Dr. Dao Trong Tu Deputy Director General Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Dr. Hans W. Wolter Director Dialogue Secretariat

P R E S S    R E L E A S E

International Water Conference

The way forward to a successful Dialogue is strong national ownership
and commitment to the implementation of results.

"Overcoming the world water crisis - achieving water, food and environmental security simultaneously - is one of the most formidable challenges on the road to sustainable development ", says the Dutch Prince of Orange, Panel of the UN Secretary who will be the guest of honor at the conference jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the Dialogue Consortium, represented through the International Water Management Institute, IWMI.

Right now the conflict between irrigation and environmental communities are putting the breaks on investments in water for food security and poverty reduction. It is delaying implementation of development projects and programs and preventing sustainable cooperation between water-environment sectors.

The Asian Region faces particularly severe conflicts on water for food and water for the environment. Large areas of Asia are experiencing environmental degradation. The drying of Aral Sea, the destruction of South East Asia's mangroves and the pollution of India's rivers are dramatic examples of wide-spread problems. Vietnam, having a rich experience in water management but facing the limits of traditional approaches is a suitable venue for such a conference, that will seize the opportunity to support Vietnam's ambition of a closer cooperation with regional and international water organizations.

"A third way", says South African Minister of Education Prof. Kader Asmal, "drawing together technical disciplines with the people themselves, with the politicians, the financiers and other specialists is now inevitable. Confrontation can not solve conflicts, despite the illusion of occasional short term victories by one side or the other. We can no longer talk to each other, but must talk with each other ".

The Dialogue, launched one year ago in Stockholm, responds to the critical need for reaching consensus on the role of water use for food and water for nature. It is a unique collaboration of ten of the primary actors in the fields of water management, water resources research, food security, environmental conservation and health joining forces to examine the question of future water needs for nature and food production, with the spotlight on developing countries.

Building on integrated water management to facilitate dialogue between conflicting interests, the Dialogue is a multi stakeholder mechanism for conflict resolution, negotiation, social learning, and collective decision-making toward concerted action. "A probing examination, asking fundamental questions of one another in an attempt to find solution", as Prof. Asmal, put it at the Water Dome in Johannesburg last month.

For further information please contact: a.max-hansen@cgiar.org

Background

The Dialogue on Water, Food and Environment has grown out of the new interest in water created by the World Water Vision and its Framework for Action process that culminated with the Second World Water Forum. One of the conclusions of the process is that there is insufficient interaction between the agricultural and environmental sectors. The "Vision for Water and Nature" and the "Vision for Water for Food and Rural Development" show widely diverging views on the need to develop additional water resources for agriculture and the benefits and costs that such development would have. This conflict has led to an intense, sometimes resentful debate and delays in much needed investment.

Against this background ten of the primary actors in the field of agricultural water management, environmental conservation and health have joined forces to promote a rational dialogue on future water needs for nature and food production, especially in developing countries. These organizations have formed a Consortium that steers the Dialogue as an international program. But as the Dialogue develops there will be many other international, national or local organizations that are invited to contribute their views and experiences in a Forum of Associated Organizations.

One year after the formal launching of the Dialogue in Stockholm in August 2001 progress can be noted on all four fronts. The organizational structure of the Dialogue has been set up; three design workshops have been conducted, which have resulted in a refined concept and an operational framework. The work at the global level is progressing well. Country dialogues have been started in three countries and several basin dialogues are under preparation. The structure of the knowledge base is emerging and a Forum of Associated Organizations is being set up.

Website : http://www.iwmi.org/dialogue