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IWR Makes Its Presence Felt at the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul

by Guillermo F. Mendoza

In the spirit of the theme "Bridging Divides for Water," IWR made substantial contributions to World Water Forum 5 (WWF5), which convened from 16-22 March 2009 in Istanbul. As part of the United States delegation to the 5th World Water Forum, IWR facilitated a large number of high-level events focused on integrated water resources management (IWRM), navigation, managing the impacts of climate change, and reducing the impacts of water-related disasters. IWR applied its breadth of experience to support the focus of the U.S. delegation towards a water-secure world and demonstrated its internationally renowned reputation for excellence in water resources management.

This unprecedented international water gathering attracted 33,058 world water stakeholders from 192 countries. Nine heads of states/governments, three international organization secretary generals, 103 ministers and vice-ministers, 250 parliamentarians and 200 local authorities attended.

IWR participation at WWF5 demonstrated its technical leadership and commitment to both domestic and international interests in the water sector. As part of implementing goal 2 of the USACE Campaign Plan, IWR provided working examples and led discussions of how enduring and essential water resource solutions are delivered through collaboration with partners and stakeholders.

Christopher Dunn and Jeff Harris of the Hydraulic Engineering Center (HEC) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) facilitated a highly successful and well attended full-day hands-on training workshop at the World Water Forum Learning Center on the public advocacy partnership tools and methods used for consideration of environmental flows in water resources planning. It was shown how reservoir simulation and hydraulic flood plain models are collaboratively used with environmental flow prescriptions to help provide guidance on tradeoffs in projects of common interest by each organization.

A following thematic session featured Robert Pietrowsky, Director of IWR, and Brian Richter, Director of the freshwater program at TNC, who jointly led the panel on "Greening Infrastructure: How Can Engineering Protect Ecosystems and Ensure Livelihoods." These selected examples demonstrate how IWR effectively collaborates with partners and stakeholders to create enduring solutions for our global multi-disciplinary challenges in water.

Forum participants directly learned about the broad scope of USACE and IWR services from our well-staffed information booth at the USA pavilion in the Forum Expo. Visitors were often surprised to learn that the IWR and USACE mission goes beyond a common perception of emergency response and public works. They were intrigued and excited to learn about IWR / USACE expertise and ongoing activities through the National Flood Risk Management program, Shared Vision Planning program, Conflict Resolution & Public Participation Center, Hydraulic Engineering Center, U.S. Section of the World Association for Waterborne Transportation Infrastructure center, and International Center for Integrated Water Resources Management (ICIWaRM). It was an excellent showcase of IWR’s role in capacity building, guidance, policy, and technology development at USACE, one of the largest most diverse, competent and multi-disciplinary water resource organizations in the world. Thus, it is no surprise that IWR information CDs and brochures available for distribution were in great demand and had to be rationed towards the end of Forum week. USACE booth visitors ranged from students inquiring about internship opportunities, to institutions seeking partnerships, such as by Professor Tourbier from the Technology University at Dresden. Distinguished visitors included Mr. Djoko Kirmanto, the Minister of Public Works for the Republic of Indonesia, who was very interested in IWR’s growing contribution to international development in water resources management.

Indisputably, in USACE fashion, IWR helped bridge divides in water, the overarching theme of WWF5, reaching out to the international community at many of the sessions as an agency with a unique integrated capacity to address the global challenges in water. The Ministerial Statement of the Forum contains 22 points of common ground needed to address the global challenges related to water within the context of sustainable water development. Interestingly, IWR not only has experience in many of these, but leads the water resources field in about half of these principles. For instance, the Ministerial statement identifies the implementation of integrated water resources management at the level of the river basin as the tool to meet economic, social and environmental demands of water resources. Coincidentally, Dr. Eugene Stakhiv of IWR as co-chair of the steering committee launched the UNESCO Integrated Water Resources Management Guideline manual and jump-started the long-awaited debate for the IWRM session series on how to actually implement these principles on the ground. Similarly, throughout the Ministerial Statement, the importance of participation and collaboration was acknowledged as a key element for sustainable water development. Another significant leading contribution to the global dialogue was the launching of the book “Managing and Transforming Water Conflicts” by Dr. Jerome Delli Priscoli of IWR.

IWR participation and contribution to the WWF5 focused on three themes: Global Change and Risk Management, Managing and Protecting Water Resources, and Governance and Management. IWR chaired and framed substantial content for sessions on River Basin Management in Federated Countries, Local Actions to Adapt to Climate Change, Inland Waterborne Transport, Mega-disasters, and the thematic session wrap-up on Global Change and Risk Management. In addition, dissemination of IWR expertise benefited from high profile international meetings, such as the multi-lateral flood risk management meeting between the governments of the U.S., Holland, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The IWR team also held working meetings with the Prince of Orange, the U.N. High Panel on Water and Disasters, World Water Council, and with international delegations, including Brazilian, Chinese and African ministers. At these sessions, IWR shared experiences from the ground and drew lessons from practitioners around the world as an expert partner organization working to assist in solving the global challenges in water resources.

These contributions to the World Water Forum demonstrate IWR and USACE commitment to actively support U.S. government initiatives in international development assistance. These efforts embrace the intent for U.S. government agency collaboration per the 2009 presidential memorandum for transparency and open government. In particular, this enhances U.S. government capabilities in USAID and Department of State joint strategic framework for U.S. foreign assistance in the water sector (2008 Water for the Poor Act, “Addressing Water Challenges in the Developing World: A framework for Action”). They also support U.S. government assistance in integrated water resources management at the basin level and climate change adaptation (2009 Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act).

IWR looks forward to continued international collaboration and partnering to achieve more progress towards a water-secure world. As the premier U.S. engineering agency in water resources management and planning, IWR is building on the momentum from World Water Forum 5 to continue “Bridging Divides for Water” domestically and internationally.

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