Japan Water Forum has been actively engaged in the thematic process of the 8th World Water Forum, Brasilia. It took a leading role of session coordination of “Involving All Through a Stakeholder Driven Process” and also made a significant contribution to the different sessions under the theme of “CLIMATE”, “DEVELOPMENT”, “URBAN”, and “SHARING” by sharing Japan’s experiences.
 
Roles of Japan Water Forum in the Thematic Process

• Lead Organization of the Session Coordination Group – Session, “Involving All Through a Stakeholder Driven Process”
• Member of the Topic Coordination Group – Topic c. “Efficient use of surface water and groundwater – urban and rural” (Theme 3. DEVELOPMENT)
• Member of the Topic Coordination Group – Topic b. “Involving all: public, private, civil society – women and men – young and old – in bottom up and top down approaches” (Theme 7. SHARING)
• Panelist – Session, “Low Carbon Water Services to Achieve Climate Mitigation” (Theme 1. CLIMATE – Topic c. Water and climate change mitigation)
• Panelist – Session, “Promoting circular economy by building an enabling environment
  ” (Theme 4. URBAN – Topic b. The circular economy – reduce, reuse, recycle)

 

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1. “Involving All Through a Stakeholder Driven Process”

The session has attracted a large audience, more than 60 people. The key messages and recommendations derived from the active discussion at the session will be incorporated into the outcome document of the 8th World Water Forum.

Opening Remarks by Dr. Takemura, Chair of JWF	Panel Discussion

 
(1) Outline of the Session
Key Questions
 – Advantages of involving all during the entire process
 – How to mitigate the challenges resulting from participatory approaches

Theme / Topic	Theme 7. Sharing – Topic b. Involving all: public, private, civil society – women and men – young and old – in bottom up and top down approaches
Session Title	3. Involving All Through a Stakeholder Driven Process
Time and Date	Wednesday, 21 March 2018, 9:00 – 10:30
Venue	Room 26, Ulysses Guimarães Convention Center, Brasilia-DF, Brazil
Session Coordination Group	Japan Water Forum (Lead), Youth Delegates Program of the World Water Council, Central Asian Youth Forum for Water, World Wildlife Fund US, University of Brasília – Center for Sustainable Development

 
(2) Agenda

9:00	Opening & Citizen’s Process Video -　Mr. Shigenori Asai, Deputy Director, Japan Water Forum
9:07	Opening Remarks by Dr. Kotaro Takemura, Chair, Japan Water Forum
9:10	Keynote Presentation Inclusive governance – focus on indigenous peoples / rural communities in Latin America by Dr. Marianne Kjellén, Senior Water Advisor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) The Efforts Toward the Conservation and Restoration of Shiga’s Lake Biwa, the Largest Lake in Japan by Mr. Yoshichika Akasaki, Lake Biwa Policy Division, Department of Lake Biwa and the Environment, Shiga Prefectural Government
9:20	Panel Discussion   Panelists: Asia-Pacific perspective: Prof. Tsugihiro Watanabe, Representative Director of Com aqua – Water Cooperation Association, Professor of Kyoto University Africa’s perspective: Ms. Kristel Malegue, Advocacy and International Partnership Director, Eau Vive Internationale Arab/Mediterranean perspective: Ms. Asma El Kasmi, Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable (ONEE), Morocco Youth perspective: Ms. Elena Tsay, National Focal Point in Uzbekistan, Central Asian Youth Forum for Water Inclusive governance perspective: Dr. Marianne Kjellén, Senior Water Advisor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)   Moderator: Dr. Daniela Nogueira, Pesquisadora de Pós-Doc, University of Brasilia – Center for Sustainable Development
10:27	Closing

 
(3) Discussion Summary
 
Challenges

• “Involving All” during the entire process of water management is a key to sound decision-making for better water management and more efforts are needed to have stakeholders engaged and empowered.
• Several difficulties are found in “Involving All” to implement stakeholder engagement practices, which may arise including:
  – Building an effective mechanism allowing any types of stakeholders to be equally involved in the process requires a long-term commitment at all levels.
  – The more stakeholders are involved, the more difficult it could be to reach a consensus or to make a decision.

 
Key Messages & Recommendations

• An “Involving all” can bring the good results in the long run including ensuring ownership and long-term sustainability of solutions.
  

• Political will promoting stakeholders’ engagement is required and the governments need to be flexible in order to have dialogues and consultations lead to real influence on the development process.
• Setting up legal/institutional frameworks alone is not enough to be the solution unless they operate properly. It also requires best efforts on awareness-raising, communication, capacity building, and financing.
  

• Those who facilitate continued dialogues and coordinate the interests of different stakeholders are needed.
• Effective involvement of and collaboration among stakeholders with clearly defined responsibilities and accountabilities, sharing the burden and benefits are required for sustainable water management.

 
（Reported by Shigenori ASAI, Deputy Director, JWF)