World Water Day 2021

The theme of World Water Day 2021 is valuing water. The value of water is about much more than its price – water has enormous and complex value for our households, food, culture, health, education, economics and the integrity of our natural environment. If we overlook any of these values, we risk mismanaging this finite, irreplaceable resource. SDG 6 is to ensure water and sanitation for all. Without a comprehensive understanding of water’s true, multidimensional value, we will be unable to safeguard this critical resource for the benefit of everyone.

On the day itself, the United Nations World Water Development Report is also released, focusing on the same topic as the campaign and recommending policy direction to decision makers.

Simultaneous interpretation will be available during the event in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

Drafted agenda for the World Water Day 2021 – Valuing Water:

13:00 – 13:40 High-Level Opening Ceremony

• Master of Ceremony Ms. Sasha Koo-Oshima, Deputy Director, Land and Water Division, FAO
• Welcoming address by Mr. QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO
• Opening address by Ms. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO
• Opening address by Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, Chair, UN-Water and President of IFAD

Message from Special Guests

• His Holiness Pope Francis
• H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, President, Republic of Senegal (TBC)
• H.E. Ms. Marina Sereni, Vice Minister of the Republic of Italy
• H.E. Mr. Jonathan Malagón González, Minister of Housing, Cities and Territory of the Republic of Colombia
• Henk Ovink- Special Envoy International Water Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands

13:40 – 13:50 Presentation of the UN World Water Development Report 2021

• Ms. Michela Miletto, Coordinator and Director, UNESCO WWAP

13:50 – 14:25 Interactive discussion – what does water mean to you?

• Moderator Mr. Neil Dhot, Executive Director, Aquafed (UK)
• Ms. Rasha Hassan, Governance Coordinator, Water Youth Network (Syria)
• Mr. Mohammed Hammie Rajab, Journalist and Facilitator of Change, Media for Community Empowerment (Civil Society Organisation) (Tanzania)
• Keynote listener Mr. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation (Spain)

14:25 – 14:30 Announcement of the winner of the Stockholm Water Prize

• Mr. Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director, SIWI (Sweden)

14:30 Closing of the celebration

• Register for the World Water Day 2021 event here.
• Download the Save the date.
• World Water Day website.