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Meeting History

The 13th Meeting of the UN Secretary-General's Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation


30 November - 2 December 2009
Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Minutes of Meeting

Background

The 13th UNSGAB Board meeting was generously and expertly hosted by the Government of the Netherlands. The main objective of the meeting was to reflect on past work, partly through an External Evaluation, and to strategize on the future direction and objectives of the Board. Members built on a draft workplan circulated prior to the meeting, to agree on the main content of the updated "Hashimoto Action Plan II." This document retains the spirit and direction of the original Hashimoto Action Plan while incorporating new objectives to account for a new set of water and sanitation challenges. The Board welcomed representatives of the Dutch Government to discuss both climate change adaptation and aid effectiveness as well as representatives from a host of related organizations.


Monday, Nov. 30

UNSGAB Progress

Once the agenda was adopted, Francois Guerquin UNSGAB Secretariat Coordinator, presented activities undertaken since the twelfth meeting (Sofia, Bulgaria May 2009). He noted that as agreed in Sofia, the secretariat had prepared a new draft work plan for comment and that each working group had discussed their respective work plan components. The fact that the current action plan did not contain "big targets" such as the International Year of Sanitation or Water Operator Partnerships was raised and the need for such major targets emphasized.

Under the financing task force component, activities included: release of the report on the joint World Bank UNSGAB mission "Local Financing of Water Utilities, Challenges and Opportunities, The Case of Peru"; participation in the Nov. 23 release of the "Charting Our Water Future, Economic frameworks to inform decision making" McKinsey report which includes a foreword authored by the Chair; review of the OECD draft report on innovative financing; and interaction with the Global Framework for Action.

Under the sanitation component, activities included: contributions to the International Year of Sanitation (IYS) Virtual Scrapbook launched on Nov. 19; participation in the UN-Water sanitation Task Force; representation on the AfricaSan task force in preparation of the African Water Week events; the Chair's acceptance of the AfricaSan Special Award for outstanding outcomes of IYS; discussions with stakeholders on contributions to the IYS traffic light reports; establishing of the UN-Water Task Force on wastewater along with the undertaking of a rapid assessment on wastewater; and collaboration on a new "Omega Initiative" on wastewater in Asia.

Under the monitoring component, activities included: designation of Gerard Payen, Chair of the monitoring working group, as Chair of the Joint Monitoring Programme Advisory Group; collaboration with the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water; and the Chair's participation in a brainstorming on preparations for the 2010 Millennium Development Summit review (20 Sept.) hosted by the Secretary-Generals special advisor on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)'s.

Under the integrated water resources management component, activities included: the Chair's participation in the Sept. 22 UN Leadership Forum on Climate Change in New York; the request by the UN Economic Commission for Europe to support the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes resulting in UNSGAB representation in their Conference of the Parties (5 Nov.); and the Vice-Chairs participation in the Stockholm Water Week event, "how a legal framework is making a difference on the ground" event hosted by the UNECE Water Convention.

Under water and disaster, activities included: promotion by the Japan Water Forum of the High-Level Expert Panel recommendations in global events; and contact made with the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.

Africa related activities included: meetings with the African Minister's Council on Water (AMCOW) and the African Development Bank during the Stockholm Water Week (Aug.); participation of the Chair and Uschi Eid in the 2nd Africa Water Week (Nov. 9 - 13); Opinion Editorial authored by the Chair published in 6 African newspapers in conjunction with the Africa Water Week; tentative plans made for meeting of water and finance ministers in follow up to the Sharm el Sheikh Declaration during the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative (RWSSI) conference in March 2010.

Additional activities included: participation of the Chair in Singapore Water Week (June); participation of Gerard Payen in the Human Right to Water Best Practices Workshop organized by Catarina d'Albuquerque, Independent Expert on human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation (Oct.); and UNSGAB representation at the international media consultation on how the information and communication communities can help to enable climate change adaptation strategies focused on water held at the Water for Life Decade headquarters in Zaragoza Spain (Sept)

Members offered the following reflections:

