Updates about the preparatory process
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In March 2023, the UN will host the first intergovernmental conference on water since nearly 50 years. The main objective is to support the achievement of the water-related goals and targets contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The government of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of Netherlands will co-host the conference, with the UN Under-General for Economic and Social Affairs as Secretary General.
Find more information on the Conference:
► The Butterfly Effect is actively preparing for this conference, which will be a key momentum for the water sector. We are in close dialogue with the main organizers of this conference and will do our utmost to ensure that our members and partners can be fully involved
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Interactive dialogues and stakeholders' consultations
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The co-hosts of the Conference, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Republic of Tajikistan, after consulting with Member States, United Nations Entities and stakeholders have shared a proposal of themes for the 5 interactive dialogues:
- Water for Health: Access to safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation (SDG 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and SDGs 1, 3, 4, 5, 17);
- Water for Development: Valuing Water, Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Economic and Urban Development (SDG 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and SDGs 2, 8, 9, 11, 12);
- Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment: Source to Sea, Biodiversity, Climate, Resilience and DRR (SDGs 6.5, 6.6, 7, 11.5, 13, 14, 15);
- Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross Sectoral Cooperation and Water Across the 2030 Agenda (SDG 6.5, 6.b and SDG 16, 17);
- Water Action Decade: Accelerating the implementation of the objectives of the Decade including through the UN SG’s Action Plan.
In early 2022, stakeholders were invited to contribute proposals for the themes of the interactive dialogues through a first global online consultation and further in September through the second global online consultation.
► We are pleased to see some of our recommandations taken into consideration in the report on the second global online consultation published on October 21 and delighted to see the influence of the Butterfly Effect NGO coalition - cited as an example of action under theme 5 on page 37.
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The themes of the interactive dialogues and other outstanding organizational matters pertaining to the Conference were finalized during a one-day preparatory meeting on 25 October 2022 at the UN Headquarters in New York to be hosted by the President of the UN General Assembly. To ensure the meaningful participation of all relevant stakeholders, the President also convened a one-day stakeholder consultation on 24 October 2022.
► The Butterfly Effect was present in person and online both on 24 and 25 October to facilitate civil society positions for water.
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On 24th, in a series of five roundtables, the event aimed at discussing potential transformative game changers that can feed into the Water Action Agenda. The accelerators of the Global Acceleration Framework (governance, capacity development, data and information, innovation, and financing) along with the suggested 5 themes for the Interactive Dialogues of the UN 2023 Water Conference formed the basis of the discussion.
► Key messages and priorities of the Butterfly Effect NGO coalition were presented.
On 25th, Member States and all relevant stakeholders were invited to share their views on the themes of the interactive dialogues, as proposed by the co-hosts of the Conference and were finalized.
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Second round of application for special accreditation
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The second round of the Special Accreditation for Non-Governmental Organizations and Other Stakeholders is open until December 2.
Seeking special accreditation will allow you to register for the Conference as observers and is open to organizations that do not have ECOSOC status as well as those that were not invited to participate in the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in 2000 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Approved organizations will be able to request registration of representatives to attend the Conference and its preparatory meetings but does not guarantee it.
Registration to the Conference will open in the beginning of 2023.
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Civil society and youth organizing towards the UN 2023 Water Conference
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On December 8, from 2 to 4 pm (CET) ISW under the Butterfly Effect NGO Coalition is organizing an informative workshop on the Conference intitled “Civil society and youth organizing towards the 2023 Water Conference”, in partnership with End Water Poverty, Coalition Eau, SIMAVI, Sanitation and Water for All and the Global Youth Movement for Water.
The workshop will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation into French and Spanish.
This workshop aims to provide participants with a comprehensive presentation of what to expect from the conference, as well as the different opportunities for civil society and youth organizations (CSOs) to actively participate and exert influence.
In addition, this workshop also aims to strengthen the synergies and dialogues with CSOs and youth in the preparation of the conference. Time will be dedicated to open discussions on potential common messages and exchange on planned actions of the participants.
