WaterLinks Forums

WaterLinks Forum 2018 was held at Bayanihan Centre of UNILAB in Pasig City from 25-27 September 2018.

The Forum gathered over 200 participants composed of water operators, industry leaders, sector professionals, and policymakers from various countries. The trade exhibition also demonstrated some of the latest technologies in water and wastewater management.

The Forum tackled the subject of the water-food-energy-climate change nexus as a way to solve Asia’s water crisis. Participants found the Forum subject thought-provoking and a good start to a conversation that recognizes the extent of water’s dependence on energy and the move towards energy neutrality; the dependence of energy on water, especially hydropower and fossil fuel-based energy; and the dependence of food production on both water and energy – all of which, singly and jointly, are impacted by climate change.

A half-day session convened with UNESCO also explored the potential for the establishment of a Water Alliance for Megacities with presentations from the megacities of Kolkata, India; Seoul, Korea; and our very own, Metro Manila, Philippines.

WaterLinks Forum 2016 was held at the Dusit Hotel Thani, in Manila, Philippines, from 5-7 October. Billed, “Building Climate-Resilient Water Utilities in Urban Asia,” it was a major learning event that brought together urban water practitioners and policymakers from Asia and the Pacific to understand their climate scenarios better, become more familiar with a range of issues, and explore adaptation options. Close to 300 delegates from 24 countries participated in numerous sessions that included plenary seminars, workshops, and panel discussions. These discussions were competently delivered by universally renowned experts and practitioners in water and wastewater, climate and geoscience, environmental and urban development, and development finance.

The forum also featured a technical exhibition showcasing 16 international and local water technology firms, industry suppliers, and operators that demonstrated excellent practices in various facets of operations and water management.

The Forum concluded on a high note. Participants saw the imperatives of understanding climate science and the movements of key climate parameters. They obtained insights into the laboratories of technology and how their application would enable climate resilience in a period mired in growing water scarcity and uncertainty. Accessing climate finance was recognized as a function of diligent and rigorous preparatory work, but a necessary ingredient to insulate against future shocks. And the value of partnerships in building capacities and sharing knowledge was clearly noted by participating decision-makers, managers, and leaders most of whom were given new, compelling reasons to identify the vulnerabilities of their respective operating environments, and thereafter design more responsive solutions – i.e., building better, training, emergency response plans, and efficiency reforms.

If even a small part of these takeaways are translated into action, the Forum will have served a useful purpose.

The WaterLinks Forum 2014 in Manila, Philippines, gathered over 200 participants from Asia, Africa, Australia, and the United States from Aug. 11 to 13 to demonstrate how partnerships between urban water services providers, coupled with innovation and private sector support, can help address key issues such as urban water insecurity and climate change adaptation.

​Reed Aeschliman, Deputy Mission Director of USAID Philippines, and Amy Leung, Chair of the Community of Practice (Water) at ADB opened the Forum. Both underscored the importance of the international community’s commitment to solving the water crisis. In his keynote address, Arjun Thapan, Chairman of WaterLinks, the issues of water scarcity, water quality, the need to create new water, and the challenge for the water sector to be climate change resilient in the context of the economic water scarcity crisis in Asia.

Secretary Rogelio Singson, of the Department of Public Works and Highways, delivered the second keynote address, where he stressed the need for public-private partnerships in coming up with innovative projects to address the problems of the country in the water sector. He also opened the WaterLinks Exhibit, which included companies such as Manila Water, consulting firms such as Arup and Miya, and technology providers like Xylem, Pure, and AVK, among others.

​The two-day Forum covered topics like NRW Management, Reusing and Managing Wastewater, Climate Change Adaptation Programs in Action, and the Economics of Water Quality Management. The speakers were experts from all over Asia, the United States, and Australia. WaterLinks also led the discussion on the range and scale of impact of water operator partnerships in increasing the operational efficiencies of recipients.

A memorandum of understanding was signed at the Forum by USAID; WaterLinks; Miya Philippines, Inc.; Borouge Pte. Ltd.; and the Indonesian Water Supply Association (PERPAMSI) are committed to helping improve the urban water supply and sanitation of at least 220,000 people in Asia. At the end of the Forum was a networking session between potential mentors and recipient water operators, which was attended by the Forum speakers and delegates.

TBuilding on the 2009 Forum outcomes, WaterLinks convened its second forum from May 4-5, 2010 in Manila, Philippines. The Forum, entitled “Replication and Scale-Up of Good Practices in Water Services Delivery in Asia”, aimed to further promote S/WOP; develop a regional strategy for supporting regional and national replication and scale-up through S/WOP and other capacity-building initiatives; and extend the reach and sustainability of WaterLinks through expanded cooperation with other development partners and network organizations. More than 115 participants from utilities, associations, NGOs, and international development organizations attended the event. The Forum achieved the following major results:

• ●ECO-Asia and IWA presented the results of an operators survey from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam
• ●Participants unanimously endorsed S/WOP as a tool for capacity building
• ●Operators signed up for 37 face-to-face meetings at the Forum
• ●Participants identified strategies for overcoming funding and human resource constraints to scale up and replication
• ●Participants identified methods to improve the targeted dissemination of knowledge to increase replication
• ●WaterLinks’ first-ever Award for Excellence in Scale-up and Replication and Award for Best Outcome were presented
• ●Partners developed a plan for the transition of the WaterLinks Secretariat over the next two years