Visual impressions of
the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul.
March 16 – 22, 2009
By Nick Dickinson, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre
Sütlüce side of the beautiful Golden Horn in Istanbul on
Monday evening at the 5th World Water Forum.

Each section of the forum had security check points. This check
point was found in the middle of the bridge separating the two
sides of the Golden Horn.

The 5th World Water Forum was under way by the time that the
bridge was finished and these workers had a chance to mount
this creation on the newly built walking bridge.

The Gender and Water Alliance stand on the other side of the
river from the NGO village. It is a 20 minute walk between the
two.

Henk Holtslag interviewed in the Dutch Pavilion on low cost
technologies, which can be produced locally. Big Noise Films,
produced a report that was broadcasted by Democracy Now.

Also present were institutes like the Mexican institute of Water
Technology. Many private sector organisations stood in contrast
to the low cost, small scale technologies that Henk Holtslag was
promoting.

Bosch showing their Vivagua, latest and greatest, water
dispenser with three filters including reverse osmosis and UV
treatment.

The French Water Partnership Pavilion was the source of a
constant buzz of activity. In the background, the Holland
Pavilion is also hosting presentations.

In the NGO village, opposite side of the river of the country
pavilions, the CGIAR Challenge Program introduces their work
to Turkish school children.

A panel of speakers during the Scaling Up WASH in
Schools session, organised by UNICEF.

Enticing illustrations on water being presented in the Turkish
GEA Search and Rescue, Ecology and Assistance Campaigns
Group stand.

WASHCost is presented late in the evening to a small group of
invited participants in a session hosted by the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation. Feedback is positive albeit the hour!

IRC stand at the end of the day, shared with ODI and the RiPPLE
programme, in the NGO village. This stand was generously
provided for free, courtesy of the forum organisation.