Ministerial Declaration on the “UfM Water Agenda”

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Ministers approved the Ministerial Declaration on the “UfM Water Agenda” at a meeting held on 27 April 2017 in Malta. They agreed to develop a UfM Water Agenda to help Member States implement sustainable and integrated water management policies and contribute to a sustainable livelihood for the region’s citizens. Investment in good governance should get is fair share as the declaration states that “We, the ministers, reaffirm our willingness to undertake the necessary efforts so that the UfM Water Agenda can assist in promoting sustainable economic and social development and have significant employment benefits; help in tackling climate change impacts and increasing climate and disaster-resilience; in meeting environmental and water quality objectives; in tackling migration challenges, amongst and inside countries and in ensuring access to safe drinking water as a fundamental human right, particularly for the most vulnerable, as we continue to promote gender mainstreaming, focus on youth, transparency and improved accountability in the water sector”

A first discussion on the financing strategy of the Water Agenda was organized by the UfM Secretariat. James Leten, Programme Manager at the UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI, served as panellist to the discussion highlighting the importance to build an accountable and transparent enabling environment and that in the quest for financial resources, it is important to reassess those resources that are presently wasted due to un-ethical practices.