The Indonesian government is pushing for the establishment of a Global Water Fund at the 10th World Water Forum to be held on May 18-25, 2024 in Nusa Dua, Bali.
Coordinator of the Sustainable Water Financing Subtheme of the 10th World Water Forum and Director General of Public Works and Housing Infrastructure Financing of the Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR), Herry Trisaputra Zuna, said that the Global Water Fund is very important to respond to budget imbalances and accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, namely the fulfilment of access to clean water and sanitation for all by 2030.
“Currently, there are 2.2 billion people in the world who cannot access clean water. The Global Water Fund, which is projected for water infrastructure needs, mitigation of water-related crises or disasters, climate change adaptation, and monitoring mechanisms, will be a real step in overcoming the world’s water problems,” Herry said in Jakarta on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
The Indonesian government has also established the Indonesian Water Fund (IWF) as an effort to encourage investment and the provision of clean water throughout Indonesia. “The IWF is expected to operate funding of up to US$ 1 billion for clean water projects,” Herry said.
Head of the Secretariat of the National Organizing Committee of the 10th World Water Forum and Secretary General of the Ministry of PUPR, Muhammad Zainal Fatah, added that results of discussions related to sustainable water financing and the initiation of the Global Water Fund will become a concept note that will be brought and elaborated at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali. The three main processes at the forum are political, regional, and thematic.
Meanwhile, Director of the Centre for Climate Finance and Multilateral Policy, Fiscal Policy Agency, at the Indonesian Ministry of Finance, Boby Wahyu Hernawan, said it is important to learn from the experience of the Pandemic Fund and the Green Climate Fund if the proposal to establish the Global Water Fund is agreed at the 10th World Water Forum.
“Responding to the threat of a water crisis by building a global financing architecture is the right preventive step. Readiness and introspection are key. The pandemic taught us that the cost of unpreparedness will be much higher,” he said.
The Indonesian government carries four important missions in the world’s largest international water forum, the 10th World Water Forum. The four missions, namely the presence of a centralized network in the Asia Pacific region specifically aimed at issues of water security, climate change, and environmental research.
Next, creating relationships with institutions, academics, research organizations, and other international institutions. Thirdly, establishing a consortium that focuses on data centers. Finally, coordinating and implementing various multi-stakeholder efforts to create a declaration or initiative related to world water issues. In addition, the government also encouraged the establishment of World Lake Day at the 10th World Water Forum to maintain the sustainability of water resources.
