Stockholm Industry Water Awards, World Water Week, SIWI Projects and Resources
Who We Are
Independent and Leading-Edge Water Competence for Future-Oriented Action The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is a policy institute whose diverse Stockholm-based, internationally-oriented programmes and activities contribute to finding sustainable solutions to the world’s escalating water crisis. SIWI manages projects, synthesises research and publishes findings and recommendations on current and future water, environment, governance and human development issues. SIWI serves as a platform for knowledge sharing and networking between the scientific, business, policy and civil society communities. SIWI builds professional capacity and understanding of the links between water-society-environment-economy. In all of its work, SIWI advocates future-oriented, knowledge-integrated water views in decision making, nationally and internationally, that lead to sustainable use of the world’s water resources, sustainable development of societies and reduced poverty. SIWI stresses that water is a key to socio-economic development and quality of life, and that through Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), barriers which hinder increased food production, drinking water availability, sanitation coverage, health advances, pollution prevention and poverty reduction can be overcome. By creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between water experts and decision makers, SIWI stimulates the development of innovative policies and scientifically based solutions to water-related problems. This is necessary in order to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals and the water-related targets which were agreed upon at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. Internationally active, politically neutral, and intellectually objective, SIWI welcomes opportunities for collaboration with partners across the world.
Independent and Leading-Edge Water Competence for Future-Oriented Action
The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is a policy institute whose diverse Stockholm-based, internationally-oriented programmes and activities contribute to finding sustainable solutions to the world’s escalating water crisis. SIWI manages projects, synthesises research and publishes findings and recommendations on current and future water, environment, governance and human development issues. SIWI serves as a platform for knowledge sharing and networking between the scientific, business, policy and civil society communities. SIWI builds professional capacity and understanding of the links between water-society-environment-economy.
In all of its work, SIWI advocates future-oriented, knowledge-integrated water views in decision making, nationally and internationally, that lead to sustainable use of the world’s water resources, sustainable development of societies and reduced poverty. SIWI stresses that water is a key to socio-economic development and quality of life, and that through Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), barriers which hinder increased food production, drinking water availability, sanitation coverage, health advances, pollution prevention and poverty reduction can be overcome.
By creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between water experts and decision makers, SIWI stimulates the development of innovative policies and scientifically based solutions to water-related problems. This is necessary in order to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals and the water-related targets which were agreed upon at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg.
Internationally active, politically neutral, and intellectually objective, SIWI welcomes opportunities for collaboration with partners across the world.
What We Do
World Water Week in Stockholm Building Capacity / Promoting Partnership / Reviewing Implementation SIWI is the host and arranger of the World Water Week in Stockholm, the leading annual global meeting place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the implementation of international processes and programmes in water and development. As an open platform for over 2,000 participants including key decision-makers and more than 100 collaborating organizations, the conference promotes the exchange of views and experiences between the scientific, business, policy and civil society communities, thereby advancing the water, environment, health, livelihood and poverty reduction agendas. The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm "Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World with Special Focus on Sanitation” will take place August 17-23, 2008. This year's week will be held at a new and improved venue, the Stockholm International Fairs and Congress Center. The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm will feature some 100 workshops, seminars, and side-events that cover a wide breadth of topics and address the multiple cross-cutting issues in water and development policy, planning and management. Learn more at www.worldwaterweek.org
Building Capacity / Promoting Partnership / Reviewing Implementation
SIWI is the host and arranger of the World Water Week in Stockholm, the leading annual global meeting place for capacity-building, partnership-building and follow-up on the implementation of international processes and programmes in water and development. As an open platform for over 2,000 participants including key decision-makers and more than 100 collaborating organizations, the conference promotes the exchange of views and experiences between the scientific, business, policy and civil society communities, thereby advancing the water, environment, health, livelihood and poverty reduction agendas.
