World Water Forum Focuses on Vital Resource

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March 15, 2006—World leaders gather in Mexico City for the Fourth World Water Forum, March 16 – 22, to tackle an increasingly urgent problem—the growing number of people without enough water resources, nor access to clean water or to basic sanitation.

Consider these projections:

In 1995, some 436 million people in 29 countries lived in places where the water supply was scarce or under stress.  By 2025, more than 1.4 billion people in 48 countries are expected to be in the same position. By 2035, the number is expected to grow to three billion, according to the World Bank.

Despite improvements over the last 20 years, 1.1 billion still lack access to water supply and 600 million lack sanitation.

	4th World Water Forum

About 1.7 million deaths worldwide are attributed to unsafe water, poor sanitation and hygiene, mainly through infectious diarrhea. Ninety percent of the victims are children.

Delegates from the world’s major regions, representing government, multilateral and non-governmental institutions and the private sector, will be at the Water Forum to explore these problems—and possible solutions.

The forum was organized by host country Mexico and the World Water Council around the theme, “Local Actions for a Global Challenge.” It covers topics ranging from using waste water management to fight poverty, overcoming corruption in water resources and services management, and land and water resource development in arid regions.

	Kathy Sierra, VP for Infrastructure and head of World Bank delegation to the 4th World Water Forum, discussed cooperation in the water sector with new Bolivian government, represented by Dr. Rene Orellana Halkyer, Vice-Minister of Basic Services.

Methods of financing water projects are also on the agenda.

About 90 percent of $60 billion invested in water projects in developing countries comes from within the country. About half of the rest—$3 billion a year—comes from World Bank lending.

The Bank delegation to the forum, led by Katherine Sierra, Vice President for Infrastructure and Development, brings a central message—developing countries need new water infrastructure and better water resources management to grow and reduce poverty, and they need it quickly. But assistance, including the involvement of private interests, must be tailored to each country.

Sierra participates in a March 17 Civil Society Roundtable on Water in Mexico City in an effort to reach out to groups concerned about water issues in developing countries.

The Bank will also release three publications during the forum: Water for Responsible Growth on the relationship between water infrastructure, institutions, and growth, Who Benefits from Water Utility Subsidies on how subsidies can undermine the poor’s access to clean water and sanitation services, and Re-engaging in Agricultural Water Management: Challenges and Options, which focuses on the changing context of demand and supply for agricultural water.