  • UNSGAB activities are extremely varied, and it is critical that the Board reflect and determine where it can add value. Going back to the agreements with Regional Development Banks and the regional dialogue outcomes (resulting from meetings held in Tunis, Tunisia [2006], Shanghai, China [2007], Bogota, Colombia [2007], Tokyo, Japan [2008] and Sofia, Bulgaria [2009]) to consider what was learned and what was unique could provide direction to future activities.
  • Wastewater work was discussed. Responding to UNSGAB's urging, UN-Water formed a water quality task force which is overseeing a rapid assessment of the current state of wastewater management globally. This assessment will be launched in connection with World Water Day 2010 in Nairobi where UNSGAB is invited to contribute. Margaret Catley-Carlson will participate in this discussion during the next UN-Water meeting in Hamilton, Canada. Other ways of building commonly-owned data and information, such as Google earth data portals were mentioned, along with forward looking networks such as the Omega Alliance (UNSGAB, International Water Association, Council on Environment and Development, Asian Development Bank) which is fomenting a major shift in the thinking and application around innovative, modular, least cost wastewater treatment systems.
  • Regarding monitoring, the fact that the letter sent to the Joint Monitoring Programme had not been responded to, was raised. The need for more comparable data, particularly on water users was stressed along with the local nature of information on this issue. Related to the post-2015 framework, members agreed that it is critical that the focus at present remains on meeting the 2015 goals rather than "jumping forward," however several members emphasized that the foundation for the post-2015 agenda must be created soon. The 2010 MDG Review Summit was noted as an opportunity to assess progress, where a firm strategy for the next six years will be agreed, and the Chair reported on his participation in the Special Advisor on MDGs's lead event.
  • In reflecting on UNSGAB's contribution to the work of the Independent Expert on human rights, several stressed the need to agree on a Board position. Others thought it was more useful to support the independent expert in preparing a well informed and balanced report on the issue.

UNSGAB Review

Mark Keen of International Organisation Development presented the preliminary findings of the External Review of UNSGAB. Members discussed the report and recommendations in closed session.

Working Group Discussions

Members met in their respective working groups: Africa, water and disaster, financing, integrated water resources management, monitoring and sanitation. The working groups discussions were guided by the relevant chapters in the Draft Work Plan and the Context Notes prepared for each group.


Tuesday Dec. 1

Opening Speech by UNSGAB Chair

Welcome Ceremony

UNSGAB Chair, Prince Willem-Alexander, the Prince of Orange, welcomed participants to the Netherlands and outlined the Board achievements to be built on during the next phase of work. He recalled Kofi Annan's request that the Board be action-oriented, highly visible, while giving sound, practical advice on water and sanitation to international actors.
Assistant Secretary-General Thomas Stelzer thanked the Government of the Netherlands and said that when the Secretary-General met with the Chair in May, he clearly asked the Board to continue its work. He said that while UNSGAB enjoys high visibility and ready access to decision makers, UN-Water strengthens coordination and coherence among UN entities and civil society organizations and that these two entities should strengthen their ties.

Morning Presentations

Mrs. Huizinga, Vice Minister for Transport, Public Works and Management, the Netherlands

Speech by Mrs. Huizinga, Vice Minister for Transport, Public Works and Managemen

The Vice Minister said that groups like UNSGAB which are both flexible and look beyond borders are needed especially given the challenges resulting from climate change. She said that in 1997 when the Chair expressed his interest in water management, the country was surprised, however since there is growing support for his efforts and a greater public awareness of water management issues. In describing the Dutch Delta Programme, she said adaptive management and innovative techniques are crucial.

Mrs. Nijhof, Director-General of Water, the Netherlands

The Director-General Annemieke Nijhof said that unlike many politicians, Vice-Minister Huizinga was willing to take on the long-term climate change issue - she created a government committee to consider the question: can we stay here for the next 100 years? The answer is yes, but action can not be delayed. The committee analysed coastal challenges, harbour safety in Rotterdam, and improving quality of life. She described how Dutch Water Boards have helped water management on a large scale by developing taxation schemes, creating effective community representation, and enforcing service quality. For developing countries, she said there are obligations and challenges and that the primary focus of adaptation efforts should be on meeting the Millennium Development Goals. She closed by posing three questions to the meeting:

  1. We would like to see additional financial resources made available for climate change. But once the funding is there, how do we organise the effective and efficient use of these funds?
  2. How can we keep adaptation on the international agenda?
  3. How can the attention on adaptation contribute to solving drinking water and sanitation problems?

Discussion
On the first question, one member said that the world is waiting for a signal on adaptation funding: will it be raised through an international tax, through overseas development assistance or through other means? Another asked if funding for future infrastructural requirements would come from the public purse or private sources. The Minister stressed that it is critical to distribute adaptation funding efficiently through existing paths. She also said that the decision makers should come to a conclusion as soon as possible and avoid endless negotiations.

