The United Nations is hosting a panel discussion focusing on strengthening resilience to water scarcity in Cambodia and two other countries threatened by the impacts of access to water.

The ‘Water for Sustainable Development’ panel forms part of the UN 2023 Water Conference, which runs from March 22 to 24 in New York, and will be broadcast live online.

It will feature key development partners, who will talk about the UN’s role in strengthening resilience to water scarcity and water access, by promoting data analysis, and financing strategies and mechanisms.

Building on the results of UN joint programmes in Cambodia, Jamaica and Rwanda, the panel will also examine opportunities to push investments in the sector.

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“Water is a fundamental part of all aspects of life. Water is inextricably linked to the three pillars of sustainable development, and it integrates social, cultural, economic and political values,” stated an announcement about the event.

“It is crosscutting and supports the achievement of many SDGs through close linkages with climate, energy, cities, the environment, food security, poverty, gender equality and health, amongst others.”

In Cambodia, the UN’s CLimatE Adaptation and mitigatioN (CLEAN) financing mechanism has set a goal of leveraging $10 million in private funds to develop commercially viable, inclusive and sustainable water management business models that it says will benefit 10,000 people annually.

“With climate change profoundly affecting our economies, societies and environment, water is indeed the biggest deal breaker to achieve the internationally agreed water-related goals and targets, including those contained in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,” the announcement added.

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The panel discussion will be moderated by Lisa Kurbiel, Head of the Joint SDG Fund Secretariat, and feature a raft of speakers, including Joseph Scheuer, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cambodia, who will throw the spotlight on CLEAN.

The forum takes place on March 22 from 7pm to 8.30pm local time.

marissa.carruthers@kiripost.com