9th World Water Forum begins March 21 in Senegal

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The 9th World Water Forum (WWF), the globe’s largest water event, will take place for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, March 21 – 26, under the theme: “Water Security for Peace and Development,” at Diamniadio in Senegal.

By Abdullahi Tsanni

The triennial Forum, being organized by the World Water Council, is the biggest platform for international water stakeholders – including governments, private sector, civil society, academia, youth, and women’s groups – to find solutions to pressing global water and sanitation challenges. It aims to accelerate the effective implementation of the global water agenda as enshrined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“By bringing together participants from all levels and areas, including politics, multilateral institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector, among others, the World Water Forum provides a unique platform where the international water community and key decision makers can collaborate and make long-term progress on global water challenges,” says a public statement by the 9th WWF’s secretariat.

One of the highlights of the upcoming Forum would be the inauguration of the ‘Sanitation Village’ by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal. The Sanitation Village is a WWF innovation which aims to strengthen advocacy and action for the implementation of concrete responses towards accelerating universal access to safe sanitation.

“The [Sanitation Village] will be an integral part of the Forum’s major exhibition and will be a space for advocacy, raising awareness, discussion and learning about sanitation and hygiene, promoting ongoing innovations in sanitation and mobilizing actors for the call to action,” said the Forum.

Editor’s note: This reporting is part of the Lines of Impact Initiative supported by Speak Up Africa.