On the second question, it is crucial to build partnerships and a member said that UNSGAB was proposing a gathering between the Copenhagen and Mexico City Convention of the Parties to focus the discussion on water and adaptation. The minister agreed that such a meeting would make sense. Another said that communicating adaptation as an opportunity to promote great technological advancements would send a positive message.

On the third question, the fact that climate change is exacerbating water scarcity was noted. The Director-General said that in the Netherlands there is ample water on a macro scale, but on a micro scale, there can be scarcity concerns. In some cases there will be a need to change land use, by for example, returning land to rivers or the sea. The Director-General responded that the natural water system is being restored in certain places to build resilience to climate change using a systems approach; mistakes were made along the way she said, but the approach is improving as a result. Of course, this is a socially difficult decision which greatly impacts farming communities - it is important to compensate farmers. The Minister reflected that in Bangladesh, flooding makes the land more fertile: there are lots of ways to use a river, but the knowledge base is key.

Deputy Director-General for European Cooperation, Mr. Smits

Presentation by Mr. Smits

Mr. Smits discussed aid effectiveness and the water and sanitation development policy of the Netherlands. The history of sanitation in the Netherlands was shared along with how the country is focusing on financing and good governance through their aid efforts. He outlined the results of the Eu 50 Million Programme which aims to cover the many currently un-served with drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015 and described Dutch participation in water operator partnerships globally. Contributions to integrated water resources management, the European Union Water Initiative and the Global Framework for Action were explained. Mr. Smits offered some suggestions to UNSGAB to focus on: Africa, MDG results on the ground and aid effectiveness (Paris Declaration/Accra). In terms of future cooperation he said that the Netherlands had worked closely with UNSGAB through the three ministries involved in water management. He reconfirmed Dutch support and suggested a strengthened role for UNSGAB in the UN and the water sector as well as increased support from both the UN and donors.
Discussion
Members lauded the Netherlands consistent commitment to overseas development. On aid effectiveness: Smits noted that in light of the financial crisis aid budgets are under an intense amount of public scrutiny, and public support is dwindling, making the need for ensuring the catalytic effect of ODA even more urgent. And changes are needed. For example, in the past donors competed for supply driven projects, now there is a genuine effort by donors to coordinate on demand driven interventions.

Members stressed the need for more sustained capacity building; the developing world lacks institutions that can train people in water management. One member asked if capacity building had fallen out of favour with donors given the assumption that the public/private partnership model will transfer knowledge. Another member countered that capacity building is still on the agenda, but less visible as it is more dependant on the recipient countries ownership. The fact that a long-term commitment to a country was needed for effective capacity building was raised.

Director-General, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Mr. Hans Hoogeveen

Presentation by Mr. Hans Hoogeveen

Mr. Hoogeveen said that a more efficient use of natural resources is critical to deal with the global food, climatic and financial crisis in order to ensure national and international security. Agriculture, he stressed, is not seen as part of the solution, but as the problem and that home-grown solutions are essential, especially in Africa. Only if we give water the place it needs, will agricultural solutions be found he said. In a world where there is increasing competition for scarce resources, investments in agriculture must go hand in hand with integrated water resources management.
Discussion
A member raised the fact that the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture emphasized the need to prioritize rainfed agriculture. Conserving genetic seed varieties was stressed by another member. The need for enhanced organization of the UN system to take on the food issue was noted as was the need to ensure an ecosystem approach to land management.

Assistant Secretary-General, International Strategy for Disaster Reduction, Mrs. Wahlstrom

presentation by Mrs. Wahlstrom (UN-ISDR)

Mrs. Wahlstrom said that poor people are most impacted. Disasters take away their buffers while undermining their ability to build wealth. She said we don't really understand the real costs of disasters and very few countries have a budget in this regard. Countries approach disasters ex-post, not ex-ante, and this means the costs are much greater. The insurance industry is responding, in light of increasing climatic variability, and they are just not offering insurance any longer in many cases. Basically, she said, the trends of disaster costs are discouraging. We need to deal with causes, based on science and knowledge, rather than the consequences. She said that climate change is putting risk reduction on the political agenda.

