Summary
The African Ministers' Council on Water
(AMCOW) Technical Advisory Commitee and Executive Committee meetings
were held here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27-30 June 2005, in Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia.
The four days session started with the
Technical Advisory group meeting that discussed the operationalization
of the $650 million African Water Facility housed at the African
Development Bank, the outcomes of the UN-Water/Africa seminar
on gender and water resources management in Africa and the TIGER
Project on Space-Water-Africa. A progress report on the consideration
by the European Union Water Facility of the funding proposal submitted
by AMCOW was presented. The purpose of the proposal was to secure
funding support for the implementation of the triennial work programme
of AMCOW.
Following the AMCOW Technical Advisory
meeting the 7th meeting of the Executive Committee convened on
29 June 2005 and was attended by African water Ministers and representatives
from the five African Sub-regions. In attendance were the representatives
of the African Union, NEPAD, Africa Development Bank (ADB), Nile
Basin Initiative, and officials of the UN Water Africa, i.e. WMO,
UNECA, UNEP, UNICEF, European Union and Global Water Partnership.
The meetings were attended by more than
60 participants composed of ministers, technical advisors, and
representatives from 20 countries. These experts and high-level
government officials came together to discuss the status of implementation
of various ministerial decisions on water, which emerged out of
the 5th Ordinary session of the African Minister’s Council
on Water in Entebbe last year.
“Our eight-month journey from Entebbe
in November 2004, to Addis Ababa in June 2005 has been characterized
by a number of significant regional and global developments with
significant implications for AMCOW” the President of AMCOW,
Hon. Maria Mutagamba said in her opening statement at the Executive
Committee meeting.
Josué Dioné, Director, Sustainable
Development Division, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
and ex-Chairman of the UN-Water/Africa stated the goals of the
International Decade “Water for Life” as to:
- Generate and sustain greater focus on
water-related issues at all levels both spatially (global, regional,
national and local) and functionally (political, technical and
social);
- Focus on implementation of water-related
programmes and projects -- Our Pan African Conference on Water
held here was a step ahead in this effort;
- Ensure active, effective and fruitful
participation and involvement of women in all aspects in water-related
development efforts – a goal of particular importance
to our Region; and
- Promote international cooperation and
partnership for achieving the international targets.
He said, “this new Decade offers
Africa a chance to make amends and we must seize it to ensure
that the objectives of the African Water Vision 2025 and the Millennium
Development Goals are achieved.”
The meeting accorded particular attention
to the Agenda items relating to the triennial work programme and
trust fund of AMCOW, the African Water Facility, and strengthening
AMCOW work at the country and sub-regional level, relation between
AMCOW and AU, relations with regional economic communities as
well as river and lake basin organisations. In addition, the implementation
of the EU Water Initiative for Africa was reviewed.
Consideration was given to the hosting agreement proposed by the
government of Nigeria with respect to AMCOW Secretariat. Furthermore,
the AMCOW’s contribution to the 2005 World Summit on the
five-year review of the millennium declaration as well as the
forthcoming G8 Summit were discussed. In this regard, the implications
for AMCOW of the outcomes of the 13th Session of Commission on
Sustainable Development were considered including the needed follow
up in the region. The role of Private Public Partnership in Water
Supply was also reviewed. Announcements were also made on forthcoming
international conferences and Workshops in Kenya, South Africa
and Uganda.
Proposals for enhancing coordination and
communication between and among the members of AMCOW were discussed.
The role of AMCOW in the 2006 4th World Water Forum was also given
due consideration by the Executive Committee.
