The workshop aims to promote discussion on more effectively harnessing global and regional knowledge to understand and manage the interactions between climate change, food security, and water security. Climate change, food, and water security are increasingly interconnected issues that extend beyond national borders and require coordinated regional responses. The workshop provides a neutral space for stakeholders to come together to share knowledge and insights and help shape the regional agenda on water security.

1. Workshop on Climate Change, Food, and Water Security
Opening Remarks by Mohamed AITKADI, Chair, GWP Technical Committee
February 24, 2011
Without repeating the concept note, allow me to briefly say that I am very pleased that this
workshop, which is the first of a series that we intend to organize in other regions, takes
place in South Asia where the ever-expanding water demand of growing economies and
populations, combined with the impacts of climate change are already making water
insecurity a reality, with implications for food and livelihood security. But at the same time, I
am convinced that this region has the potential to lead the way in taking a more strategic
and integrated approach to the threats and opportunities latent in the climate change-food
and water security nexus.
Our aim in this workshop is to promote a discussion of the prospects for more effectively
harnessing global and regional knowledge. Our hope is that the fruits of this discussion will
contribute to the understanding and management of the interactions among these issues
and what’s more, that this knowledge will lead to joint action and help shape the regional
agenda on water security.
Climate change, food and water security are increasingly tightly interconnected in ways that
extend well beyond national borders. The associated shocks and vulnerabilities are truly
global and regional even if impacts and response can still differ at local level. We will not
solve these problems by addressing them one by one, country by country or basin by basin.
At this critical juncture, if we are to meet future challenges with effective solutions and
sufficient levels of preparedness, we need to improve understanding of these issues at
regional levels and to develop more coordinated responses.
There is still vast, unexploited scope to pool knowledge and understanding of
interconnected challenges and to design collaborative regional strategies. For this purpose, it
is important to have a neutral and creative space where multiple stakeholders can come
together in an atmosphere of trust. The Global Water Partnership proposed regional
platform is meant to be such a space!
I sincerely hope that the work that we do here together and the knowledge and insights that
will be shared during this 2-day workshop will contribute to galvanizing the desired action
and cooperation in South Asia.
Thank you for your attention