Discussion
A member asked her view on the High-level Panel on Disaster (HLEP). She said that the HLEP report could benefit from an evaluation of its structure and a description of who is needed for practical implementation. A member described the lack of planning for a recent typhoon which hit her country: slum dwellers were allowed to block rivers, and due to the volume of water had rivers backed up into the cities. The government had purchased boats, however, nobody knew where they were and people drowned unnecessarily. Another asked about using military resources as they generally have the capacity to organize.

Senior Project Manager, International Water and Sanitation Centre (IRC) Catarina Fonseca

Presentation by Ms. Fonseca (IRC)

Ms. Fonseca described the WASHCost programme which, among other things, is trying to determine how much it costs to fund the sanitation sector. Focused on four countries, the programme considers the life cycle costs of water, sanitation and hygiene.

Discussion
The fact that the UN Development Assistance Framework offers a framework to mainstream actions was noted by a member. Politicians need to be convinced that investing in water and sanitation makes sense and this is where UNSGAB can help.

Executive Director, International Water Association, Paul Reiter

Presentation by Mr. Reiter (IWA)

Mr. Reiter described the imperative for new approaches to urban water and wastewater given explosive global population growth. There are decades of population growth ahead, and we must do more with less. That means moving from a linear to closed loop in terms of water management he said. We must move from centralized to nodal systems. Business as usual is simply not an option given that urban sanitation is one of the biggest challenges in the next decade. We've learned that highly centralized wastewater treatment plants are not practical ? for example many were built in Asia and they simply don't work. In future he said urban water systems will need to use much less water, facilitate the safe reuse of water, produce energy, recover nutrients, be modular in design and cost less. This will require a systematic change in the way we think of and design urban water systems. He closed by saying UNSGAB can help by creating a mega-push for rapid progress on wastewater collection, treatment and reuse.

Discussion
One member said that after so many years, it is nice to see that the idea of "small is beautiful" is taking hold. The fact that many governments would rather pay fines than invest in big wastewater plants was discussed. The need to get the economic and political incentives right, along with a cultural and perceptual shift in the way wastewater is treated, was stressed.

Education International, Mr. Catlaks

Presentation by Mr. Catlaks

Mr. Catlaks presented his research on school sanitation which reveals that water and sanitation matter for education and aid can help with ensuring provision. Approximately 433 million schooldays are missed per year due to absenteeism partly due to girl's menstruation. Other findings include: school fees are a deterrent; paying fees for school toilets does not work as there are no opportunity costs; and national budgets must build and deliver education benefits for all as the market is not doing so in a universal and equitable manner.

Discussion
Members asked if there was a case where teachers had gone on strike to demand better toilets. Although there was no such case, Mr. Catlaks said that teacher unions realize the importance of this issue, particularly regarding girls. Another said that if teachers can be motivated to reflect sanitation in their contracts a major impact could be made. The fact that improving sanitation is largely about changing cultural norms was raised, and so getting better sanitation, including handwashing, into schools could be a way to motivate parents to take on new practices. Education international and UNSGAB agreed to be in touch regarding a sanitation for schools campaign.

Wednesday Dec. 2

Working Group Reports

Financing Working Group

Gerard Payen, the financing working group chair said the group agreed on the four main financing objectives in the proposed work plan (document 1-7): 1) Increase political commitment and financial resources for water supply and sanitation, 2) Improve access of utilities to financial markets, 3) Increase leverage and impact of Overseas Development Assistance and a new focus on 4) Promoting strategic financial planning at the country level for water supply and sanitation. It is important that the 'unserved' populations are properly addressed and targeted. The group unanimously agreed not to address financing for IWRM as the focus should be kept on the water and sanitation MDG targets.
With regard to the short term activities the group decided to prepare a memo on the Peru report to be discussed with the World Bank (President) and other partners. Other short term activities will focus 1) on sharing lessons learnt on financing mechanisms through WOPs, 2) on continuing working with OECD on innovative financing mechanisms, 3) on reviewing the agreements with the regional development banks and engage with them in next UNSGAB meeting. Finally the group agreed to hold a conference call in January 2010 for preparing the African water and finance ministers meeting in Dakar.