A second workshop will be held on December 14th for members and partners from Asia.
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Strengthening the Latin American Civil Society organizations towards the Conference
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On November 3rd, authorities and Latin American Civil Society organizations discussed how to strengthen water commitments in the region, in view of the UN Water Conference.
Civil society organizations and Butterfly Effect partners have joined forces with key decision-makers in Latin America to conduct a structured dialogue on how to achieve ambitious binding commitments at the state level in the context of weak global water governance.
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The following questions were addressed:
- How to develop ambitious and binding commitments for countries?
- What are the obstacles and what should be the catalysts for effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda?
- What are the pathways to effective global water governance to accelerate the scaling up of responses to the water crisis?
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The Valuing Water Initiative (VWI) Webinars
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The Valuing Water Initiative (VWI) is collaborating with the UN Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in the third edition of the Regional Water Dialogues, triggered by the UN 2023 Water Conference and the Water Action Agenda. A main objective of the Water Dialogue is to communicate and consolidate commitments made to accelerate the achievement of SDG 6 in LAC based on a sustainable and inclusive water transition.
In this setting, the VWI with the support of Deltares and the Global Water Partnership (GWP) is organizing a series of webinars focused on introducing the VWP and exchanging knowledge and experiences on how these can be applied in LAC, and in particular how these can strengthen the consolidation of commitments ahead of the UN 2023 Water conference, to be held in New York in March next year.
- What does valuing water mean in practice, and why is it important for the UN Water conference?
- Latin America: December 7th 09:00 – 10:30 (GMT-6)
- Caribbean: December 14th 09:00 – 10:30 (GMT-6)
These webinars will focus on introducing the VWP and providing a platform to share initiatives interested in consolidating their commitments under the VWP.
- What are the next steps for the valuing water principles in the region? Defining directions and the actions needed to get there
The session will focus on exchanging lessons learned in strengthening commitments under the VWP, presenting ideas of possible VW journeys and discussing the next steps towards the UN Water Conference and beyond.
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Our engagement towards the UN 2023 Water Conference
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Even though there won’t be any negotiated outcome, the Butterfly Effect sees this conference as an unique opportunity to pave the way for a coordinated and ambitious response to the global water crisis and effective implementation of the Agenda 2030, in particular the SDG6.
Therefore, the Steering Committee is following an action plan that aims to mobilize and promote the active participation of the Butterfly Effect members and international CSOs in the Conference and its preparation process but also to advocate for this Conference to result in concrete and ambitious actions for water and sanitation.
► To that end, the Secretariat is involved in a preparatory working group (IPWG) to support the substantive preparations and propose inputs for the concept note of the interactive dialogue 5 “Water Action Decade”. The Secretariat will contribute to this working group by emphasing the need of a renewed multilateral framework and international governance.
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Elections of the Steering committee
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Elections to renew 1/3 of the seats of the steering committee took place from August to October 2022. The Steering Committee is the decision-making body of the Butterfly Effect, is formed by 11 members representing different geographic areas. For every election one third of the seats are up for (re)elections, establishing a rotation system and allowing for continuity at the same time.
We are pleased to present you the final composition of the new Steering Committee
- Africa: Sareen MALIK (ANEW) + Mame Tacko DIALLO (POSCEAS)
- Asia: Shamim Arfeen (AOSED) + Lenjana MANANDHAR (FANSA)
- Europe: Sandra METAYER (Coalition Eau) + Hasmik BARSEYGHAN (EYWP)
- Latin America: Nathalie SEGUIN (FANMex) + Monica Olvera Moline (Redes del Agua)
- North America: Sarah DOUSSE (SIE-SEE)
- Global: Camille Bureau (ACF) + Lesha Witmer (Women for Water Partnership)
Congratulations to the newly elected: We are looking forward to your initiatives, proposals, and active engagement.
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Upcoming events in the water sector
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