WORKING SESSION
Integrated Water Resource Management
Brief & Concept Note
Brief
1. Why is this topic important ?
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a holistic approach that allows development
and management of water resources for various uses, taking into account the needs of different
users and stakeholders. It provides the framework and principles for sustainable water
management, but more importantly has been proven to be the most effective approach to
strengthen resilience and decrease vulnerability of communities to droughts and minimize the
negative impacts of floods through adoption of protective and preventative measures.
Therefore, the management of water-related disasters such as floods and droughts, including
proper risk management, should not be considered in isolation and should comprise an essential
part of IWRM. Managing the extremes in the hydrological cycle comprises the essence of water
resources management, as these events can have severe social and economic consequences on
development.
2. What gaps need to be filled ?
A number of aspects have been identified to effectively increase resilience and decrease
vulnerability of communities to water-related disasters. Approaches must be flexible and
holistic, and they must include the innovative use of adaptable structural and non-structural
measures. Gaps include the adoption of a systems based perspective, a focused and resultsbased approach, and building of broad partnerships and stakeholders for the implementation of
the complete cycle of disaster risk management areas ( prevention, preparedness, response,
recovery and reconstruction) to reduce losses from the occurrence of floods and droughts.
3. What (new) commitment are expected to be achieved ?
The Working Session will share and discuss lessons with decision makers and other stakeholders
on implementation. This session will determine the actions that need to be taken to implement
IWRM including on adoption and implementation of specific trans-boundary, national and local
plans aimed at preventing the creation of new risks, reducing the existing risks and
strengthening the resilience of communities. Recognition will be given and commitments may
be forthcoming that reinforce the implementation of IWRM as part of disaster risk reduction.
1
Concept Note
Schedule
Sunday 15 March 2015, 12:00-13:30
Room and Venue
Hagi Hall, Sendai International Conference Centre
Organizing Team
Governments: Japan(MLIT), Namibia, Switzerland (FOEN), the
Netherlands
Major Groups:
UN: WMO/UNESCO/GWP on behalf of UN-Water (with input from UNWater members)
UNISDR Focal Points
John Harding (harding@un.org)
Background and
Rationale
Water-related disasters (floods, droughts, storms) account for
approximately 95% of all people affected by disasters worldwide and
have caused over 60% of all damages resulting from disasters.
Moreover the vulnerability of societies to water-related disasters
continues to increase. Significant advances in early warning systems,
preparedness and response have led to reductions in overall mortality
from such events, but economic losses continue to grow exponentially.
An important driver of increasing global exposure to water-related risks
has been population growth, particularly in urban settings, and failure
to embrace approaches to prevent and prepare for water-related
extreme events. A paradigm shift is required to mainstream
preventative measures and implement activities within the complete
cycle of disaster management – prevention, preparedness, response,
recovery, and reconstruction – to further reduce mortality, economic
and environmental losses from flooding and droughts.
Embracing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) provides
the framework and mechanism for approaching the reduction in losses
from water-related disasters, within the context of economic efficiency,
social equity and environmental sustainability. The Working Session will
draw on country examples that have addressed the reduction of waterrelated risk, from legislation to policy to on-the-ground implementation
of structural and non-structural measures. Examples will be given of
how the adoption of IWRM, policy and legislation led to concrete
actions at local levels.
Session Objectives
The Working Session will provide clear statements and examples on the
activities that had been and must be undertaken to effectively reduce
the losses associated with water-related disasters. The session will
examine the role of the various elements of the cycle of disaster risk
management, illustrating the need for flexible and innovative use of
various structural and non-structural measures. Examples will highlight
the general approaches that could be taken to implement the post2015 framework for water-related disaster risk reduction. Moreover,
the approaches highlighted within the session could also be appropriate
for reducing risks for other sectors.
2
One of the primary objectives of the proposed Working Session is to
share and discuss lessons with decision makers and other stakeholders
on implementation of measures. Presenters will share their
perspectives and experiences in a panel discussion focusing on
measures to address water security issues. The session will allow an
opportunity for countries to reflect on the approaches that might be
undertaken within their jurisdictions and may make specific
commitments to do so. These would be prompted in part by the
examples of another country’s achievements and how they were
attained. It is hoped that the insights from the session will form a vision
of a flexible yet systematic approach to achieve significant reduction in
flood and drought losses through a post-2015 framework for disaster
risk reduction.
Discussion agenda and
structure
1. Introduction and welcoming remarks (5 minutes)
2. Keynote address - Ingredients for successful national integrated
flood and drought management – from policy to implementation
(25 minutes)
3. Keynote address - Importance of learning lessons to advance DRR in
IWRM (20 minutes)
4. Guided Panel discussion (moderator (TBD)): (35 minutes) panelists
5. Wrap up and key conclusions by the moderator (5 minutes)
Note: There will be a poster session on this working session topic
allowing for detailed illustration of input from interested conference
participants.
Commitment / special
announcement in
support of a post-2015
framework for DRR
 Enhanced understanding of the importance of the various areas and
the need to embrace all of them within the complete cycle of
disaster management – prevention, preparedness, response,
recovery, and reconstruction – to reduce losses from flooding and
droughts.
 Recommendations and identification of measures needed for
implementation to reduce losses from the occurrence of floods and
droughts
Expected number of
participants
200
Background documents
-
3