World Water Week 2018 Theme : Water , ecosystems and human development
H . R . H Crown Princess Victoria visits SIWI ahead of World Water Week
Experts endorse the African Water Revolution
Stockholm ( 23 August 2018 ) – On Thursday 23 August , H . R . H . Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden paid a visit to SIWI to learn more about current water challenges . The visit was organized in the lead-up to World Water Week , starting this Sunday , where the Crown Princess will play an important role .
Ahead of World Water Week , the leading annual event on global water issues , the Crown Princess Victoria visited SIWI ’ s headquarters in Stockholm on Thursday to learn more about current water-related trends from around the globe . She was welcomed by Peter Forssman , Chair of the Board of SIWI , together with the organization ’ s Executive Director Torgny Holmgren .
Crown Princess Victoria is dedicated to water issues and has been a keynote speaker at World Water Week as UN Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals . Furthermore , she is the Patron of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize , which is awarded every year during World Water Week . This year , she will also present Stockholm Water Prize on behalf of the Patron of the Prize , H . M . King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden .
“ We really appreciate the Royal Family ’ s commitment to water issues and the strong collaboration that have continued to deepen over the years . Today ’ s meeting was very interesting and fruitful ,” said SIWI ’ s Executive Director , Torgny Holmgren .
In response to a “ Call for an African Water Revolution ”, over 80 experts participated in a workshop on the 27th- 28th June 2018 in Kigali , Rwanda to identify what it takes to scale up green water investments across Africa and made significant commitments to seeing the process through .
The African Water Revolution is an emerging initiative to scale up green water and enhance rainfed agricultural solutions across Africa through financial investments and political leadership . The idea emerged from the 2016 Malin Falkenmark Symposium at World Water Week , where experts called for a revolution to alleviate the world water and hunger crisis .
Green water is infiltrated rainfall water which is stored in the upper layers of the soil and available to plant roots . Proven and cost-effective solutions can maximize the capture , storage and utilization of green water which enhance food production and reduce vulnerability to climate variability and climate change .
The workshop in Kigali was hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute ( SIWI ), Stockholm Resilience Centre ( SRC ) and the Sustainable Development Goals Center for Africa ( SDGC / A ). During the event ,
12 Africa Water , Sanitation & Hygiene • August 2018