ICIWaRM Participates in World Water Day Event at World Bank

ALEXANDRIA, VA—April 5, 2011. Mr. Robert Pietrowsky and Mr. Will Logan represented the International Center for Integrated Water Resources Management (ICIWaRM) at the World Bank’s World Water Day event on 22 March 2011 in Washington, DC. Senior U.S. government officials recognized activities that ICIWaRM has helped support. The Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Anne Castle, thanked ICIWaRM staff for USACE collaboration with the Office of Science and Technology Policy’s Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality. In particular, their assistance in preparing the inaugural Report to Congress on the Secure Water Act was noted.

The event was highlighted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and World Bank President Robert Zoellick signing a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement provides for U.S. government support to the World Bank on water resources and related capacity development projects around the globe. It facilitates World Bank access to experts in 17 U.S. government agencies and departments to address a wide range of water resources issues. Secretary Clinton and Under Secretary for International Organizations, Maria Otero, affirmed the U.S. foreign policy strategy which has elevated water development as a pillar of U.S. OCONUS (Outside Continental U.S.) engagement.

The event also featured live video teleconference participation by officials at the World Water Council Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. Presentations were made by the Chair of the African Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW), the Executive Director of UN-Habitat, and the Netherlands Prince of Orange.

More about the World Bank

The mission of the World Bank is to fight poverty and help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors. The World Bank provides financial and technical assistance to developing countries for a wide range of purposes, including environmental and natural resources management. Their support of water resources activities encompasses water supply, sanitation, agricultural water management, environmental services, hydropower and water resources management.

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