Abdoulaye Sène
Executive Secretary of the 9th World Water Forum "Dakar 2021"
See you in Dakar in a year for the Forum of responses
World Water Day will be celebrated on Monday 22 March 2020 under the theme of "Water and Climate Change". A theme of great topicality because water is at the heart of current and future challenges for mitigation and resilience to this phenomenon. With a changing climate and its negative consequences on water availability and food security, the international community must mobilize to ensure that human development is not compromised.
This year's celebration of World Water Day comes in a particular context with the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). We express our compassion and solidarity to all those who are suffering throughout the world because of this unprecedented situation. It is often said that water is vital for health and therefore for life. What is currently happening with COVID-19 illustrates and confirms this perfectly. Without water available in sufficient quality and quantity, it will be impossible to face this great universal threat. The response requires hygiene measures and behavioural change. These are essentially barrier gestures, one of the most recommended of which is hand washing with soap. Without water this is not possible.
This situation challenges all actors involved in the fight to improve access to water and sanitation, especially decision-makers who must place this issue at the heart of the international political agenda. The 9th World Water Forum which will take place in Dakar, from 22 to 27 March 2021, under the theme of "Water Security for Peace and Development", will provide concrete responses to the challenges of water, with major innovations such as multi-stakeholders exchanges, the Summit of Heads of State and International Institutions, the Dakar 2021 Initiative for the labelling of innovative projects, etc. The Forum will therefore provide a unique platform for the world water community (Governments, private sector, civil society, academia, youth, women and other stakeholders) to identify ways and means to achieve sustainable development goals by 2030.
Get involved now in the preparatory process and meet in a year in Dakar, the World Water Capital, for a Forum that promises to be historic.
