Final Report Summary - ASEMWATERNET (Multi-stakeholder platform for ASEM S&T cooperation on sustainable water use)
In contemporary societies water is both a major concern and a driving force for sustainable development. The implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), apart from setting objectives and imposing monitoring schemes and action plans, motivated the Member States to synchronise their actions and communicate with each other in order to promote sustainability in the water sector. In this context, the ASEMWATERNET platform aimed to progressively integrate, at national and international events, an ongoing collaboration and scientific discussion forum between Asia and Europe on water management issues.
More specifically, the project platform aimed to contribute to the commitments of the European Union's Water Initiative and the Millennium development goals (MDGs) regarding the sustainable access to safe drinking water, global partnerships and development and environmental sustainability by building and promoting a multi-stakeholder platform with the aim of increasing the contributions of scientific study and knowledge to integrated water resource management. Five principal issues were identified during the first project workshop in Asia, namely:
1. river basin management;
2. water use efficiency in agriculture;
3. erosion, flash floods and floods;
4. pollution and water quality; and
5. governance as a cross-cutting issue that would strengthen the links between knowledge and action.
The project implemented an interdisciplinary approach involving scientists, public authorities, the private sector and representatives of the civil society. From a scientific point of view, ASEMWATERNET succeeded in stimulating ongoing projects that were undertaken by the involved parties. Moreover, the obtained progress served as a basis for innovative approaches, which were disseminated via the network communication paths. Networking success was significant and the established routes were anticipated to continue facilitating information exchange after the project completion.
The identification of new options and solutions, the assembling of forces and strengths, the combination of approaches and the confrontation of methodologies contributed to an improved use of water resources. This helped to pave the way for 'best practices' in water management, which mainly concerned the involved countries but could also be of general interest. The implemented dissemination plan, which included both internal and external dissemination using a series of activities and the establishment of a project website, was critical in this direction.
More specifically, the project platform aimed to contribute to the commitments of the European Union's Water Initiative and the Millennium development goals (MDGs) regarding the sustainable access to safe drinking water, global partnerships and development and environmental sustainability by building and promoting a multi-stakeholder platform with the aim of increasing the contributions of scientific study and knowledge to integrated water resource management. Five principal issues were identified during the first project workshop in Asia, namely:
1. river basin management;
2. water use efficiency in agriculture;
3. erosion, flash floods and floods;
4. pollution and water quality; and
5. governance as a cross-cutting issue that would strengthen the links between knowledge and action.
The project implemented an interdisciplinary approach involving scientists, public authorities, the private sector and representatives of the civil society. From a scientific point of view, ASEMWATERNET succeeded in stimulating ongoing projects that were undertaken by the involved parties. Moreover, the obtained progress served as a basis for innovative approaches, which were disseminated via the network communication paths. Networking success was significant and the established routes were anticipated to continue facilitating information exchange after the project completion.
The identification of new options and solutions, the assembling of forces and strengths, the combination of approaches and the confrontation of methodologies contributed to an improved use of water resources. This helped to pave the way for 'best practices' in water management, which mainly concerned the involved countries but could also be of general interest. The implemented dissemination plan, which included both internal and external dissemination using a series of activities and the establishment of a project website, was critical in this direction.
