation opportunities at all levels were assessed.
High Level Panel 5: Establishment of Wastewater Epidemiology Studies for Tracking COVID-19 Pandemic, Extension of These Studies to One -Health Approach
The opening speech of the high-level session, moderated by Assoc. Dr. Bilge Kocamemi in a panel discussion format, was made by Loic Fouchon, President of the World Water Council. SUEN President Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Saatçı joined as a speaker and gave information about the project of Covid-19 surveillance in wastewaters, which started in the early stages of the outbreak in our country, and shared Türkiye’s vision and experiences in this field with international participants.
In the session, all speakers stated that wastewater-based epidemiology is a cost-effective method to reflect the real Covid-19 situation in communities. It was highlighted that a monitoring strategy should be developed for the use of epidemiology studies in different outbreaks that may occur post-Covid-19.
High Level and Special Sessions Participated by SUEN
Special Session 30: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for Water Security in OIC Member Countries
Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden participated in the Special Session, “SS30 Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for Water Security in OIC Member Countries”, organized by OIC ISESCO, Islamic Development Bank and Arab League and made a presentation on “Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources, and the Methods Used to Overcome the Negative Impacts in Turkey”. In the presentation, especially the dry periods experienced in Türkiye in recent years and their effects were mentioned, and it was once again underlined that Türkiye is not a water-rich country.
Special Session 19: Water, Connector of Solutions to Face Global Changes
A Special Session on “Water, Connector of Solutions to Face Global Changes” was held by the World Water Council Global Changes Task Force, of which SUEN is also a member.
The session was moderated by Burcu Çallı from SUEN, where UNESCO Director of Division of Water Sciences and UNESCO IHP Secretary-General Abu Amani, World Meteorological Organization Water Office Coordinator Nicolas Franke and APDA President Rui Godinho contributed to as speakers.
A presentation on “Understanding the Linkages between Water and Migration” was also made by Burcu Çallı, in which the connection between water and migration was discussed from different aspects, and examples of water and sanitation services provided for the Syrian population in Turkey were shared.
High Level Panel 16: Systems Approach to Deliver Water to People Proposal
Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden participated in the High-Level Panel organized by the World Water Council Integrated Water Resources Management Task Force under the title of “HLP 16 System Approach to Deliver Water to People Proposal” and made a presentation on "Blue Peace Initiative in the Middle East: Regional Cooperation on Water".
Thematic Sessions Participated by SUEN
3B1 Preventing Conflicts by Facilitating Dialogue and Cooperation on Transboundary Water Resources
In the session of “3B1 Preventing Conflicts by Facilitating Dialogue and Cooperation on Transboundary Water Resources”, organized under the co-ordination of SUEN with Geneva Water Hub, Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden made a presentation on the Blue Peace Middle East initiative, and the importance of technical studies at the regional level in increasing cooperation in the field of water was discussed, and information was shared about the studies conducted in the example of the Blue Peace Initiative Middle East, of which SUEN is the coordination office.
The opening speech of the session, moderated by the 1992 UN-EEC Water Convention Bureau Member and Hungarian Ministry of Internal Affairs Director of Water, Peter Kovacs, was made by the Estonian Special Representative for Transboundary Waters and the 1992 UN-EEC Water Convention Head of the Bureau, Harry Liiv. As a result of the constructive process carried out by SUEN throughout the meeting, the emphasis on cooperation and dialogue came to the fore in the session.
1B1 Address All Kinds of Water Pollutions, Including Industrial Pollutants and Contaminants of Emerging Concerns
Assoc. Dr. Bilge Kocamemi participated as a speaker in the thematic session on “1B1 Address All Kinds of Water Pollutions, Including Industrial Pollutants and Contaminants of Emerging Concerns”, and delivered information on the epidemiology-based studies in the wastewaters in Türkiye and shared the details of the project.
The opening speech of the event, “Technology, Experience Sharing and Vision for Water Security-Implementing Outcomes of the 9th World Water Forum”, held at the China Country Stand at the Expo on the last day of the Forum, was made by SUEN President Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Saatçı.
A visit was paid to the Türkiye’s Ambassador in Dakar, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Kavas, to share the key outcomes of the Forum.
