GRET was fully mobilised during its participation in the 9th World Water Forum , which took place from 21 to 27 March last in Dakar. This edition, a first in sub-Saharan Africa, was co-organised by the World Water Council and the Senegalese State.
Although sometimes contested for its low impact, the presence of large private companies, or the difficulty encountered by civil society to actively participate in it, the World Water Forum remains first and foremost a forum for multi-stakeholder exchange, where NGOs and other civil society organisations gather to valorise their actions, present their proposals or meet international partners and develop their networks.
GRET has been working for more than 30 years to improve conditions of access for the most disadvantaged to water and sanitation, paying particular attention to innovation and sustainability of systems, and was fully mobilised to participate in this event. Its teams, and particularly those working in Senegal on several water-related projects, participated in several official sessions on integrated water resources management, sanitation and agroecology, among others. GRET also facilitated sessions, together with its vast network of partners, at the Forum and at side events, as well as at the Alternative World Water Forum (AWWF) organised exclusively by Senegalese and international civil society.
Lastly, GRET facilitated and welcomed local stakeholders (Senegalese authorities, local private stakeholders, civil society, etc.) to its stand C36 and in Zone 1-access at the Sanitation Village, so that they could participate in debates, and present services and tools.
