The EU Water Initative
About human dignity
Water supply and sanitation are not just about quantity and quality. Millions die each year from diseases related to unsafe water, or for lack of access to water. Millions more are forced to waste whole days of work or school just to fetch water from remote locations. And the numbers of those forced to emigrate by drought and climate change climb every year.
About goodwill
The principle of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) is widely accepted internationally. But how do we implement it in the field rapidly and efficiently? The answer is not simple. It requires proper water governance & management, sustainable river basin approaches, financial resources and – perhaps above all else – political commitment.
About initiative
In 2002, at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, we launched the “European Union Water Initiative” EUWI-Water for Life. The goal? “To create the conditions for mobilising all available EU resources (human & financial), and to coordinate them to achieve the water-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in partner countries.”
About cooperation
EUWI is an international political initiative, not a financial mechanism. It takes a partnership approach with national governments, donors, the water industry, NGOs and other stakeholders. Through national policy dialogues, it aims to improve coordination & cooperation and deliver more effective development assistance.
Our approach
The EUWI is based on a participative multi-stakeholder approach. Various strategic partnerships in specific regions draw together government, civil society, private sector and other stakeholders. A number of working groups has been established. Working groups have either a regional focus (e.g. Africa, Mediterranean, EECCA and Latin America) or they concentrate on cross-cutting issues (e.g. Research, Finance). The Coordination Group (CG) ensures coherence of all EUWI activities.
The Multi Stakeholder Forum
- Is an advisory body and an open forum for debate
- Members represent water development interests in the focus regions
- Annual meeting are held at the World Water Week to review the EUWI activities
The Coordination Group
- Has a limited number of members and represents the broad multi-stakeholder interest in the EUWI.
- Gives feed back on annual work plans and reports from the Working Groups
- Chaired by EC, meets twice a year
The Regional Working Groups for Africa, Latin America, EECCA and the Mediterranean.
- Open to representatives from member states, partner countries and other interested organisations.
- Responsible for implementing the EUWI mission objectives.
- Designs work plans and monitoring indicators
Cross-cutting issues
- Currently separate working groups exist for Finance, Research and Communication exists.
- Should be addressed within each Regional WG.
The Secretariat
The Secretariat is managed by the EC (it includes the directorates DEV, ENV, RTD, RELEX, JRC and EuropeAid) and
- Manages communication and prepares meetings
- Compiles the annual report
What we work for
New EUWI Leaflets
To learn more about the EU Water Initiative, take a look at the leaflets presenting the EUWI activities according to its 5 objectives.
| Reinforce Political Commitment |
Succes requires commitment by all
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| Promote Water Governance |
Better assessments lead to better
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| Improve Water Management |
One must think before acting
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| Strenghten River Basin Approches |
Joint management promotes peaceful relations
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| Catalysing Financial Resources |
Dialogues and policies must produce tangible
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