31 July 2014: Participants discussed ‘Access to water for all in Africa’ at the second International Forum of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) official NGO partners. The Yamoussoukro Forum brought together representatives from international, regional and national NGOs with UN agencies and academia to share views on water and facilitate cooperation on innovative projects.

Participants at the meeting discussed, inter alia: access to clean drinking water; water security; water shortages; and water-related disasters, such as droughts and floods. Participants supported the message, “one for all, all for water.”

In a video message, UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova stressed the role of sharing global water resources in achieving sustainable human development and a culture of peace. Bokova called for improved water governance and management.

UNESCO’s NGO Liaison Committee organized the forum in cooperation with UNESCO’s Secretariat and the Government of Cote d’Ivoire. The Forum, which took place in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire, from 30-31 July, was the first NGO Forum to be held outside of Paris, France. [UNESCO Press Release]