UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ON SUSTAINABILITY OF FRESHWATER IN AFRICA TO BE HELD 26-30 OCTOBER IN NAIROBI

Press Release
UNEP/49

UN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME ON SUSTAINABILITY OF FRESHWATER IN AFRICA TO BE HELD 26-30 OCTOBER IN NAIROBI

NAIROBI, 22 October (UNEP) -- At a workshop to be held at the headquarters of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) from 26 to 30 October, more than 100 experts and policy makers will hold discussions on the sustainable management of freshwater resources in Africa.

The sponsors of the workshop are: the European Union; the International Project Office of the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP); the Project on the Biospheric Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle (BAHC), Potsdam, Germany; the Pan-Africa System Analysis for Research and Training (START) secretariat and UNEP's Regional Office for Africa.

Kipngeno Arap Ngeny, Minister of Water Resources, Kenya, is expected to give the opening keynote address.

The outcome of the workshop will contribute to Africa's quest for appropriate policy and programmatic responses to the water-based needs of the peoples of the region. The main political, economic, social and environmental goal for governments in the next millennium is to ensure that the poor majority in urban and rural areas get their fair share of safe water and water-based services. To attain self- sufficiency, freshwater resources must be managed sustainably. These goals are central to the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative on Africa, whose Water Working Group UNEP is chairing.

It is within this context that the workshop will focus on linking science and policy through an integrated natural and social science approach and will address water as a resource at the watershed and catchment levels. Presentations will focus on issues and problems, assess current state of knowledge and working groups will focus on thematic issues and regional case studies.

According to Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director of UNEP: "Water is an indicator of sustainability. Its quality and availability indicate the level of social development within a community. It is an indicator of poverty. It indicates social tensions and it is also a proven indicator of the quality of the environment".

UNEP continues to support a number of water assessment, management and collaborative initiatives in Africa. It is also working with African countries to enhance their access to resources in financial mechanisms such as the Global Environment Facility. The United Nations Turner Foundation is extending support to water projects submitted by the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat) and UNEP.

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