The theme for this year’s UN World Water Day was ‘Leaving no one behind’. It reflects the growing body of evidence and Australia’s belief in the importance of gendered and socially inclusive approaches to Water Resource Management (WRM) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to achieve more effective and sustainable outcomes in development.
The Australian Water Partnership (AWP) celebrated this day by collaborating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and Water for Women (WfW) to highlight Australian support of ‘water for development’ through several key WRM and WASH programs in the Indo-Pacific region. The AWP and WfW are both key initiatives of DFAT as part of Australia’s aid program.
In a campaign beginning with International Women’s Day (8 March) and leading up to World Water Day (22 March), AWP Partners were invited to share success stories of work that have been supported through the Australian aid program. Some of these were highlighted on DFAT, AWP and WfW social media platforms and websites, and can be viewed further below.
AWP was also involved in several events. For the World Water Day celebrations in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar (5-6 March), AWP and Myanmar’s National Water Resources Committee (NWRC) launched the Ayeyarwady Basin Exploratory Scoping Study (BESS) Report, ‘At the Heart of Myanmar: Exploring Futures of the Ayeyarwady River System’. The BESS Report offers a bridge by making use of key findings of the Ayeyarwady State of the Basin Assessment (SOBA), as well as the scientific and grey literature that has accumulated on Myanmar development during the past decade.
AWP also supported MDBA representatives – Russell James, Executive Director of the Office of Compliance, and David Dreverman, MDBA special advisor – to co-chair two sessions on a range of water topics. Mr James and Mr Dreverman also met with Myanmar officials and colleagues from the Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems (DWIR), the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC), and the Hydroinformatics Centre to progress planning of Phase 2 of the Ayeyarwady-Murray-Darling twinning arrangement, and to continue building Australia’s understanding of water management challenges in Myanmar.
AWP announced funding for a project on ‘Gender, water, and food synergies in support of the Sustainable Development Goals in Myanmar’ – a new United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) initiative under the umbrella of ‘Next Generation Irrigation and Agricultural Water Management for the Asia Pacific’. The first project within this program was launched at the Myanmar celebrations and is focussed on gender, water, and food synergies in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Myanmar.
In Nonthaburi, Thailand, Australia was represented at the World Water Day and National Water Resources Conservancy Week where Australia and Thailand agreed to upscale its bilateral water cooperation. His Excellency Chatchai Sarikulya, Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Dr Somkiat Prajamwong, Secretary-General, Thailand Office of National Water Resources met with Australian officials, including a visit to the Australia booth.
‘AWP is very pleased to have collaborated with DFAT and Water for Women to highlight the impact that our respective initiatives and Partners have had on communities and people in the region,’ says AWP CEO Nick Schofield.
‘We are working to leave no one behind in all our activities by actively supporting Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). This is a key strategic commitment of the AWP and we are proud to enable our Partners in making a positive difference to GESI with the Australian Government’s support.’

Happy International Women’s Day! Why @dfat @_waterforwomen and @WaterPartnersAU are working to ensure availability and sustainable management of water for all: https://t.co/6z9wgDGKu9 #BalanceforBetter #IWD2019 #SDG5 #SDG6 pic.twitter.com/JldpHQ4KWO
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 8, 2019
Tune in for the @WaterStewardAus webinar on the new AWS International Water Stewardship Standard being launched on #WorldWaterDay #SDG6 https://t.co/TIPxcgKb4n
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 20, 2019
Today on #WorldWaterDay we are reminded that water is essential for life. Through @dfat #AustralianAid we are assisting 30 utilities and 21 Pacific nations via the #PWWA to improve delivery of #water and #sanitation ?? #Water4All Read more https://t.co/Nx8uOFDVzu pic.twitter.com/I9HtHnwrHL
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 21, 2019
