WWF6 – Many successful meetings and presentations at Netherlands pavilion
The Netherlands pavilion was the base for most of the Dutch experts that attended the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille from March 12-17. Not only the formal Dutch governmental delegation but also the many Dutch experts that attended the forum on their own, used the hospitality of the pavilion to do their business.
Many successful meetings and presentations took place at the pavilion.
Monday March 12th
On the first day of the Forum the Prince of Orange attended the welcome reception at the Netherlands pavilion. Here seen being briefed by Christina Boomsma of the Netherlands Water Partnership on the worldwide branding of the Dutch water sector.
Tuesday March 13th
Director Nico Terra (left) of IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre and co-director Peter van der Linden (right) of the AKVO Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding at the Netherlands pavilion. IRC has much knowhow and experiences with water and sanitation projects in the developing world. AKVO is very active on internet and over 500 organizations are using the Akvo platform to visualize projects with a total value of over 32 million euro, reaching more than 1.9 million people. IRC and AKVO will specially join forces on monitoring all these water projects.
Jessica Graf of the consultancy firm Hystra and author of the study ‘Access to safe water for the base of the pyramid’ explained at the Netherlands pavilion that new viable business concepts are emerging for water supply in developing countries. Simple technical concepts make it easy for local entrepreneurs to start small water firms.
Film actress Famke Janssen (second right) attended the Forum as the new ambassador of Green Cross International and promoted implementation of the Human Right to Water and Sanitation. She visited the Netherlands pavilion together with representatives of the World Youth parliament for water. Representative for the Netherlands was Annerieke Sleurink (second left).
Wednesday – March 14th
The Dutch-based Unesco-IHE institute for water education organized a networking event for alumni to meet the Dutch water sector.
Thursday – March 15th 
Unesco-IHE Cultural Ambassador Ap Verheggen gave a briefing on the latest developments to build a huge cooling structure in the desert that condensates the water in the air and sues solar energy to freeze the water.
Advisor on low cost technology Henk Holtslag, gave a presentation on low cost water supply with smart disinfection, rope pumps and micro irrigation. Holtslag told about his efforts to set up local production facilities for water equipment with local skills and materials.
Also read on this website
● WWF6 – Even Dutch water authorities struggle with seasonal drought, 16 March 2012
● WWF6 – AGT offers Chinese delegation to jointly develop state-of-art dike management technology, 15 March 2012
● WWF6 – Preservation of wetlands pays back in supply of food and fresh water, 15 March 2012
● WWF6 – Global water governance hampered by sovereignty, 14 March 2012
● WWF6 – Delta alliance potential backbone for roadmap to resilient deltas, 14 March 2012
● WWF6 – Prince of Orange praises achievement MDG for drinking water, 13 March 2012
●WWF6: the Marseille meetings on unprecedented collaboration for safe water access, 12 March 2012
● WWF6: Unique Dutch delta act as solution for climate adaptation, 8 March 2012
More information
6th World Water Forum 2012 - Marseille
www.worldwaterforum6.org