The three-day G-77 Ministerial Forum on Water [held from 23 to 25 February 2009 in Muscat, Oman, called] for an enhanced co-operation in the areas concerned of preservation and judicious consumption of water. The forum also reached a consensus on a set of joint decisions called ‘The Muscat Declaration on Water‘.
The three-day event, attended by delegations from 130 member states, addressed the challenges and strategies for water resources management in the South and agreed on 21 conclusions and recommendations which will be [presented at 5th World Water Forum in] Istanbul.
[T]he Muscat Declaration on Water recognised [the vital importance of water to sustain habitat and species' survival and human existence and the key importance of water resources and sanitation in achieving progress in all fronts of development in the South]. The main challenges namely the lack of capacity, finance and political will to implement the decisions and other actions recommended by numerous meetings were stressed.
The forum highlighted the importance of strengthening the networking of research and development of institutions on water as well as data information, equipped by new technology in national and regional information centres on water resources received unanimous support from the delegates.
The member states will encourage developing countries to work together to strengthen strategic partnerships so as to contribute to the sharing of knowledge, innovation and transfer of technology for better access to improved water resources and sanitation. A number of steps will be pursued in terms of exchange of scientific and technological know-how among developing countries including:
- Knowledge, mapping and analysis of national capacities in managing shared water resources,
- Enhancing capacities of member states in negotiation skills and in providing technical advisory services,
- Promoting exchange of experiences, best practice and lessons learnt in implementing projects dealing with water resources and environment management,
- Identify new sources of funding with capacities to scale up available resources and exchange of expertise; identify new approaches for additional funding for projects, irrigation and sanitation
- Promote innovative technologies to address the negative impacts of water-related disasters
Besides these, enhancement of dialogue on water and sanitation under the UN framework, promotion of sub-regional, regional and international South-South partnerships, joint undertaking for development of irrigation and transfer of low-cost technologies, exchange of experience on the application of good governance between the member states and establishment of a G-77 Achievement Award in the field of water were stipulated in the declaration.
The Group of 77 was established in 1964 by seventy-seven developing countries and is the largest intergovernmental organisation of developing states in the United Nations
Source: Kabeer Yousuf, Oman Daily Observer / zawya.com, 29 Feb 2009
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