The Regional Process

Introduction
Africa Region
Americas Region
Asia-Pacific Region
Europe Region
Mediterranean Cross-Continental Process
Arab Countries Cross-Continental Process

ASIA-PACIFIC Region

Geographical Scope

• Northeast Asia: China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Japan, Mongolia, and Republic of Korea
• South Asia: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka
• Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, East Timor, and Vietnam
• Oceania and Pacific: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu
• Central Asia: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan
• Invited countries: Israel, Iran

Background

The regional process leading up to the 4^th World Water Forum clearly showed that several water-related issues and challenges were common across the entire Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, with the increased interactions in the implementation of follow-up activities post the 3^rd World Water Forum (Kyoto, 2003), regional stakeholders recognized that the diversity of the Asia-Pacific region was not an obstacle but rather an asset in addressing a wide range of water issues in the region. A new network platform therefore has been established, the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF), to support partnership, and identify and adopt solutions to various water issues throughout the region.

The Asia-Pacific regional process

* A Weblog Forum was launched in December 2010 to facilitate opinion exchanges on the 6^th World Water Forum within the APWF community.
* A series of Asia-Pacific Regional Synthesis Meetings are planned to prepare the Asia-Pacific Water Summit and the 6^th World Water Forum:
- The 1^st Synthesis Meeting was initially planned on 15-16 March 2011 in Tokyo. However, due to the dramatic consequences of the Great East Japan earthquake, this meeting was rescheduled to 21-22 April 2011 in Bangkok. Presentations and outcomes are available at: http://www.waterforum.jp/eng/2011/apwf/
- 2^nd Meeting: 9 July 2011 in Singapore on the occasion of the Singapore Water Week
- 3^rd Meeting: September 2011, Seoul, Korea (tbc)
- 4^th Meeting: December 2011, Singapore (tbc)

Regional targets

AP1.1: Reduce by half the number of people who do not have access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in our region by 2015 and to reduce that number to achieve universal and sustainable targets by 2025. On sanitation, this includes the adoption of new and innovative sanitation systems that are not as water reliant as current methods.

AP2.1: By 2012, to propose a framework for action on water in green growth in support of economic, food and water security, that addresses local, national and regional action and, by 2014, to initiate the implementation of key support components of the framework for action.

AP2.2: By 2015, creation of a mechanism of financing for local government engaged in the realization of the target C of the objective 7 of the Millennium Development Goals: reduce by half the percentage of population having no sustainable access to safe drinking water supply nor to basic purification services.

AP3.1: Reduce by half the number of people who do not have access to safe drinking water by 2015 and aim to reach universal and sustainable access to water and sanitation in the Asia-Pacific region by 2025.

AP4.1: By 2015, to develop a strategic flood risk-management framework that engages emerging technologies and strengthens regional information systems for enhanced community resilience through appropriate policies and practices in the Himalayan region.

AP5.1: By 2018, Northeast Asia countries will have committed to establish and manage a training centre in North East Asia responsive to water and climate change, which serves the purpose of research, education, and teacher training in North East Asia.