Minister Dody encourages concrete actions to strengthen the global water agenda towards the 11th World Water Forum

Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo. (Photo: Ministry of Public Works)

RIYADH - Minister of Public Works (PU) Dody Hanggodo encourages global commitment to the water resources sector through four concrete initiatives as a follow-up to the results of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali.

This was conveyed by Minister Dody when giving a keynote speech at the 2nd Stakeholder Consultation Meeting (SCM) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, June 28, 2026, as part of the preparation series for the 11th World Water Forum which will be held on March 21-25, 2027.

The four initiatives include World Lake Day, Center of Excellence for Water and Climate Resilience, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) on Small Islands, and Water Warrior as the development of the spirit of the Bali Youth Water Prize.

Minister Dody emphasized that Indonesia is committed to safeguarding the sustainability of the various achievements of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali so that it does not stop as a political commitment, but is realized through programs that provide tangible benefits to the community.

"From Bali with the theme Water for Shared Prosperity to Riyadh with the theme Action for a Better Tomorrow, the World Water Forum must continue to build on the success that has been built. The commitments we have agreed to must be realized into concrete actions that provide direct benefits to the community," said Minister Dody.

Dody explained that the Declaration of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali had resulted in a number of priority commitments in support of global water sustainability, ranging from the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation, integrated water resources management, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable financing, ecosystem protection, to increasing the role of the younger generation in the world's water agenda.

The declaration serves as a basis for presenting sustainable real actions towards the 11th World Water Forum.

As a follow-up to the declaration, Indonesia brought four main initiatives to Riyadh.

First, World Lake Day as an effort to increase global awareness and strengthen shared responsibility in maintaining the sustainability of lakes as a source of life.

Second, Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) on Small Islands to strengthen integrated water resources management on small islands so that it can increase water and climate resilience.

Furthermore, Indonesia encourages the strengthening of the Center of Excellence for Water and Climate Resilience as a flagship center that serves as a platform for capacity development, knowledge sharing, innovation, and international cooperation in water resources management and sanitation.

In addition, Indonesia also introduced Water Warrior, which continues the spirit of the Bali Youth Water Prize, as a platform to expand the participation of the younger generation in presenting various innovative solutions to future water challenges.

Dody said, the world today is facing increasingly complex water management challenges.

The achievement of the 6th Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to ensure the availability of safe drinking water and adequate and sustainable sanitation is still not in line with the target, while climate change, increasing pressure on water resources, conflicts, and water needs due to the development of various sectors are increasing. the challenge.

Therefore, strengthening international collaboration is the key to ensuring that each commitment can be implemented in a tangible manner.

"The progress of the world's water agenda is a joint effort of all nations. No one country is capable of answering this challenge alone. Therefore, international collaboration must continue to be strengthened so that each commitment can be realized into a real solution," said Dody.

The Indonesian government also invites the Government of Saudi Arabia, the World Water Council, as well as all countries and development partners to strengthen collaboration through the exchange of knowledge, technology development, institutional capacity building, project preparation, and financing that supports the implementation of the global water agenda.

"Our focus now is to ensure that all commitments that have been agreed upon become programs that can be implemented, have measurable targets, strong institutions, and sustainable financing. Thus, the benefits can really be felt by the community," he concluded. (ADV)