Jakarta, ABIM (1/5/2024) – The Indonesian government is proposing the establishment of the Global Water Fund at the upcoming 10th World Water Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, scheduled for May 18-25.
The Director General of Public Works Infrastructure and Housing Finance, who is also the Coordinator of the Sustainable Water Financing Sub-theme of the 10th WWF, Herry Trisaputra Zuna, highlighted the importance of establishing the Global Water Fund to ensure sustainable funding for clean water and sanitation projects.
He mentioned that the creation of the Global Water Fund is expected to address the financial shortfall and expedite the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 6 on clean water and sanitation by 2030.
Currently, clean water is inaccessible to 2.2 billion people worldwide. Herry expressed his optimism about the Global Water Fund on Tuesday, April 30. He believes that this fund will play a crucial role in addressing water infrastructure needs, mitigating water-related crises, adapting to climate change, and implementing effective monitoring mechanisms.
The Indonesian government established the Indonesian Water Fund (IWF) as a part of its initiatives to encourage investment and guarantee the supply of clean water across the archipelago. “IWF funding for clean water projects is estimated to be up to US$1 billion,” he added.
Muhammad Zainal Fatah, Secretary General of the MPWH as well as Head of the Secretariat of the National Organizing Committee for the 10th WWF, said that a concept note on Global Water Fund, as a new policy proposal for securing and increasing funding for water infrastructure will be brought and further elaborated at the 10th World Water Forum scheduled to be held in Bali on May 18-25, 2024.
Meanwhile, Boby Wahyu Hernawan, Director of the Center for Climate Funding and Multilateral Policy, Fiscal Policy Agency, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Indonesia emphasized the significance of learning lessons from the Pandemic Fund and Green Climate Fund. This would be crucial if the proposal to establish a Global Water Fund is approved at the 10th World Water Forum.
The Indonesian government is set to bring four significant missions to the 10th World Water Forum. These missions include establishing a centralized network in the Asia-Pacific region to address water security, climate change, and environmental research.
Secondly, the establishment of networks of institutions, academics, research organizations and other international bodies. Third, the establishment of a consortium focused on data centers. And the last, the coordination and implementation of various multi-stakeholder efforts to develop a statement or initiative on global water issues. Furthermore, Indonesia is advocating for the establishment of World Lakes Day during the 10th World Water Forum to promote the sustainability of water resources.(ABIM)