The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm
The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm "Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World with Special Focus on Sanitation” will take place August 17-23, 2008. This year's week will be held at a new and improved venue, the Stockholm International Fairs and Congress Center. The 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm will feature some 100 workshops, seminars, and side-events that cover a wide breadth of topics and address the multiple cross-cutting issues in water and development policy, planning and management.
Learn more at www.worldwaterweek.org
SIWI Projects
SIWI Projects is an area of operation designed to support different clients’ needs in the area of multi-sector and multi-country water management and development. Through strategic advisory services, applied research, partnership, initiation and implementation of projects and programmes, SIWI supports and influences international and national decision-making processes promoting innovative and sustainable development and management of water and land. The project work allows SIWI to translate policy to action for real outcomes and gain new experiences that can be transformed into advice and support in policy-related work. Three types of projects are of particular importance for SIWI: Long-term capacity building of institutions and organisations in developing countries and globally. Applied research-based projects focussing on policy issues, and on follow-up and evaluation of implementation of water-related projects on local, national and international level. Such projects utilise SIWI’s in-house high-level competence and relevant network partners. Projects in strategic areas and advisory services that contribute to developing new thinking on international and national water issues, applications and implementation. SIWI is working with a number of partners and clients in projects of strategic importance and in line with its vision. Areas include water and socio-economic development, water and poverty reduction, transboundary waters, IWRM, sustainable sanitation, anti-corruption in the water sector, production and consumption patterns, stakeholder engagement, and strategic advisory services. Partners include the Swedish Government and its agencies, International Organisations, Research Institutes and NGOs. Ongoing Projects Below is a sampling of ongoing projects at SIWI. Food and Bioenergy in a Water Scarce World The purpose of this applied research programme, set for final submission to the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra) in late March 2008, is to highlight options and strategies for a better use of the entire water resource, in different parts of the world, to achieve key social development objectives without compromising environmental concerns. Baltic TurnTable Initiative The Baltic Turntable Initiative BTT is an initiative designed to explore opportunities to address the Baltic Sea’s complex environmental challenges by promoting stronger regional cooperation, and support to environmental innovation, sustainable business and cultural cooperation. Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 2006-2008 SIWI is providing advisory services, backstopping, evaluations and analysis to the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) in their efforts to implement the Swedish Government’s regional support strategy for regional issues in the Middle East and North Africa. This includes undertaking mapping of programmes and initiatives in the Middle East/North Africa region related to transboundary waters and Intergrate Water Resources Management. Transboundary Opportunity Analysis (TB3): A Project to Define Positive-Sum Outcomes in Transboundary Waters A result of the Memorandum of Understanding between SIWI and South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, this project draws on previous work concerning the sharing of benefits in trans-boundary river basin.
SIWI Projects is an area of operation designed to support different clients’ needs in the area of multi-sector and multi-country water management and development. Through strategic advisory services, applied research, partnership, initiation and implementation of projects and programmes, SIWI supports and influences international and national decision-making processes promoting innovative and sustainable development and management of water and land. The project work allows SIWI to translate policy to action for real outcomes and gain new experiences that can be transformed into advice and support in policy-related work.
Three types of projects are of particular importance for SIWI:
SIWI is working with a number of partners and clients in projects of strategic importance and in line with its vision. Areas include water and socio-economic development, water and poverty reduction, transboundary waters, IWRM, sustainable sanitation, anti-corruption in the water sector, production and consumption patterns, stakeholder engagement, and strategic advisory services. Partners include the Swedish Government and its agencies, International Organisations, Research Institutes and NGOs.
Below is a sampling of ongoing projects at SIWI.
Food and Bioenergy in a Water Scarce World
The purpose of this applied research programme, set for final submission to the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research (Mistra) in late March 2008, is to highlight options and strategies for a better use of the entire water resource, in different parts of the world, to achieve key social development objectives without compromising environmental concerns.
