World Water Forum : An exhibition to raise awareness

During the World Water Forum being held in Brasilia, AFD is presenting a photo exhibition to raise awareness of issues related to access to water and sanitation. It is called “Hydro: Water a Common Resource” and is being hosted in Brasilia from 20 to 25 March, but also in Conakry on 29 March 2018.

Why this type of exhibition?

The starting point for the exhibition was the fact that water is a priority which concerns us all. The photos on show demonstrate the difficulties encountered on the five continents in terms of water (shortages, floods). Their impacts are felt on health and the environment: 2.1 billion people do not have access to clean water, 4.5 billion individuals are not connected to an adequate disposal system and 80% of wastewater is discharged into the natural environment.

The second lesson of this exhibition: we are not equal vis-à-vis water. Residents in regions (such as northern Brazil) are sometimes both victims of a lack of access to high-quality water and are affected by floods.

Finally, the photos of the Hydro exhibition portray the architects of the “reaction”: renovation of water systems, non-conventional water reuse, wastewater treatment, improved water management… through 250 projects, AFD provides its support and expertise to its partners. The objective: make water a common resource for the benefit of all.

Booklet of the Hydro Exhibition

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Lalankely, sanitation, water, road, Madagascar, d'Ison

Ankazomanga, Madagascar

On the photo, one of the sanitary units built in the Ankazomanga neighborhood in Madagascar. This unit was built in the context of the Lalankely project, which was designed to improve living conditions for the 700,000 residents living in 78 deprived neighborhoods, thanks to improved water drainage and appropriate sanitary facilities.

water, Palestinian Territories, tanker, Andrea

Gaza, Palestinian Territories

The residents of Gaza struggle to satisfy their water needs, particularly at one of the supply points like this one. The city’s main water resource – the coastal aquifer – is overexploited and polluted by seawater and wastewater intrusion.

Sasumua, Kenya

In Kenya, the Sasumua Dam has just been renovated. It diverts water flowing towards the West neighborhoods of the capital through the Nyandarua sanitation plant, where it will be purified. This project, as with many others financed by AFD, meets several objectives: secure drinking water production, promote good water management and avoid untreated water discharges into the natural environment.

OCP is committed to preserving water resources and has invested in seawater desalination facilities in order to meet its new needs for industrial development. Jorf Lasfar desalination plant © Francesco Zizola for AFD

Khouribga, Morocco

The Jorf Lasfar complex has been equipped with a brand new desalination plant: it should eventually desalinate up to 75 million m3 of water. It is the result of the joint commitment of AFD and OCP (Cherifian Office for Phosphates) to reduce the consumption of conventional water sources for industrial purposes.

Shohila, Bangladesh

Shohila village is located in Bangladesh in a region highly exposed to heavy rainfall. During half of the year, it is almost completely submerged by the floods, leaving only a cluster of islands visible. On this photo, this small patch of land is home to five families who remain cut off from everything for six months.

La Barquita, flooded district, Dominican Republic, Petit

Barquita, Dominican Republic

In Santo Domingo, 300,000 people live in slums next to the Ozama River. Residents in La Barquita neighborhood are currently being rehoused in neighborhoods protected from floods and connected by transport. AFD is financing this rehousing project. Supporting the most vulnerable to climate hazards is one of our priorities.

The paradox of water

It is no coincidence that Brazil is hosting the World Water Forum this year. Indeed, the country has considerable water stocks, but a large part of its population lacks access to high-quality water in sufficient quantities.

This photo of the outlying neighborhoods of Fortaleza sums up the whole paradox: they are exposed to floods due to the lack of appropriate drainage. Yet the region suffers from a water shortage.