The goal of Senegal and the World Water Council is to organize a more effective Forum at the social, political and economic levels, a Forum Catalyst for Action on commitments on water and sanitation, a Forum connected with the SDG agendas, platforms and commitments, the Sendai Agreement on Natural Hazards and Disasters, the Paris Climate Agreement, Africa's Agenda 2063, etc., and a contextualized, global and local Forum, anchored on the main water challenges of Africa and the world. It is important to note that previous editions of the World Water Forum included three major processes: thematic, political and regional. The 9th World Water Forum in Dakar will mark a break with the institutional organization of past Forums. It focuses on an integrated preparation based on quality exchanges, multiactors around a limited number of priorities integrating the previous tools of the processes: thematic, political, regional, citizen. The Dakar 2021 Forum will focus on four priorities:
- Water security and sanitation
- Cooperation
- Water for rural development
- Means and tools
The process will be facilitated by specialized working groups structured around the 4 priorities. Each working group will be led by Senegal and the World Water Council, and supported by strategic partners (governments, intergovernmental, bilateral and multilateral organizations, financial institutions and non-governmental organizations). Strategic partners should play a leading role from the preparatory process to the organization of the Forum.
« Dakar 2021 » Initiative
One of the innovative features of the 9th World Water Forum is the implementation of responses to people's expectations. This is essentially the "Dakar 2021 initiative", a project labelling mechanism that generates commitments and actions to accelerate progress, in particular for the achievement of the SDGs. The "Dakar 2021 Initiative" will be followed by a specific group, which will take stock of the progress made in the dynamics of the 9th World Water Forum.
Heads of State Summit
Beyond the work of the groups, a Summit of Heads of State and major international institutions is planned to advance the international political agenda at the mid-point of the 2030 agenda with regard to the implementation of water and sanitation targets and sustainable development objectives. The recommended approach aims to make "Dakar 2021" a Forum for responses, for demonstrating results, a political Forum with the involvement of Heads of State and Government.
