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2nd Announcement GWOPA
2nd Announcement GWOPA
1st Bi‐Annual Global WOPs Congress and GWOPA General
Assembly
Cape Town, South Africa, March 20th‐21st, 2011
The First Global WOPs Congress
In its efforts to make Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) happen with The Global Water
greater impact around the world, the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Operators’ Partnerships
Alliance (GWOPA) is holding its 1st Bi‐Annual Global WOPs Congress and Alliance (GWOPA)
GWOPA General Assembly on 20th‐21st March 2011 in Cape Town, South GWOPA is working to help water
Africa, in conjunction with World Water Day celebrations on 22nd of March. operators help one another
The Congress will bring together water and sanitation operators, GWOPA improve their collective capacity
members, and partners from around the world for this first major global to provide access to water and
WOPs event. The Congress will contribute to the growing body of knowledge sanitation services for all.
on WOPs, help broker new partnerships between operators, and generally GWOPA is hosted by
raise awareness about the practice. The event represents a major UN‐HABITAT, and operates as a
opportunity for practitioners from around the world to exchange with one global network of partners
another on important questions around WOPs. working together to promote
and facilitate peer support
GWOPA General Assembly between utilities on a
GWOPA is guided by an International Steering Committee, comprised of not‐for‐profit basis.
water operators and their associations, as well as representatives of civil
society, labor unions, development partners and the private sector. In the framework of the Congress, GWOPA will
convene its first General Assembly, where the GWOPA Secretariat will present its progress to all members, and renew
its Steering Committee through the replacement of half of its seats.
World Water Day – 22nd March 2011
UN‐Water has dedicated World Water Day 2011 to the theme Water and Urbanization and has asked the United
Nations’ Urban Agency, UN‐HABITAT – the host of the GWOPA Secretariat – to take the lead in its organisation.
GWOPA is holding its first Congress and General Assembly in conjunction with this global event in order to raise the
profile of the world’s urban water utilities in contributing to the urban water challenges. This special day aims to
concentrate international attention on the impact of rapid urban population growth, and encourage action to
address urban water management challenges. All participants in the Congress and General Assembly are invited to
participate in the full day event of World Water Day 2011 on 22nd March 2011.
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As of 24 January 2011
Program Overview
Congress Chair: Bert Diphoorn, Director, HSFD, UN‐HABITAT
Day 1 Day 2
9:00‐10:00 9:00‐11:00
Plenary Session II: Platform Exchanges
Opening Session Part I: Presentations: How are the regional platforms
supporting WOPS?
a. Opening Performance
Part II: Panel – Regional Exchange of emerging
b. Cape Town Host address, tbd platforms
c. Keynote: Joan Clos, Executive Director,
UN‐HABITAT
Morning
10:00‐10:30 Morning Coffee Break 11:00‐11:30 Morning Coffee Break
10:30‐12:30 11:30‐13:00
Plenary Session I: WOPs Impacts Marketplace Event
Part I: Presentations on WOPs Plenary: Matchmaking Approaches
a. WOPs Case studies : Evaluating WOPs a. GRUBS and Website Introduction
processes and impacts b. Marketplace exercise
b. WOPs duos (co‐presentations from
mentors and recipients)
Part II: Panel Discussion
12:30‐14:00 Lunch 13:00‐14:00 Lunch
14:00‐15:30 14:00‐16:00
Parallel Thematic Sessions GWOPA General Assembly
1. to be determined a. GWOPA Progress Report and Work Plan
2. to be determined b. Discussion
c. Selection of new Steering Committee Members
Afternoon
15:30‐16:00 Afternoon Coffee Break 16:00‐16:30 Afternoon Coffee Break
16:00‐17:30 16:30‐17:00
Parallel Thematic Sessions Closing Session
3. to be determined a. Congress Highlights
4. to be determined b. Special Address: UNSGAB Chair, his Highness,
the Prince of Orange
(17:30‐18:30 GWOPA SC Meeting) closed meeting
Eve. Social events organized each evening
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As of 24 January 2011
Logistics information
1. Venue
The Congress and General Assembly will be held at the Cape Town International Convention
Centre, Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town 8001 South Africa
2. Language
The official language of the Congress and General Assembly is English. English‐French‐Spanish
simultaneous interpretation will be provided at the plenary sessions.
3. Registration
The Congress and General Assembly registration fee is USD 100. Please register online at
www.gwopa.org or www.activecaptureonline.co.za/waterday2011/index.php no later than
Monday, 28th of February 2011. Please be advised that you will be automatically registered to the
main World Water Day 2011 celebrations on 22nd March with the payment of the
above‐mentioned registration fee. The registration fee covers Congress bags, lunches, and coffee
breaks at the venue, from the 20th to the 22nd March, 2011.
4. Financial Support for participants
Financial support is available for a limited number of participants from public utilities in
developing countries. Please see the guidelines for details.
5. Accommodation
Participants are requested to make their own hotel bookings. The organizer of the World Water
Day 2011 has made block bookings at several hotels close to the venue for which booking
information is available on the main World Water Day 2011 website.
6. Visa and Vaccines
Please apply for your South African visa early to avoid delays. If you need a formal invitation
letter to support your visa application, please request one from the GWOPA Secretariat.
Please be aware that a Yellow Fever Vaccine is a requirement for travel to South Africa and must
be obtained prior to departure. For this and other general information about traveling to and
around South Africa see: www.southafrica.info/travel/advice/
7. GWOPA Secretariat
Attn: Taeko Yokota
GWOPA, Water, Sanitation and Infrastructure Branch
Human Settlements Financing Division, UN‐HABITAT
Phone: +254 20 762 4743
Fax: +254 20 762 3588
E‐mail: taeko.yokota@unhabitat.org
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As of 24 January 2011