Meeting History
Jul 07 2019

Thirteenth Meeting of HELP

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, New York, the U.S.A

 

The Thirteenth Meeting of the High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP) was held on 25th June 2019 at Ford Foundation Center for Social Justice, New York, USA. The meeting was co-hosted by U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, and was attended by about 30 participants from HELP member organizations representing national governments, international organizations, academia, civil society and private sectors.

 

 

Draft Summary and Minutes

 

 

I. Opening Plenary (9:00 am-11:00 am)

 

  1. Opening
    • Opening Remarks by Dr. Han Seung-soo, Chair of HELP
    • Welcome Remarks by Sir Alex Halliday, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University
    • Remarks by Dr. Joe D Manous, Director, Institute for Water Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers

 

  1. Special Speech
    • H.E. Dr. Danilo Türk, former President of Republic of Slovenia/ Chair of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace

 

  1. Approval of Agenda

 

  1. Discussion on HELP matters
    • Membership issue
    • Strengthening collaboration between the UN and HELP

 

  1. Keynote remarks and presentations
    • Remarks by H.E. Mr. Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister for Public Works and Housing, Indonesia
    • Remarks by H.E. Ms. Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, the Netherlands
    • Remarks by Hon. Norbert Emmanuel Tony Ondo Mba, Minister of Water, Energy and Mines, Republic of Gabon and President, African Ministerial Council on Water
    • Remarks by: Mr. Bambang Susantono, Vice President of ADB
    • Remarks by Mr. Loic Fauchon, President of World Water Council
    • Remarks by Dr. Toshio Okazumi, Assistant Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
    • Remarks by Dr. Monika Weber-Fahr, Executive Secretary of Global Water Partnership
    • Remarks by Ms. Kirsi Madi, Director of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)

 

II. Plenary Discussion (11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.)

 

  • Focused discussion on Cyclone Idai in March 2019 – How HELP can contribute to “Build Back Better” of affected countries (Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and others)-
  • Discussion on collaboration with Water for Peace
  • Discussion on HELP Flagship Actions
  • Discussion on the Advisors Meeting

 

Group photo and lunch hosted by Columbia University (1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.)

 

III. Breakout Discussion (2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.)

 

  • Breakout and Plenary Discussion on HELP Flagship Initiatives (2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m.)

Part 1 of Breakout Session:

    • Financing and Investment
    • Creating a Climate Resilient Society through Timely Information and Analytics

Part 2 of Breakout Session

    • HELP Flagship Documents
    • Climate Change

 

IV. Plenary Discussion (4:30 am – 5:30 pm)

 

  • Report by Breakout Session Chairs and discussion
  • Other business including HELP14 and wrap up by Chair

 

 

Meeting History