High-Level Interactive Dialogue of the 67th session of the UNGA
22 March 2013 – United Nations, New York
Jeremy Bird, Director General of IWMI, is on the panel of the High-Level Interactive Dialogue on Water Cooperation of the UN General Assembly which will provide the opportunity to identify and discuss water-related challenges and key areas which will require stronger political support and greater cooperation at the international level. The event will also explore strategies and cooperative solutions to overcome these challenges and discuss the potential role that all stakeholders, including UN-System could play in this context.
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Ban Ki-moon – World Water Day 2013: Water Cooperation
20 Mar 2013 – UN Secretary-General video message on the occasion of International World Water Day 2013 (22 March).
The day focuses attention on the importance of freshwater and advocates for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.
Source: WebTV.UN.org
[/two-third] [one-third last] [/one-third] [hr top=”no”/] [three-fifth]New research project will help Sri Lanka achieve water security
Colombo (20 March 2013) – A new program of research led by the Colombo-based International Water Management Institute (IWMI) will provide vital information to help address water and food security issues in Sri Lanka.
Published today, Cooperation for a water-secure future: A new research strategy for Sri Lanka, outlines an ambitious program of investigations that will help fill vital gaps in Sri Lanka’s knowledge of hydrology, ecology, economics and agronomy.
- More productive use of water in agriculture.
- Reducing vulnerability to floods, droughts and the impacts of climate change.
- Mainstreaming sustainability into the management of natural resources and ecosystems.
- Managing and sharing knowledge to improve decision-making.
Read the full speech [PDF 140kb] | Watch the video
[/two-third] [one-third last][/one-third]Photos
Proud owners of an IWMI “I walked for water” cup.
Pay Dreschel talks to delegates about the need for irrigation reform in Asia.
Proud owners of an IWMI “I walked for water” cup.
Some wanted to know if the treadle pump was gender friendly.
Proud owners of an IWMI “I walked for water” cup.
Everybody wanted to try the treadle pump.
Some wanted to know if the treadle pump was gender friendly.
Some wanted to know if the treadle pump was gender friendly.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the