24 Mar 2015
12:00–14:00

Venue: NULL

Organization: Geneva Environment Network

Speed Dating Event to Celebrate World Water Day

At the initiative of members of the Geneva Environment Network (GEN) working with water issues, the GEN Secretariat organized a water speed dating event at the International Environment House II, to mark World Water Day. 

Programme

Welcoming Remarks
UN-Water

Dating partners:
Water Convention | UNECE
Global Water Solidarity | UNDP
Natural Capital Declaration | UNEP FI
WMO
WSSCC
Ramsar Convention
IUCN Water Programme
WBCSD
Green Cross International
IRHA
Water Lex
World Vision International
Platform for International Water Law | University of Geneva

Water programmes/organizations

Water Convention | UNECE

The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) aims to protect and ensure the quantity, quality and sustainable use of transboundary water resources by facilitating cooperation. It provides an intergovernmental platform for the day-to-day development and advancement of transboundary cooperation.

Website : http://www.unece.org/env/water/

Global Water Solidarity | UNDP

Global Water Solidarity is an Institutional platform for local level water management. A team at the UNDP Office in Geneva is conducting demand-driven feasibility studies among different local level actors involved or interested in engaging in decentralized solidarity cooperation with municipal water authorities in developing countries.

Website : http://www.europe.undp.org/content/geneva/en/home/partnerships_initiatives/global-water-solidarity.html

Natural Capital Declaration | UNEP FI 

The Natural Capital Declaration (NCD) is a finance sector initiative, endorsed at CEO-level, to integrate natural capital considerations into loans, equity, fixed income and insurance products, as well as in accounting, disclosure and reporting frameworks. To achieve this, signatory financial institutions are working alongside supporter organizations to develop metrics and tools to help incorporate natural capital factors across their businesses.

Website : http://www.naturalcapitaldeclaration.org

Hydrology and Water Resources Programme (HWRP) | WMO 

For over 70 years, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and its predecessor, the International Meteorological Organization, have supported National Hydrological Services, River Basin Authorities and other institutions responsible for water management in a wide range of activities. Presently, the HWRP is concerned with the assessment of the quantity and quality of water resources, both surface and groundwater, in order to meet the needs of society, to permit mitigation of water-related hazards, and to maintain or enhance the condition of the global environment.

Website : http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/hwrp/hwrp.php

Ramsar Convention 

The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, called the Ramsar Convention, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The Convention was adopted in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971 and came into force in 1975. Since then, almost 90% of UN member states, from all the world’s geographic regions, have acceded to become “Contracting Parties”.

Website : http://www.ramsar.org

IUCN Water Programme

IUCN’s Water Programme brings together its extensive network of IUCN Members, experts, government and private sector partners to develop sustainable solutions to preserve our water resources. These programmes have covered multiple areas such as integrated water resource management, environmental flows, water economics, watershed ecosystems, as well as river bank rehabilitation, and the effects of climate change on global water supply and distribution.

Website : http://www.iucn.org

International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA)

The International Rainwater Harvesting Alliance (IRHA) was created in Geneva in November 2002 following recommendations formulated during the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg two months earlier. In partnership with the most eminent organizations and individuals in the field, the IRHA provides a lobbying and advocacy platform for rainwater harvesting (RWH). It supports the growth of RWH solutions to water supply problems. It also provides a forum for its members to work together or share experiences, and thus for the benefit of people living with water scarcity.

Website : http://www.irha-h2o.org

Water Lex

The WaterLex initiative officially started in 2010, when a group of individuals envisioned that a collective effort from field experts, academics, diplomats, private and non-profit actors was the solution to current water governance challenges. WaterLex members are committed to develop innovative solutions that improve governance in water and water-related sectors.

Website : http://www.waterlex.org/

World Vision International 

World Vision is a global Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. World Vision serves all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. 

Website : http://www.wvi.org/

Platform for International Water Law | University of Geneva

The Platform for International Water Law brings together international law experts. Under the direction of and in collaboration with Prof. Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, an internationally renowned expert in the field of the international water law, the platform of associated researchers explores the law applicable to transboundary and national freshwater resources from a variety of perspectives.

Website : http://www.unige.ch/droit/eau/presentation_en.html 

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

WBCSD has been active on water issues for over 15 years. It has succeeded in elevating water issues on the business agenda through increasing awareness, collaborative processes, the development of tools, and advocacy efforts. The water program provides a platform for member companies to: make positive progress on sustainable water management; influence regulatory frameworks governing water management and allocation; enhance recognition of global businesses as effective water management solution providers.

Website : http://www.wbcsd.org/work-program/sector-projects/water/overview.aspx

Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) 

WSSCC was formally recognized in 1990 through a United Nations General Assembly resolution (A/RES/45/181), to complete work left unfinished at the close of the International Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Decade (1981-1990). Since then, it has served as an international coordinating body to enhance collaboration in the water supply, sanitation and hygiene sectors, specifically in order to attain universal coverage for poor people around the world.

Website : http://www.wsscc.org

Green Cross International

The mission of Green Cross International is to respond to the combined challenges of security, poverty and environmental degradation to ensure a sustainable and secure future.

Green Cross addresses the lack of access to water and sanitation through advocacy, education, and practical projects around the world, and work with a wide range of partners to achieve this.

Website: http://www.gcint.org/water-for-life-and-peace

https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/invitation_24_march.pdf

https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2015.03.10_gen_speed_dating_.pdf