What is the World Water Forum?

The World Water Forum is a three year process of dialogue and reflection, culminating in the world’s most important water gathering with over 20,000 participants.

The water dialogues focus on key issues related to wise management of water resources and ecosystems and access to water and sanitation services. They bring together an overview on water issues specific to each region of the world. They define how water is of strategic importance for development, well-being and security. Participants in the dialogues include politicians, scientists, professionals and devoted citizens.

The purpose of the World Water Forum is to create platforms where:
- the water and development communities initiate national, regional and global partnerships;
- scientists and citizens offer new perspectives to pressing water dilemmas;
- politicians and water experts exchange ideas and develop innovative solutions;
- world leaders sign agreements on pressing water issues;
- the media gives water greater attention.

The World Water Forum is organised by the World Water Council in collaboration with the Host Country and the Host City.

The World Water Forum has a significant involvement of elected officials including Mayors, Parliamentarians, Ministers and Heads of State. Their involvement provides the unique opportunity to put wise water management higher on the political agenda. In preparing for the Ministerial Conference, the World Water Council collaborates closely with the Host Country and the United Nations.

The 5th World Water Forum

Over 25,000 participants took part in the 5th World Water Forum, from 16 to 22 March 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey, making it the world's biggest water-related event.

On the road towards the 5th World Water Forum, the international water community worked together according to a precept of “Bridging Divides for Water.” Those who actively participated in its preparation and in the event, itself, soon realized, however, that there is more that unites us than divides us, above all, our fervor to provide water to those most in need.

Read more about the main outcomes of the 5th World Water Forum in terms of political processes, panels, the thematic prgramme, regional processes and other activities 

The 6th World Water Forum

The 6th World Water Forum will build upon and go beyond the recommendations and outputs of the 5th World Water Forum. Working around the idea of “Solutions for Water”, it will seek to identify, promote and develop concrete solutions for water. We invite you to start thinking along those lines within your organization and networks, and bring to the kick-off your ideas and solutions.

The Forum will take place in March 2012 in Marseille, France. In June 2010, a Kick-off meeting marks the beginning of a 2-year countdown towards the large event. For more information, please contact the press office.