The USPCASW has planned a series of seminars and workshops on several enduring and emerging policy issues involving water in Pakistan. The main purpose of these seminars and workshops is to bring together senior policy makers and relevant stakeholders to explore policy and research priorities for addressing water sustainability issues within the framework of the water-development nexus. This seminar will be held in Karachi on August 3rd.
The main objectives of this seminar are:
- Raise awareness about how water is positioned in the post-2015 global development agenda, including its relevance to achieving the broader goal of poverty reduction in Pakistan
- Provide a platform for the sharing of knowledge and best practices in water governance
- Raise the profile of water governance issues
- Identify research and policy priorities for improving water governance
- Understand how combined interventions under WEF nexus can impact poverty reduction
The seminar will include three working sessions to promote dialogue on emerging issues and solutions, identify critical research and policy areas, and determine how research and science can inform policy processes.
Session 1: Water in Post-2015 Development Agenda: The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will be the new international development framework to be used by governments to promote sustainable development between 2016 and 2030. This framework follows and expand on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which reach their deadline at the end of this year. This session will highlight key implementation challenges and requirements in implementing the water-related SDGs; what are the realistic options to deal with the water scarcity given increasing water demands and current water governance regimes; and how to close the gender gap in the water sector?
Session 2: Policy and Research Priorities for Improving Water Governance: Informed decision-making in the water sector is constrained by insufficient policy analysis. This session will be dedicated to discuss important research gaps with special emphasis on identifying policy and institutional reforms needed to strengthen different pillars of water governance. The session will also explore why the implementation of existing policies is so weak, and what we need to do differently to turn around the situation, especially in the context of post-18th constitutional amendment
Session 3: Advancing Sustainable Development through the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Achieving security for water, energy and food will be critical for reducing hunger and eradicating poverty. Water will be the central pillar for addressing many of the nexus issues. Accordingly, this session will examine how interventions in three sectors could be implemented in mutually supporting manner to stimulate green economic growth and reduce poverty. In addition to discussing the challenges of mainstreaming nexus approach into national planning processes, the session will identify knowledge and capacity gaps with reference to agricultural water management and food security.
Each session will include three presentations to be delivered by notable experts, followed by an interactive dialogue between the participants and speakers.
More than 100 people are expected to attend. Participants will include: senior policy makers from Federal and Provincial Governments, researchers and academicians, representatives of donors, civil society organizations, policy think tanks, and private sector, in addition to the faculty of USPCASW members from both the University of Utah and MUET.