Sanitation

The co-chairs of the sanitation task force, Uschi Eid (leading on IYS follow-up and sanitation for schools) and Margaret Catley-Carlson (leading on wastewater) presented the activities discussed in their working group.
On IYS follow-up, the group will promote the "Sanitation Traffic Light Reports" as an effective monitoring tool for commitments made during IYS. Uschi noted that she had met with UNICEF and AfricaSan representatives during Africa Water Week to discuss how UNSGAB might add value possibly by writing to heads of state in reference to the traffic light reports. She also said the group will establish a regional IYS Conference follow-up strategy with the UN-Water sanitation task force and others. UNSGAB will work with UNICEF, Education International and others, on a global campaign for sanitation in schools.
Referring to the previous day's presentation on wastewater, Margaret said that the world needs a new paradigm on wastewater. UNSGAB will coordinate with others to build new impetus for an innovative approach to wastewater treatment. In addition, an Alliance will be formed in Asia (together with IWA, the Asian Development Bank and the Center for Science and Society) to promote the implementation of innovative wastewater approaches.

Integrated Water Resources Management

Judith Rees, IWRM working group chair said that the group agreed on the two main areas of work: water's role in climate change adaptation and continuing to promote the UN transboundary water convention. On climate change adaptation, activities will include: develop a short "Post-Copenhagen Position" situating water and sanitation in the climate change dialogue to share with partners; help convene with partner organizations (including UN-water, OECD, DHI and SIWI) a meeting (possibly in Bonn, Germany) to consider water's role in adaptation strategies, the ecosystem approach, potential policy instruments and ways to promote water and eco-system management in the climate change debates; encourage and help develop, with partner organizations, a "common" approach to water and adaptation for COP16 in Mexico City; and encourage and support the use of water cost-curve analysis developed by McKinsey (or similar analytical techniques) in a pilot group of countries to develop an empirical basis for improved water management decision making.
On promoting ratification of the UN Water Courses Convention and supporting expansion of the UN Economic Commission for Europe Water Convention, she said the group agreed to support initiatives by partners calling for ratification of the UN Watercourse Convention, notably the World Wildlife Fund activities, and of African Partners; and to collaborate with the UN ECE and the WWF on the points regarding the UNECE convention mentioned above, and encourage UNECE to facilitate exchange of experiences.

Monitoring

The group reconfirmed their agreement with the five proposed paragraphs in the new work plan focusing on: 1) access to water and sanitation, 2) macroeconomics, 3) wastewater, 4) Post-2015 and 5) support to water resources monitoring. Again special attention should be given to the 'unserved' people, especially under objective number four. The group concluded that the collection of macro economic data for water and sanitation remains a challenge but it is badly needed.
Regarding short term activities the group noted the fact that the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) has yet to answer to UNSGAB's recommendations for enhancing the JMP. The secretariat will send a reminder if there is no reply before the end of the year 2009. They also discussed that national ministries of health can be an useful source of information for water and sanitation monitoring. With regard to wastewater monitoring a request letter will be sent to WWAP with cc to UN water asking them to include indicators on wastewater in the next world water development report. Additional information on this from SUSANA will be consulted. On water resources monitoring the group felt that additional clarification is needed on the memo received from Mr Muller (WWAP).
Finally the group held an initial brain storm on the Post-2015 topic. The following issues emerged from this discussion: Stress water and sanitation as an underpinning factor for achieving other goals; needs are changing. Consider emerging developments; do not repeat the 2000 MDG perspective. Combine goals with organization of funding; there is no hurry. Dealing with the financial crisis is a priority. Let the UN start the process; address urban areas and slums and consider an indicator on diarrhea; send letter on post MDG issue to SG first half 2010.

Water and Disaster

The Water and Disaster group asked the Board to insert a chapter on "Water and Disaster" in the new workplan. The Board agreed to this recognizing the fact that "climate change adaptation" and water and disaster are closely linked and that there is a need to integrate both policies.
The added value of UNSGAB is in facilitating the global discussion and draw attention to the report with forty concrete actions of the HLEP. The second activity would focus on initiating a knowledge sharing process at regional and national levels aiming at mobilizing political support of various sectors. Dealing with water related disaster is not only a matter of reducing loss of life and livelihoods but it is also a fundamental element for sustainable development.

Africa

Poul Nielson, the Africa Working Group Chair said the group briefly evaluated the second Africa Water Week which took place from 9 to 13 November 2009. They welcome the fact that many African water ministers attended and that there was serious attention for transboundary water management. South Africa will take over the AMCOW chairmanship and it looks like that its secretariat will be strengthened. Chair and Uschi met with the vice president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) who indicated that AfDB is supportive of the idea of having an UNSGAB meeting in Africa in the near future.
The group also discussed the Water and Finance Ministers Meeting in Dakar which is planned to take place in March 2010. UNSGAB will follow with interest the preparations of this meeting. It was agreed to organize a conference call with AMCOW and AfDB in January 2010. Based on the outcome of this conference call UNSGAB will decide on how to contribute to this meeting in terms of providing input and representation.

