The World Water Forum is the main water-related event in the world, aimed at putting water firmly on the international agenda. A stepping stone towards global collaboration on water problems, the Forum offers the water community and policy-and-decision-makers from all over the world the unique opportunity to come together to create links, debate and attempts to find solutions to achieve water security. It is organized every three year by the World Water Council, in collaboration with the host country.

The 5th World Water Forum is being held in Istanbul, Turkey, from 16 to 22 March 2009

The World Water Forum creates awareness of Africa's water challenges; secures an increasing political commitment: galvanizes regional collaboration; and enhances global partnerships.

Regional preparation to this event is vital to achieving a successful Forum and, most importantly, the outcomes that will influence action on water for the years to come.

Concerning Africa, the African Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), the World Water Council and the 5th World Water Forum Secretariat have invited the African Development Bank (AfDB) to act as the Regional Coordinator for Africa and to organize and lead the region's participation at the Forum. The Bank has accepted this request and has initiated the preparatory process for an effective participation of Africa in the event.

The aim of the African preparatory process is to mobilize actors to act as catalysts for specific African contributions to the Forum; to contribute to the thematic process by providing their region's perspectives on the issues and on the priority actions required; and to contribute to the political process through political mobilization.

The African Regional Preparatory Process kicked-off in Tunis, Tunisia at the 1st African Water Week, held from March 26-28, 2008.

5th World Water Forum Website