The UN General Assembly has declared 2013 the “International Year of Water Cooperation. Why do we need to cooperate, on what, for what aim, at what level, with whom and, not least, how? The 2013 World Water Week
in Stockholm will raise these questions to the international water community.

Corruption continues to undermine investments in various sectors. The water sector in East Africa is no exception.

Worldwide, 2012 has been the year of drought. From the Midwest of the USA to the granaries of the Black Sea, from South Asia to the Sahel region of Africa, producers the world over have had to find ways to farm their land in the face of ravaging droughts or feeble monsoons. Both largeholders in food exporting regions and small-holders in poor countries have been hit by these droughts, which have had significant impacts on local and global food prices and thus on food security throughout the world, with potentially more impacts still to come.

As we wrap up the work of the past year and approach the new year, we are looking forward to 2013 with much enthusiasm. Next year is the “International Year of Water Cooperation” as declared by the United Nations. We believe that the way forward is paved by collaboration, and that no actor can achieve desirable impact without close cooperation with others. We need to complement each other’s work, bridge policy and practice, and connect across different sectors, nationally, regionally and globally. Water cross-cuts into all aspects of development on our shared planet, and should be given the prominence it deserves. Cooperation has been one of the core founding stones of SIWI, and we will continue to build upon it in our five core themes: Water Governance, Transboundary Water Management; Water Economics; Water and Climate Change and the Water, Energy and Food Nexus. In this issue of the Stockholm Water Front we explain why we believe those areas are important. We also summarise the thematic scope of the 2013 World Water Week and its focus on Water Cooperation. We hope to meet you all here in Stockholm on September 1-6, 2013 at the week. So please, go ahead, book your calendars, submit your abstracts, and proposals for seminars and side-events and other meetings. In the following pages, you will find articles about the recent drought in USA, the fight against corruption in East Africa, and cooperation over issues related to the Baltic Sea. You will also find news about SIWI and other developments taking place in 2013.

Stockholm Water Front Magazine, Issue no 4, 2012

More than 2,600 experts, practitioners, decision makers and business innovators from around the globe gathered in the Swedish capital for the 2012 World Water Week in Stockholm. In over 100 sessions, participants debated and showcased solutions to ensure that the planets limited water resources can meet the needs of growing economies and support a healthy global population. Here are ten takeaway messages from the many fruitful discussions that took place during the week.

Vietnam is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change in the world today, especially in the Mekong and Red River Deltas where 43 per cent of the population in the country live.

Surely an initiative that creates jobs, saves lives, saves the environment and boosts the economy – all at the same time – would be a “no brainer”? Unfortunately not, if it concerns sanitation.

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has appointed Mr. Torgny Holmgren as its new Executive Director. Mr. Holmgren comes most recently from a position as Ambassador and Head of the Department for Development Policy at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. In this interview, he takes the time to talk to Stockholm Water Front about his new role at the helm of SIWI.

In this book review, Mr Andreas Lindström looks into the book “Water and Energy: Threats and Opportunities” by Prof Gustaf Olsson. The linkages between water and energy has quickly risen to the forefront of international attention as emerging limitations to both adequate water supplies and conventional energy sources are becoming more evident. This book can be considered one milestone in mapping this not yet well explored relationship.

Stockholm Water Front Magazine, Issue no 3, 2012