Water experts, development professionals, financial institutions and policy-makers gather in Buenos Aires to find solutions for an increasingly water scarce future

Buenos Aires and The Hague, 12 November 2017 – Over 2,000 participants from 80 countries will meet this week in Buenos Aires to find solutions to the world’s growing water challenges, some of the most critical issues confronting the planet today. The Water and Development Congress (13 – 16 November) brings together water science and research with the public and private sectors, financial institutions and policy makers, to drive water cooperation and water solutions that can be applied globally.

The Water and Development Congress is a global water event focusing on developing and emerging economies, countries with some of the most significant water challenges now and in the future. Organised by the International Water Association, participants will explore how new research, best practices, policies and regulation, and new financial models from around the world, can help meet the growing threats to both water availability and water quality, and make progress towards achieving universal access to safe water and sanitation.

“Water is pivotal for societal development, environmental health and sustainable economic growth”, says Professor Kala Vairavamoorthy, Executive Director of the International Water Association. “There is enormous potential to address water challenges by implementing available solutions and best practice at scale, as well as through innovations in science, technology and policy.”

The Water and Development Congress is a global event that provides a platform for national, regional and international cooperation on water. It bridges the gap between the science and practice of water management, connecting it with industry, financial institutions, civil society and policy makers, to deliver practical solutions that help achieve the globally agreed 2030 Sustainable Development Goal vision for water.

The Water and Development Congress features a wide range of experts from all areas of the water and development sectors. Thought leaders speaking at the Congress include:

• Jeffrey Sachs, renowned economist (Columbia University);
• Pablo Bereciartua, Secretary for Water Resources, Argentina;
• Kala Vairavamoorthy, urban water management expert  (International Water Association);
• Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Kingdom of The Netherlands;
• Léo Heller, UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights to safe drinking water and sanitation;
• Eleanor Allen, CEO of Water for People;
• Guangzhe Chen, Senior Director, Water Global Practice at the World Bank;
• Dhesigen Naidoo, CEO of the Water Research Commission, South Africa.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Marta Jimenez (IWA) Tel +31 63193 4081,marta.jimenez@iwahq.org (Spanish and English)

Paul Bell (IWA) Tel +31 64660 7771, paul.bell@iwahq.org (English)

Rui Veras (IWA) Tel +31 62905 5522, rui.veras@iwahq.org (Portuguese and English)

For more on speakers and the full programme for the Congress please visit: www.waterdevelopmentcongress.org/

About the International Water Association:

The International Water Association is a global knowledge hub for water professionals and anyone concerned about the future of water. It has sixty-year heritage connecting water professionals worldwide to find solutions to the world’s water challenges as part of a broader sustainability agenda. As a non-profit organisation with members in more than 130 countries, the IWA connects scientists to practitioners and communities so that pioneering research delivers sustainable solutions. It further fosters technological innovation and drives best practice through international frameworks and standards.