Evaluating the Forum just a few days after its close is no easy feat, given the over 100 sessions and as many side events held… Before the members of the delegation each begin to focus on their respective field and concrete cases, and use information and exchanges from the Forum to enhance the analysis and approach of their teams, we have asked each of them to indicate the highlights of the Forum.

We have selected six:
1. Participants spoke much more about resources than services
2. The need to better link issues in Water and Energy
3. Wastewater finally front and centre
4. The concept of participation-consensus is no longer “Nice to have”, but is now a “must-have” for the sustainable management of water resources and services
5. A more closely shared vision of the economic issues involved in water
6. And lastly… The financial crisis: risk and/or opportunity for water and wastewater networks?

A 4-hour session was held yesterday around the gender issue in sanitation and water services, gathering a panel of speakers from the United Nations, the German Parliament, NGOs and ministers from emerging countries.

Why raise the gender issue?

Women are the first stakeholders in water and sanitation sector.