Swiss Water Partnership launched
Bern, 27.02.2012 - Earlier today, representatives of 45 organisations from the Swiss Confederation, the scientific and research communities, the private sector and aid agencies launched the Swiss Water Partnership (SWP) in the presence of SDC Director-General Martin Dahinden. The SWP aims to strengthen the international profile of the Swiss water sector and to create synergies between its members' activities.
A third of the world's population lives in regions that are facing water shortages. In many countries, clean drinking water and sanitation facilities in particular cannot be taken for granted. In Switzerland, on the other hand, various sectors have valuable expertise and experience in dealing with water problems: Swiss universities and institutes are conducting research on water technologies and related measures, private engineering firms have experience implementing them in the field, and international aid agencies understand the needs of local populations.
The Swiss Water Partnership intends to pool development policy and economic interests and to work to alleviate global water problems, said Martin Dahinden, Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) at the launch event. "The statutes of the Swiss Water Partnership call for solidarity with the poorest and most in need. They also consider strengthening the economic position of Switzerland and Swiss companies in the water sector to be legitimate."
At the inaugural meeting, the 45 organisations participating in the Swiss Water Partnership adopted the statutes of association and elected its executive board, which is composed of representatives of the federal administration, universities, private engineering and consulting firms and aid agencies. The SDC awarded the secretariat of the SWP to the aid agency HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation, which is based in Zurich. The secretariat will run a contact centre in Lausanne for actors from French-speaking Switzerland.
The organisations participating in the Swiss Water Partnership have set themselves the goal of sharing their expertise in various fields, pooling it in partnerships, and disseminating it at the international level. The Swiss Water Partnership will make its first appearance at the 6th World Water Forum, which will be held in mid-March in Marseille. At the Swiss Pavilion, members of the Swiss Water Partnership will present their innovative technologies and concepts to solve global challenges.
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