On 24 March 2022, UNU-IAS co-organised a thematic session at the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal to discuss the impact of water deficits and extreme weather events on migration and displacement. The session explored the latest data and evidence on the linkages between water and migration to identify knowledge gaps and inform policy.
Kensuke Fukushi (Academic Programme Advisor, UNU-IAS) contributed a regional perspective and presented case studies from Asia to demonstrate the complex relationship between water resources, economy, and sustainable development. Dr Fukushi highlighted the importance of improved water management among various water users to build resilience, and emphasised that the economy, people, and the environment were the three building blocks of a sustainable society. The event was organised by the UNU Institute for Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS) in partnership with UNU-IAS, FAO, IOM, and the African Climate Migration Initiative.
A UNU-IAS poster presentation at the forum provided an overview of the status of water reuse in Japan, identifying challenges for further promotion of water reuse. The presentation was based on research outputs developed with the support of the project SMART-WaterDomain (Framework for Organizational Decision-Making Process in Water Reuse for Smart Cities), which is focused on facilitating smart reuse of wastewater resources. It is supported by a joint funding scheme of EU countries and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), EIG CONCERT-Japan.