The inaugural Gender Water & Development Conference originally planned to take place from 7 to 11 July in East London South Africa will take place from 3 to 7 November 2014.
While the organisers acknowledge the considerable inconvenience that may result from the change in dates, all partners and hosts have committed to making the event a success and using the extended timeframe to strengthen the conference objectives. The conference agenda will continue to be guided by the African Minister’s Council on Water Gender Strategy, but several opportunities exist to consolidate and build on the existing programme. As the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, the conference will act as a barometer for assessing how the world has performed on Goal 3, while also considering how gender equality is being considered in the Post 2015 agenda.
The postponement proved unavoidable given the elections that have resulted in a new Cabinet. As one of the primary hosts of the conference, the Department of Water Affairs has recently undergone a strategic change that will see its mandate being expanded to not only manage the country’s national water resources but to also include sanitation.
Incoming Minister for Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane has expressed her commitment to meeting the basic needs of South Africa’s poorest people and has shown sensitivity for how women and children remain the most vulnerable citizens despite 20 years of democracy. “The success of our conference is dependent on the diverse participation of stakeholders across cultures, sectors and traditional boundaries to ensure that we deliver outcomes that are truly representative and participatory. To this end, we appeal to all our existing delegates to support the new dates and help us host a successful event,” says Barbara Schreiner, Conference Chair. Delegates, sponsors and exhibitors are encouraged to contact the Conference Secretariat for additional information or advice on how to manage their travel arrangements or to consult the conference website for updates at www.global-water-conference1.com.
