Togo charity wins Kyoto World Water Grand Prize

The World Water Council has announced the winner of the 5th Kyoto World Water Grand Prize: Charité Chrétienne pour Personnes en Détresse (CCPD — Christian Charity for People in Distress), from Togo.

Presented during the World Water Forum since 2003, and organised in cooperation with the Japan Water Forum, the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize rewards the best water-related initiative carried out by a grassroots organisation from a developing country. The prize of ¥2,000,000 (around $23,700) aims to support the most innovative activities in developing countries and to serve as a model for other organisations in these regions.

CCPD has been recognised for empowering individuals and community groups to improve access to safe drinking water and sanitation. This is through the construction and refurbishment of drinking water and sanitation facilities, clean-up of sites, and the organisation of awareness and educational campaigns and workshops. These efforts have contributed to a noticeable decrease in water and sanitation-related diseases and deaths in the community of Agou-Klonou.

CCPD’s winning initiative will be presented at the closing ceremony of the 8th World Water Forum, to be held in Brazil from 18–23 March. The forum will welcome tens of thousands of water sector experts, decision-makers, businesses and civilians, with its over-arching theme of ‘Sharing Water’ set to inform thematic, regional and political processes underscored by sustainability and citizens’ participation.

As water is an issue that concerns everyone, the World Water Forum opens its doors to the public through an interactive Citizen’s Village, accessible to all. In parallel, the Thematic Process organises discussions and debates on a variety of themes relating to water security challenges and lessons. The Regional Process catalyses knowledge sharing by collectively identifying key issues in specific continents through a solutions-based approach, while the Political Process invites ministers, parliamentarians, mayors, governors, judges and prosecutors to talk about water in their communities.

“The purpose of the World Water Forum is to bring water experts and professionals closer to the decision-makers,” said World Water Council President Benedito Braga. “We want ministers, heads of state, parliamentarians, mayors and presidents of municipal chambers to participate in the forum, to exchange knowledge and to mobilise themselves around the rational use of water and global water security.”

The World Water Forum is designed to maximise interaction at all levels, from grassroots to heads of state, to better manage this vital resource. Registration is available at www.worldwaterforum8.org/en.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Dave Idem