Baltic TurnTable Initiative
The Baltic Turntable Initiative BTT is an initiative designed to explore opportunities to address the Baltic Sea’s complex environmental challenges by promoting stronger regional cooperation, and support to environmental innovation, sustainable business and cultural cooperation.
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) 2006-2008
SIWI is providing advisory services, backstopping, evaluations and analysis to the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida) in their efforts to implement the Swedish Government’s regional support strategy for regional issues in the Middle East and North Africa. This includes undertaking mapping of programmes and initiatives in the Middle East/North Africa region related to transboundary waters and Intergrate Water Resources Management.
Transboundary Opportunity Analysis (TB3): A Project to Define Positive-Sum Outcomes in Transboundary Waters
A result of the Memorandum of Understanding between SIWI and South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, this project draws on previous work concerning the sharing of benefits in trans-boundary river basin.
Prizes and Awards
SIWI administers four prestigious international awards: The Stockholm Water Prize, The Stockholm Industry Water Award, The Stockholm Junior Water Prize and the Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award. Each of the prizes performs complementary roles to target the range of key actors united in their quest to bring solutions to the world water crisis. Visionary individual and institutional leadership, innovative corporate development, dedicated water stewardship, and, of course, passionate involvement of youth in water issues are all brought together during the prize ceremonies at the World Water Week in Stockholm. All prize activities work to honour achievement and inspire action for a sustainable and just future development in water. The Stockholm Industry Water Award The Stockholm Industry Water Award honours and encourages business sector contributions to sustainable development in the water sector. Established in 2000 by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the honorary award is presented each August during the World Water Week in Stockholm to recognise innovative corporate development by enterprises that help improve the world water situation. An award committee established by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences reviews the submissions and selects the winning company. The committee contains representatives of the Academy and of the Global Water Partnership, International Water Association, Stockholm Water Foundation, and World Business Council for Sustainable Development as well as leading academics of water sciences. Learn more about the award, how to nominate, and previous Laureates at www.siwi.org Stockholm Water Prize First presented in 1991, The Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious prize for outstanding achievement in water-related activities. The annual prize, which includes a USD 150,000 award and a crystal sculpture, honours individuals, institutions or organisations whose work contributes broadly to the conservation and protection of water resources and to improved health of the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Water Prize.If interested in sponsoring the Stockholm Water Prize, please contact Ms. Gunnel Sundbom, gunnel.sundbom@siwi.org Stockholm Junior Water Prize The international Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition brings together the world’s brightest young scientists to encourage their continued interest in water and the environment. Each year, thousands of participants in over 30 countries join national competitions for the chance to represent their nation at the international final held during the World Water Week in Stockholm. During their time in Stockholm, winners of the national competitions receive an opportunity to meet and learn from the present leaders of the global water community and make life-long friendships with international compatriots who share a passion for water and science. The national and international competitions are open to young people between the age of 15 and 20 who have conducted water-related projects focusing on local, regional, national or global topics of environmental, scientific, social or technological importance. The international prize winner receives a USD 5,000 award and a crystal sculpture. As a result of the competitions, thousands of young people around the world become interested in water. H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize. If interested in sponsoring the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, please contact Ms. Elin Weyler, elin.weyler@siwi.org
SIWI administers four prestigious international awards: The Stockholm Water Prize, The Stockholm Industry Water Award, The Stockholm Junior Water Prize and the Swedish Baltic Sea Water Award. Each of the prizes performs complementary roles to target the range of key actors united in their quest to bring solutions to the world water crisis. Visionary individual and institutional leadership, innovative corporate development, dedicated water stewardship, and, of course, passionate involvement of youth in water issues are all brought together during the prize ceremonies at the World Water Week in Stockholm. All prize activities work to honour achievement and inspire action for a sustainable and just future development in water.
The Stockholm Industry Water Award
The Stockholm Industry Water Award honours and encourages business sector contributions to sustainable development in the water sector. Established in 2000 by the Stockholm Water Foundation in collaboration with the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, the honorary award is presented each August during the World Water Week in Stockholm to recognise innovative corporate development by enterprises that help improve the world water situation.
