The World Water Forum, the world’s largest water-related event, is organized every three years as a joint venture between the World Water Council and the government of the host country. After previous Fora in Morocco (1997), the Netherlands (2000), Japan (2003) and Mexico (2006), the 5th World Water Forum will be held in Istanbul, Turkey in March 2009. The Forum is an open, all-inclusive, multi-stakeholder process, which is the culmination of over two years of preparatory activities. In this way, the World Water Forum is not just a week-long event; it is a process which aims to raise the importance, awareness and understanding of water issues and propose concrete solutions to address global challenges.
Understanding divergent stances
The challenge faced by those involved in the organization of the 5th World Water Forum is to make it a turning point for water management in the world. This Forum must truly be different, and the organizers hope to achieve this by making the preparation of the Forum both open and participatory, and focusing on action. The 5th World Water Forum will thus aim to bring more to the world than merely ideas and debate amongst water experts; it will bring the world to Istanbul to improve our understanding of divergent points of view and allow us to share solutions.