Presentations

Senior Policy Advisor, The Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dick van Ginhoven, GF4A
Francois welcomed Mr. van Ginhoven to the meeting and said his presence provided an opportunity for UNSGAB to pose questions, get more information and to clarify any concerns members might have regarding the Global Framework for Action (GF4A). He said the secretariat had worked with UNICEF on the this initiative, the GF4A is putting water and sanitation high on the agenda for many organizations. He referred to an invitation letter to Kofi Annan to chair the GF4A high-level meeting in Washington DC in April 2010 signed by the Executive Director of UNICEF and the UNSGAB Chair.
Mr. van Ginhoven thanked the UNSGAB for the opportunity to interact and he drew attention to the "GF4A Question and Answer Working Document, Nov. 27 2009." The paper took up question included why the GF4A is needed, how it works, who is involved and how the GF4A functions at the global and national levels. He said the GF4A is a community of practice in the water and sanitation sector that bring together international organizations, donors and developing countries together to discuss issues of common interest.
A member welcomed the GF4A noting that it brings all the important actors under one roof to address water and sanitation. This is much needed and should be welcomed. Concerns were raised regarding the donor-driven nature of the GF4A and that some of the language in the document should be reviewed, such as: the GF4A intends to be the senior international focal point for the water and sanitation sectors. Mr. van Ginhoven thanked members for their candid reflections which he said the initiative would take on board.
Next steps: the Chair will attend the GF4A high-level meeting. UNSGAB will continue to interact with the GF4A on a case-by-case basis (since there are not yet any formal procedures for supporting the GF4A)

Chief, Water and Sanitation Department, UN-Habitat, Bert Diphoorn
Mr. Diphoorn reviewed the Global Water Operator Partnership activities over the last 6 months. These include a new governance and code of conduct framework, support to regional platforms in Africa, Latin America, the Arab Region, Caribbean and in South East Europe, training programmes and courtship processes and new financial partnerships.

Director, UNESCO-IHE, Prof. Szollosi-Nagy
Prof. Szollosi-Nagy described the mission of the IHE to contribute to the training of professionals and to build the capacity of sector organisations and knowledge centres in the fields of water, the environment and infrastructure, in developing countries and countries in transition. With a focus on research, education and training and capacity building IHE provides critical learning experience for many water professionals from developing countries.

Director, Environment Directorate OECD, Anthony Cox
Mr. Cox described the current OECD water programme focus areas, the potential for innovative financing mechanisms, and OECD's work on financing IWRM. Priorities for the next two years include water and green growth, water and climate change adaptation, the water component of the OECD Environmental Outlook and the 2012 World Water Forum.

Chief Technical Advisor, UN-Water, Johan Kuylenstierna
Mr. Kuylenstierna mentioned UN-Water's recent external review which noted a need to more effectively deliver at the country level. He said that UN-Water is supporting the GF4A and is also responding to water resources management which has many more actors than for the water supply and sanitation field. More joint programmatic activities between UN-Water and UNSGAB should be pursued - instead of the approach used in the past which involved communication through formal letters. Both UN-Water and UNSGAB can respond to emerging issues and future opportunities should be harnessed.

WOPs, IHE, OECD UN-Water discussion
A member asked if the WOPs Alliance could be used for building wastewater treatment capacity and financing. This idea was welcomed. While UN-Water talks inside the water-box, UNSGAB has the ability to reach outside the water box, one member said these respective strengths should be linked. Another member noted that under the existing agreement, UNSGAB reviews OECD's water projects twice annually. A member cited the critical problem of brain-drain in Africa and how programmes like IHE can help reverse this problematic trend.

Independent Consultant, Jan Vandemoortele
Some loved the MDGs, some thought they were ok, while others thought they represented a step back, however everyone agreed to support the MDG effort Vandemoortele said. Going to the 2010 MDG Review Summit with a successor arrangement would be a mistake. Instead we should assess where we are now given that 5 years remain, and next year the Secretary-General should appoint a group of eminent people for two years to think through the successor arrangement. Some of the tasks will be: designing goals that are adapted to the specific reality of each country; focusing on quantitative targets.
He outlined some issues to consider. Should progress be measured in absolute or relative terms and what kind of time horizons work best. He suggested that too much of the progress being measured is not hitting the lowest quintile of the population and so data should be disaggregated - data impacts national policy, we need information that will make governments pay attention. He said that a separate goal on water and sanitation should be considered since these are concepts easily communicated to the public.

