Stockholm World Water Week

This year's theme 'Seeing the Unseen: the Value of Water' is addressing the unprecedented pressure on the world's freshwater from fast-rising temperatures, populations, and consumption patterns. Also, revealing and understanding the value of water will trigger much-needed decisions, innovations, and investments in managing water better according to SIWI, the organiser of the World Water Week.

The event programme will offer some 300 sessions, curated by SIWI, on a broad range of water-related topics, together with networking opportunities and closed meetings. The on-site exhibition showcases countries, organisations and initiatives. Here are some of NWP's highlights.

Highlights

• Supporting the Government of the Netherlands at the SWWW on-site exhibition

The Government of the Netherlands (GoN) is official partner of the Stockholm World Water Week. Next to that, GoN is using the SWWW as a platform to connect in the lead-up to the UN 2023 Water Conference which will be hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands in March 2023. NWP is offering support, on request of the GoN, by facilitating an on-site exhibition and meeting room with an inspiring programme.

The programme includes closed or invitation only meet-ups, but also facilitates contributions of the Dutch water sector. Think after-session chats, presentations, networking drinks, inspiration talks, and more. If you are joining the live event in Stockholm, please visit Exhibition space 03:10 and room 355 (03:12). We hope to meet you there!
 

• NoWNET online session on Nature-based Solutions | 25 August, 13.00-14.20 | online

Within the framework of the Northern Water Network (NoWNET), NWP is co-organising the online session 'NBS for Climate Action with Sound Watershed Management' on Thursday 25 August, 13:00-14:20. Representing the NWP network is Matthijs Bouw of One Architecture. This session discusses the value of NBS to mitigate water-related disasters, sharing lessons learned from NBS projects in urban and rural areas focusing on watershed-level from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It will examine how we can overcome trade-off challenges and scale up using technologies, governance, and financing arrangements.

The Northern Water Network (NoWNET) is a network of country level water partnerships in the industrialised countries for sharing knowledge, linking stakeholders, raising awareness and organising meetings. The Japan Water Forum has maintained a role as the Secretariat of the NoWNET since its establishment in 2004.
 

• Building financial sustainability of SMEs to achieve SDG6 after COVID | 29 August, 16.00-17.30 | online & on-site session, room: 453

Are investors shying away from SDG6? If not, are SMEs ready to take this opportunity? Joseph Murabula, CEO of KIFFWA and one of the panelists in this session, will contribute with his view on SMEs and their importance & impact. 

The Kenya Innovative Finance Facility for Water (KIFFWA) is a programme that co-develops water initiatives in Kenya by providing early-stage capital, finance and technical expertise to support the creation of viable water investment opportunities. And attracts private sources of funding. KIFFWA is managed by the Netherlands Water Partnership (NWP) with funding and support from the Dutch Embassy in Kenya. More

• Youth Engagement at SWWW

Through the Young Expert Programmes, NWP also contributes to the World Water Week's programme co-convening two sessions:

1. Valuing Women and Youth in the Water Sector: Advancing Careers | 28 August, 11.00-12.30 | Room: 300 – Folkets Hus
   Recognising the need to incorporate more women and youth in the water sector, Young Expert Programmes and its partners Water Youth Network, World Bank’s Equal Aqua platform and IWA Emerging Water Leaders will hold a session on ‘Valuing Women and Youth in the Water Sector’ on 28 August. During the session, speakers will share their experience in the water sector. In addition, the session will provide participants with practical tools and resources to draw from in their organisations, including those developed by Equal Aqua and the Institute for Sustainable Futures to support greater equality and diversity in the water management sector.
2. Youth Engagement: From Why to How | 1 September, 09.00-10.30 | Room: Pillar Hall 
   Last year, the Valuing Water Youth Taskforce was launched with the objective to stimulate youth engagement across the water sector. Now it is time to take a step forward. On 1 September, Young Expert Programmes and its partners will hold a session on ‘Youth Engagement: From Why to How’. In this session, the founders and members of the Valuing Water Youth Taskforce will share key lessons from their work and discuss the way forward for youth in the water sector, concluding with a call to action for the UN Water Conference 2023.
   
   In partnership with: Government of the Netherlands, International Union for Conservation of Nature, KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, The International Federation of Private Water Operators, World Waternet and Youth for the Rhine. 

Wavemakers United, an initiative supported by NWP and YEP Programmes, will launch the SDG Game Changer Challenge at SWWW on 29 August, 14.30-16.30. Join them in Exhibition Room 355. Wavemakers United is an online platform where the initiators aim to educate the youth within local communities about the functions and values of water. All with a mindset of positive energy! 

• NWP network active at SWWW

Over the years, SWWW has been a well attended event by the Dutch water sector. Many organisations within the NWP network are delivering contributions to the online and live programme and/or the on-site exhibition. Not only as an individual organisation but also as part of a bigger, international, initiative. Take a look at the SWWW programme to join our members in Stockholm. NWP members (initiatives) attending are:

• Aqua for All
• Deltares
• FINISH Mondial (an initiative by NWP Members WASTE, Amref Flying Doctors, Aqua for All and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• FSM Alliance (including NWP member SNV)
• Government of the Netherlands
• IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
• IRC
• KWR Watercycle Research Institute
• Max Foundation
• Plan International
• Simavi
• SNV Netherlands Development Organisation
• Wageningen University & Research
• WASH Alliance International (including NWP members Simavi, WASTE, AMREF Flying Doctors, akvo, Wetlands International, IRC, Practica Foundation)
• Water Peace and Security partnership (including NWP Members IHE Delft, Deltares and Wetlands International)
• WaterWorX (including NWP members VEI, Waterschapsbedrijf Limburg, Waterbedrijf Groningen, PWN, Brabant Water, Dunea, Oasen, WMD Drinkwater, Waternet and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
• World Waternet
• 50L Home Coalition (supported by NWP and NWP Member Arcadis)

And NWP partner World Bank Group.