An award committee established by the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences reviews the submissions and selects the winning company. The committee contains representatives of the Academy and of the Global Water Partnership, International Water Association, Stockholm Water Foundation, and World Business Council for Sustainable Development as well as leading academics of water sciences.
Learn more about the award, how to nominate, and previous Laureates at www.siwi.org
Stockholm Water Prize
First presented in 1991, The Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious prize for outstanding achievement in water-related activities. The annual prize, which includes a USD 150,000 award and a crystal sculpture, honours individuals, institutions or organisations whose work contributes broadly to the conservation and protection of water resources and to improved health of the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems. H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Water Prize.If interested in sponsoring the Stockholm Water Prize, please contact Ms. Gunnel Sundbom, gunnel.sundbom@siwi.org
Stockholm Junior Water Prize
The international Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition brings together the world’s brightest young scientists to encourage their continued interest in water and the environment. Each year, thousands of participants in over 30 countries join national competitions for the chance to represent their nation at the international final held during the World Water Week in Stockholm. During their time in Stockholm, winners of the national competitions receive an opportunity to meet and learn from the present leaders of the global water community and make life-long friendships with international compatriots who share a passion for water and science.
The national and international competitions are open to young people between the age of 15 and 20 who have conducted water-related projects focusing on local, regional, national or global topics of environmental, scientific, social or technological importance. The international prize winner receives a USD 5,000 award and a crystal sculpture. As a result of the competitions, thousands of young people around the world become interested in water.
H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden is the Patron of the Stockholm Junior Water Prize.
If interested in sponsoring the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, please contact Ms. Elin Weyler, elin.weyler@siwi.org
SIWI Expertise
SIWI has always worked to identify cutting-edge, future-oriented water-related issues which are outside of the mainstream debate and discussion, but which are nonetheless critical to the survival of the planet and to all living things on it. Below is a brief introduction to a selection of these topics. Please click here for more in depth lists and explanations. Green Water A groundbreaking concept introduced by SIWI in the last 10 years has been the concept of “green water”, which is key to sustainable and integrated water management in all its major facets as a fundamental natural resource, a livelihood element and an ecosystem component. The introduction of green water thinking has called for, in the words of Prof. Malin Falkenmark, “a corresponding paradigm shift in conceptual understanding”. The water necessary to produce the food required for an expanding human population is usually discussed only as an issue of blue water (the water we use from rivers and aquifers). That neglects the food produced from rain fed farming, which is critical in hunger- and poverty-stricken areas with rapid population growth and areas that depend not on blue water but on green water (the soil moisture used by plants and returned as vapour flow). Better green water management is needed and essential in order to find realistic and sustainable options to feed the world of tomorrow. Today’s food production involves a consumptive water use of altogether 6800 km3/yr (out of which 1800 are supplied from blue water resources). To feed humanity by 2050 on 3000 kcal per person per day will require an additional 5600 km3/yr, out of which a maximum of 800 will come from blue water resources – improved green water use will account for much of the rest. From Field to Fork With rising population, urbanisation and higher incomes, food demand may double in the coming 50 years. Given the water scarcity and related environmental problems that are already occurring in many parts of the world, the corresponding increases in the pressure on water and land resources that will accompany these trends is a critical and grossly under-appreciated concern. To date, producer side solutions, like getting more “crop per drop,” have dominated recent discourse. But this discussion often neglects the tremendous unnecessary resource losses that occur at each stage of the food chain from the farmer’s field to our tables. For real solutions to the food, water and environment nexus, SIWI has begun to investigate how to pay attention to the entire production to consumption process, so that we understand what happens from “field to fork.” Virtual Water SIWI is examining how the clear signs of a water-deficit driven import of cereals – so called virtual water flow – and intensifying water stress in the semi-arid tropics suggests a major switch in global food trade. Food production in water rich regions may come to play an increasing role to alleviate hunger in water-short countries. Water Scarcity In spite of the fact that physical water scarcity is a dire reality for millions of people, it is still not properly understood nor recognised in many front-line discussions. An unfortunate confusion regarding growing physical water scarcity distorts policy formulation and effective action programmes. The scale and magnitude of the challenge imply that “water scarcity is everybody’s business.” SIWI has examined the issue more closely and developed a set of distinctions in this multi-layered issue, as well as concrete policy suggestions.
