Digital Launch on 17 November 2020

Joint press release by the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC); the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), the Institute of Geography/ Bonn University (GIUB), Center for Development Research (ZEF), / Bonn University; the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the United Nations Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on the launch of the Bonn Water Network on 17 November 2020

Bonn, 17 November 2020. 2.1 billion people have no access to clean drinking water and more than 4.5 billion have no safe sanitation. In many countries, increasing water scarcity threatens food security and energy production or leads to conflict. For the past 15 years, seven Bonn-based organisations have been sharing their insights into solutions towards a more water secure world through their „water lecture“ series. Today, these institutions are going a step further and are launching the 'Bonn Water Network' in order to coordinate and intensify their endeavours for sustainable water futures.

Stefan Wagner, Director of International Affairs & Global Sustainability at the city of Bonn, welcomes the creation of the new network: “Bonn Water Network will benefit from and reinforce Bonn’s status as a hub for international cooperation, sustainable development, and innovation.”

The network consists of seven renowned institutions with longstanding experience on water and related issues: these are the Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC); the German Development Institute / Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE), Bonn University with its Institute of Geography (GIUB) holding the UNESCO Chair in Human Water Systems, and the Center for Development Research (ZEF); the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and two UN institutions, the United Nations Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The network members deal with water and related challenges worldwide and, working together with partners in science and practice, contribute to finding sustainable and socially appropriate solutions. “For example, we investigate how cross-border cooperation in Africa can help to make better use of water for energy and agriculture, we support policy makers and stakeholders globally on drought risk mitigation, and our models simulate how and where climate change is affecting water resources in Nepal and India. We also contribute to develop solutions for resolving conflicts over water and sustainable water management in Jordan, Morocco and Mongolia, as well as climate-sensitive adaptation strategies to reduce flood risks in Togo and Benin”, says Dr. Annabelle Houdret, speaker of the network.

The online launch event includes the following contributions:

• Introducing the Bonn Water Network, Dr. Annabelle Houdret, DIE, speaker of the Bonn Water Network
• Welcoming remarks by Stefan Wagner, head of the Department of International Affairs and Global Sustainability at the city of Bonn
• Short video messages by the Bonn Water Network member institutions
• Welcoming remarks by Prof. Dr. Jakob Rhyner, Scientific Director of the Bonn Alliance for Sustainability Research/ Innovation Campus Bonn (ICB).
• Panel discussion and public debate: 'The Bonn Water Network: connecting competences for sustainable water futures'.

Members of the network showcase their contributions to finding solutions for water problems: On transboundary water management in Togo and Benin, on sustainable water and land management in Subsaharan and Northern Africa, on the implementation of SDG6 in the light of competition for groundwater in Jordan and on climate resilience in Asia. Moderator: Dr. Luna Bharati, IWMI and ZEF, co-speaker of the network.

• Closing remarks by Dr. Luna Bharati.

We are looking forward to welcoming you online!