World Water Day: Improving Health & Livelihoods

22 March 2017

World Water Day is marked on 22 March every year to emphasise the importance of freshwater and sanitation in transforming societies and economies while improving livelihoods. Considering that 1.8 billion people use a source of drinking water contaminated with faeces, the theme this year is wastewater. Inadequate sanitation, poor hygiene and unsafe drinking water lead to an estimated 2 million diarrhoea-related deaths every year.

With over 663 million people still lacking improved drinking water sources, the Aid & International Development Forum supports the mission of the United Nations World Water Day throughout the year by bringing water experts from civil society, aid agencies, NGOs, governments, research institutes and the private sector to discuss:

• Best practice and innovation in water, sanitation and health
• Feedback from hygiene awareness and education initiatives
• Innovations and policy for agricultural productivity
• Strengthening flood prevention
• Disaster and emergency health preparedness
• Ensuring access to water and sanitation for crisis-affected
• Quality requirements and guidelines for drinking water in the field
• Solutions for water treatment

Providing adequate drinking water supplies, disease-preventing sanitation facilities, sustainable irrigation for agriculture, early warning and resilience for water-related disasters remain major challenges. Improved technologies, better research as well as cross-sector collaboration between government, UN agencies, donors and the private sector are paramount.

As such, Aid & Development Asia Summit will bring together all actors together to tackle these important issues on water security and disaster management. Register your participation now to join the 3rd Aid & Development Asia Summit on 14-15 June in Myanmar.

Here’s how you can get involved and join World Water Day celebrations:

• SHOWCASE YOUR INNOVATIVE WATER SOLUTION - Exhibition stands are an effective way to engage with and showcase your products/services to the high-profile participants of the Aid & Development Asia Summit
• INFLUENCE THE DEBATE ON WATER RELATED ISSUES - If you have a compelling case study, one that will inspire and inform other humanitarian leaders, do get in touch.

For more information about speaking and sponsorship opportunities available, visit http://asia.aidforum.org/sponsorship