SIWI has always worked to identify cutting-edge, future-oriented water-related issues which are outside of the mainstream debate and discussion, but which are nonetheless critical to the survival of the planet and to all living things on it. Below is a brief introduction to a selection of these topics. Please click here for more in depth lists and explanations.
Green Water
A groundbreaking concept introduced by SIWI in the last 10 years has been the concept of “green water”, which is key to sustainable and integrated water management in all its major facets as a fundamental natural resource, a livelihood element and an ecosystem component. The introduction of green water thinking has called for, in the words of Prof. Malin Falkenmark, “a corresponding paradigm shift in conceptual understanding”. The water necessary to produce the food required for an expanding human population is usually discussed only as an issue of blue water (the water we use from rivers and aquifers). That neglects the food produced from rain fed farming, which is critical in hunger- and poverty-stricken areas with rapid population growth and areas that depend not on blue water but on green water (the soil moisture used by plants and returned as vapour flow).
Better green water management is needed and essential in order to find realistic and sustainable options to feed the world of tomorrow. Today’s food production involves a consumptive water use of altogether 6800 km3/yr (out of which 1800 are supplied from blue water resources). To feed humanity by 2050 on 3000 kcal per person per day will require an additional 5600 km3/yr, out of which a maximum of 800 will come from blue water resources – improved green water use will account for much of the rest.
From Field to Fork
With rising population, urbanisation and higher incomes, food demand may double in the coming 50 years. Given the water scarcity and related environmental problems that are already occurring in many parts of the world, the corresponding increases in the pressure on water and land resources that will accompany these trends is a critical and grossly under-appreciated concern. To date, producer side solutions, like getting more “crop per drop,” have dominated recent discourse. But this discussion often neglects the tremendous unnecessary resource losses that occur at each stage of the food chain from the farmer’s field to our tables. For real solutions to the food, water and environment nexus, SIWI has begun to investigate how to pay attention to the entire production to consumption process, so that we understand what happens from “field to fork.”
Virtual Water
SIWI is examining how the clear signs of a water-deficit driven import of cereals – so called virtual water flow – and intensifying water stress in the semi-arid tropics suggests a major switch in global food trade. Food production in water rich regions may come to play an increasing role to alleviate hunger in water-short countries.
Water Scarcity
In spite of the fact that physical water scarcity is a dire reality for millions of people, it is still not properly understood nor recognised in many front-line discussions. An unfortunate confusion regarding growing physical water scarcity distorts policy formulation and effective action programmes. The scale and magnitude of the challenge imply that “water scarcity is everybody’s business.” SIWI has examined the issue more closely and developed a set of distinctions in this multi-layered issue, as well as concrete policy suggestions.
Resources
SIWI resources give you complete access to our extensive archive of SIWI publications. Here you can find: policy briefs and reports; scientific papers and articles; information brochures; documentation from World Water Weeks; full editions and articles of the Waterfront magazine; and information of upcoming events. Find a sampling in our product catalogue on this page, or click here for full access to all our publications.
SIWI resources give you complete access to our extensive archive of SIWI publications. Here you can find: policy briefs and reports; scientific papers and articles; information brochures; documentation from World Water Weeks; full editions and articles of the Waterfront magazine; and information of upcoming events.
Find a sampling in our product catalogue on this page, or click here for full access to all our publications.
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