Stokholm - Indonesian government as the co-host of the upcoming 10th World Water Forum in Bali in 2024 invited the United Nations for Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) to play an active role in the largest forum of water resources. This message was conveyed by the Secretariat of the NOC of the 10th World Water Forum Endra s. Atmawidjaja during a bilateral meeting with the UN Habitat representatives in Stokholm, Sweden, Monday (21/8/2023).

The meeting is a follow-up to the previous one between the Vice Chairman of the National Organizing Committe (NOC) of the 10th World Water Forum Basuki Hadimuljono and the Executive Director of the UN-Habitat Maimunah Mohd Sharif at the UN Water Conference in New York in March 2023.

"We would like to invite the UN-Habitat to attend the 10th World Water Forum in Bali to set an agenda and form a working group, especially on the 2nd sub-theme,  namely water security," said Endra.

He further said that this meeting aims to explore the possibilities of the UN-Habitat's support in the 10th World Water Forum in Bali since water issues are closely related to the settlement and housing sector, particularly the provision of the clean water and sanitation.

"With an extensive network, including under the umbrella of the Global Water Operators Network, the UN-Habitat can play a significant role in the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, and provide tangible results such us commitment and cooperation between countries in the form of an MoU or joint action with the Indonesian government," he added.

Ervan Maksum, Member of the NOC of the 10th World Water Forum, who also attended the meeting, said that the Indonesian government still faces major challenges in providing access to clean water.

"It is estimated that only 19% of Indonesia's territory has access to clean water pipelines. In order to address this issue, we need effective strategies and mechanisms of collaboration between the government and the private sector," said Ervan.

As a response, the UN-Habitat Chief Basic Services Andre Dzikus conveyed a warm welcome for the invitation and congratulated Indonesia for the 10th World Water Forum in Bali next year.

"Indonesia needs a national platform as well as cooperation platform with other Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and other. Furthermore, the water issues are closely related to the 5 focuses of the current UN-Habitat agenda, namely Housing, Climate Change, Sustainable Development Goals, Disaster Management and Financing," said Dzikus.

National Organizing Committee of the 10th World Water Forum

Email: secretariat@worldwaterforum.org

IG: @worldwaterforum10