WATER POLITICS

Through its participation in the World Water Forum, Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world, with more than 17 thousand islands with a long coastline, and a complex and diverse river system, has made it one of the countries rich in water resources. However, despite its abundant natural wealth and large population, Indonesia has an important role in determining the future of water diplomacy throughout the world. Indonesia has experienced significant improvements in access to drinking water and sanitation in recent years. However, there are still many areas in Indonesia that do not have access to adequate drinking water and sanitation services. As a result, the Indonesian government is committed to supporting better access for everyone. The 10th World Water Forum conference, which will be held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) from 18 to 24 May 2024, will be an important momentum for Indonesia to fight for access to clean water and better sanitation for its people and the world as a whole. Indonesia has the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment and contribution in overcoming global water challenges as the host of this forum. By bringing together stakeholders from various countries and international organizations, this country can expand the network of cooperation and collaboration to improve water resources management globally. In addition, Indonesia can strengthen its position in global water diplomacy by participating in the World Water Forum. This forum allows Indonesia to promote inclusive and sustainable water resource management approaches, as well as share experiences and knowledge with other countries on how to achieve the water-related Sustainable Development Goals.

Maintaining the Availability of Drinking Water and Sanitation

Diana Kusumastuti, Director General of Human Settlements at the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), emphasized the importance of maintaining access to drinking water, considering that currently there are 450 Regional Owned Enterprises (BUMD) in Indonesia serving 14.69 million subscription connections. In this context, Indonesia supports sanitation access with development. To increase people’s access to drinking water and sanitation, the Indonesian government has launched various programs. One of them is the Community-Based Drinking Water and Sanitation Program (PAMSIMAS), which aims to increase access to drinking water and sanitation in rural areas by building cheap, high-quality drinking water and sanitation systems. In addition, the government has launched the Business-Based Drinking Water and Sanitation Provision Program (PAMSBU). This program encourages private companies to invest in infrastructure for providing drinking water and sanitation in hard-to-reach areas. It is hoped that with these programs, access to drinking water and sanitation in Indonesia can increase significantly in a relatively short time. This will have a positive impact on public health and economic growth and social development in Indonesia.

Strengthening the water sector

Indonesia must be serious and take real action to strengthen the water sector. Indonesia will participate in discussions on national, regional and global water issues at the 2024 World Water Forum. Several aspects that need to be considered are the health of water resources, availability and management of water. Indonesia can take concrete steps by increasing investment in water infrastructure. Construction and improvement of water infrastructure such as dams, reservoirs and irrigation canals can increase water availability for agricultural, industrial and domestic consumption. Apart from that, Indonesia also needs to increase water management capacity at the local level, including flood management and water disaster mitigation. To strengthen the water sector, cooperation between government, the private sector and civil society is also needed. In this case, Indonesia can consider the public-private partnership model in water resources management that has been successful in several other countries. Apart from that, it is also important to involve the community in the decision-making process regarding water resources management so that the policies made can meet the community’s needs and desires. Indonesia has the opportunity to participate in international forums such as the World Water Forum 2024 and share its experiences and knowledge with other countries regarding water resources management. Through this collaboration, Indonesia can strengthen its position as a major player in global water diplomacy and help find solutions to increasingly complex global water problems.

International Collaboration and Cooperation

To address global water challenges, people must cooperate and cooperate with others around the world, especially in international forums such as the World Water Forum 2024. Indonesia must improve the quality of drinking water services and ensure the availability of sufficient water for everyone. Indonesia can work together in several ways, such as sharing knowledge and experience in water resources management. These countries have valuable experience in dealing with water problems such as floods and droughts, and by sharing this experience, they can help in finding solutions to water problems around the world. Apart from that, Indonesia must work together with other countries to develop new technology and innovation in water resources management. Technologies such as seawater desalination, wastewater treatment, and smart water management can solve water availability problems in many countries, including Indonesia. To deal with water-related conflicts that may occur in various regions, it is important for Indonesia to encourage international cooperation. By establishing good relations with neighboring countries and actively participating in international forums, Indonesia can help prevent water-related conflicts and achieve sustainable peace.

Indonesia’s involvement in the World Water Forum

Indonesia has an extraordinary opportunity to enhance its position as a major player in global water diplomacy as host of the 10th World Water Forum. Indonesia seeks to facilitate conversations between countries and between governments to share information, technology and experiences related to water resources management through hydro diplomacy. Indonesia also wants to work together with others to solve water problems. In addition, Indonesia’s participation in the 2024 World Water Forum gives it the opportunity to show its commitment and contribution to solving world water problems. Indonesia, the largest archipelagic country in the world, has a lot of experience in water resources management that other countries can learn from. By inviting stakeholders from various countries and international organizations, Indonesia can expand the network of cooperation and collaboration to improve water resources management throughout the world.

Hopes and Goals of the Water World Forum

To ensure the sustainability of global water resources, the World Water Forum aims to raise awareness of the role of water on the political agenda, increase understanding of global water issues, and support the development of solutions to world water problems. The 10th WWF is expected to achieve the water-related Sustainable Development Goals by concentrating on water conservation, clean water and sanitation, food and energy security, and natural disaster mitigation. A total of 244 sessions in the forum are expected to provide concrete results on matters such as determining priorities for integrated water management for small islands (IWRM), integrated water resources management for small islands, creating centers of excellence or best practices for water security. and climate or the Center of Excellence for Water and Climate Security (COE), and the celebration of World Lakes Day. The Indonesian government invited forty-three ambassadors and international organizations to join WWF and make the event a success.