Discussion
One member admitted to being skeptical of the MDG framework, and yet had lent support. The goals are really the lowest common denominator and should not be used as a bible. It is not surprising that governance and human rights are not included since they are too political, however why shouldn't the number of journalists in jail be monitored? Another said that it is critical that more data is available for the bottom 30% since this group is not seeing enough improvement. Credible long-term-trend data just does not exist on water and sanitation one said - all agreed that better statistics are needed. Members welcomed Mr. Vandemoortele's suggestion to have a separate goal on water and sanitation.

Preparation of the 2010 MDG Review Summit

Thomas Stelzer emphasized that what will be discussed in the 2010 MDG Review Summit will be up to member states. Things are cooking, he said, with the Special Advisor on MDGs and the production of several reports which will highlight the Goals that need the most attention. He said there is a group of non-government organizations who are putting equity on the table. The possibility of a group coming to the Summit next year with a new framework should be avoided. Members agreed that it is important not to "escape forward."

Next steps: the secretariat will keep in touch with the Special Advisor's team and the Board will recommend to the Secretary-General to create a group of eminent persons to reflect on and to formulate ideas on the successor arrangement to the MDGs over the next several years.

UNSGAB overall strategy and adoption of new workplan

Members considered the draft workplan (doc 1-7) and revisions made based on the outcomes of the working groups. Several felt the activities identified in the working groups were too specific for a strategy document and so all agreed that two documents were required. An overarching strategy document and the annual workplans for reach of the five areas reflecting specific, timebounded activities. However, the main components of the draft workplan were approved with the inclusion of a water and disaster chapter.
Working group membership was discussed with several noting that they would like to contribute to groups of which they are not formal members. All agreed that participation in working group teleconferences would be open to all members to facilitate broader participation. In terms of the timeframe, the ultimate decision lies with the Secretary-General. Based on the instructions received during the meeting between the SG and the Chair in May 2009 the Board will prepare its activities and objectives through 2012.

Next steps: members tasked the secretariat with revising the draft workplan into two separate documents by the end of the year. The first, Hashimoto Action Plan II to be an overarching strategic document stating main objectives and the second, an amalgamation of workplans for each area (financing, monitoring, sanitation, IWRM, water and disaster) with detailed, timebound activities.

Working mechanisms and representation issues for UNSGAB members

Members reflected on the issues raised in the external review. While the Board wishes to maintain its light administrative and support structure, there is a need to clarify meeting participation to avoid future confusion. Members agreed that in advance of each meeting the secretariat should prepare a list of observers and experts to be reviewed by the Chair. In the case of observers, they are invited, pending the Chair's approval, but not funded by the UNSGAB Trust Fund. In the case of experts, they are invited, pending the Chair's approval, with possible funding from the UNSGAB Trust Fund.

Next steps: members tasked the secretariat to prepare operational guidelines for approval by the Chair.

14th and 15th UNSGAB meetings, fundraising strategy and communication strategy

On the 14th meeting, Mr. Guerquin provided updates on negotiations with Singapore to hold the next meeting on the margins of the Singapore Water Week (29 June - 1 July). Members agreed that good locations for the 15th meeting would include Sub-Saharan Africa (with support from ADB) or New York so that members could meet with the SG.

On fundraising, Mr. Guerquin said that commitments of support were expected from France, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. He thanked Italy for their recent contribution.

Regarding the communication strategy, he posed the question - "what do we want to communicate?" Given the political nature of UNSGAB's work, determining the best type of public communication strategy is challenging. Member agreed on the importance of incorporating a more refined approach to communication in the next phase of work.

Nest steps: the secretariat agreed to keep members updated on the 14th meeting and the fundraising status. Members agreed to create a small working group to discuss UNSGAB's communication strategy.

Wrap-up by the Chair

The Chair thanked all the members for visiting his home country and also thanked them for their focus on developing a renewed mandate for the Board. He urged the secretariat and members to not prolong the process since finalizing the Hashimoto Action Plan II was just the first step and 2010 will prove to be a critical year for the MDGs.



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