At a time when billions of people live without sustainable access to safe drinking water or suffer ill health due to poor sanitation, when worsening food crisis battles bioenergy for land and water resources, and when climate change shakes the overall water balance, the 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm will gather 2500 experts from August 17-23 to chart the path to a clean and healthy world.

The conference, themed “Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World with Special Focus on Sanitation,”� takes place at the Stockholm International Fairs and Conference Center and will address a wide variety of water-related topics. Sanitation and hygiene, climate, water management, ecosystems and biodiversity, business and finance issues are prominent programme focal points in the over 100 sessions taking place throughout the week.

Leading professionals from business, government, water management, science, inter-governmental organisations, NGOs, training institutes and United Nations agencies will participate. Over 200 organisations are involved as co-convenors of the event together with the Stockholm International Water Institute, and a number of new reports will be released and announcements made.

Top Speakers
The opening day, August 18, features top expert speakers and a high-level panel on the role of sanitation in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Speakers include:

- H.E Marc Ravalomanana, President of Madagascar - H.R.H Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Chair of UNSGAB
- Hon. Gunilla Carlsson, Minister for International Development Cooperation, Sweden
- Mr. Sten Nordin, Mayor of Stockholm
- Prof. John Anthony Allan, King’s College London
- Mr. José Lopez, Executive Vice President, Nestlé
- Dr. Letitia A. Obeng, Chair, Global Water Partnership
- Dr. Kamal Kar, Development Consultant, India
-Mr. Anders Berntell, Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)

The high level panel of distinguished experts will discuss sanitation, the most critical yet under-prioritised human health and development investment in the world. The panel will elaborate on how to better integrate sanitation and hygiene into the greater development agenda and ensure that all Millennium Development Goals be better met. Panellists include:

- Hon. Mamphono Khaketla, Minister of Education and Training, Lesotho
- Dr. Nicholas Alipui, Director of Programmes, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
- Mr. James P. Leape, Director General WWF, International
- Mr. Anders Nordström, Director General, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)
- Mr. Jon Lane, Executive Director, Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC)

Top Honours The World Water Week in Stockholm will also be the venue to celebrate those whose outstanding efforts are already improving human health and the water environment. The Stockholm Water Prize, Stockholm Junior Water Prize, Stockholm Industry Water Award, Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award and WASH Media Awards will all be presented. The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is a policy institute that contributes to international efforts to find solutions to the world’s escalating water crisis. SIWI advocates future-oriented, knowledge-integrated water views in decision making, nationally and internationally, that lead to sustainable use of the world’s water re¬sources and sustainable development of societies.

Links Press Kit: http://www.worldwaterweek.org/Downloads/2008/press/Presskit_2008.pdf
Final Programme: http://www.worldwaterweek.org/Downloads/Final_Programme_08_lowres.pdf

Contact Info: Stephanie Blenckner
Acting Communications Director
SIWI
Telephone: +46 8 522 139 86
Email: Stephanie.blenckner@siwi.org
Web site: www.siwi.org

Website : Stockholm International Water Institute