Today on #WorldWaterDay we recognise that sustainable mgmt of water resources is vital to supporting millions of lives in urban and regional communities, such as in the Ayeyarwady Basin in Myanmar. Read more https://t.co/QfkNjqhv6y #Water4all #LeaveNoOneBehind #SDG6 pic.twitter.com/jd7qeqX7sD
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 22, 2019
Today on #WorldWaterDay we announce the launch of a new @FAO initiative on gender, water & food synergies in support of the SDGs in #Myanmar. Gender equality and social inclusion is vital to all our water initiatives #Water4all #SDG5 #SDG6 Read more https://t.co/wir6tGop4C pic.twitter.com/UX3zSF6044
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 22, 2019
This #WorldWaterDay is about tackling the water crisis by addressing the reasons why so many people are affected by #WRM and #waterscarcity challenges. Through @dfat #AustralianAid we are supporting @CSIRO on water policy/planning in Nepal. Read more https://t.co/NuGTgX4eqP pic.twitter.com/heuaNm6AWj
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 22, 2019
This #WorldWaterDay is a reminder to all businesses and corporations to practice responsible #water management. The @_A4WS Standard 2.0 is now available – read more at https://t.co/h7ebsTgJOZ #Water4All pic.twitter.com/kOfciykbK0
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 22, 2019
Today on #WorldWaterDay we celebrate collaboration in the #WASH sector as an effective means for developing countries to strive towards achieving @UN #SDG6. Watch a highlight from our Water Utility Improvement Program https://t.co/RF3QRxWwSN #Water4all #AustralianAid pic.twitter.com/4Ce88VI0lm
— AWP (@WaterPartnersAU) March 22, 2019
This #WorldWaterDay, and every day, is committed to ensuring #Water4All. Through our Water for Women program, we will improve access to safe water and improve hygiene practices for an estimated 2.9 million people. #AustralianAidhttps://t.co/5YPe4cV49M
Photo: @PlanAustralia pic.twitter.com/XpH7ExPVj2— DFAT?? (@dfat) March 22, 2019
Globally, 2.1 billion people live without safe water and sanitation at home. This #WorldWaterDay, ?? celebrates our partnerships with @_waterforwomen @WaterPartnersAU in working towards water for all. #AustralianAid. https://t.co/5YPe4cV49M
Photo @ThriveNet pic.twitter.com/gF3Rz5nFE4— DFAT?? (@dfat) March 22, 2019
This #WorldWaterDay, Australia (AU)
celebrates our #WASH and #WRM achievements with our key partners’ @_waterforwomen @WaterPartnersAU. We
must work together to #LeaveNoOneBehind
by 2030 #SDG6#Water4All #AustralianAid https://t.co/IpztBIE5xN pic.twitter.com/AmT6DUb64p
— DFAT WA State Office (@DFATinWA) March 22, 2019
Thanks @AusAmbBKK for joining us again today. Exciting times as the #WaterforWomen Research (Type 1) Award recipients are announced and the @WHO and @UTSISF Guide to equitable and water safety planning guide is launched. #leavenoonebehind pic.twitter.com/zzfmkLDAsb
— Water for Women (@_waterforwomen) March 22, 2019
Happy #IWD2019! We are proud to be working with #Ozwaterpartners to showcase some of the great work being done in #WRM and #WASH projects across the Indo-Pacific and the important role of women in their success. #morepowerfultogether @WaterPartnersAU @dfat https://t.co/mq4g4t8JsW
— Water for Women (@_waterforwomen) March 8, 2019
DYK? 4 billion people experience severe #waterscarcity each year and 1 in 4 primary schools worldwide have NO drinking water, with pupils using unprotected sources or going thirsty. We must do better #WWD2019 #Water4All pic.twitter.com/VU2EjWiC9Y
— Water for Women (@_waterforwomen) March 19, 2019
Water is critical to human survival. Yet 2.1 billion people still live w/o safe water#OzWaterPartners are working to ensure that sustainable #WRM & #WASH are a reality for communities in the Indo-Pacific. Stay tuned 4 more #WorldWaterDay #Water4all #SDG6 pic.twitter.com/rsxdvvws9e
— Water for Women (@_waterforwomen) March 19, 2019
Celebrating #WorldWaterDay! 2.1 billion people live without safe water at home & 892 million people still practice open defection. We must change this.
Major inequalities exist in development outcomes & #WASH access. #LeaveNoOneBehind #Water4All @WaterPartnersAU pic.twitter.com/PgxlGPGy7L
— Water for Women (@_waterforwomen) March 22, 2019
Happy #WorldWaterDay! Wonderful to join together again with our fellow attendees and organizations to celebrate everyone’s right to water and achieving #SDG6! pic.twitter.com/MklgTqVv5u
— Water for Women (@_waterforwomen) March 22, 2019
How will we achieve #SDG6? ‘Working together, monitoring together, sharing together, learning together.’ Wonderful to hear from Ms. Karin Hulshof, Regional Director @UnicefAsiaPac at our #WorldWaterDay celebrations this morning. pic.twitter.com/KGBM8g4Vpl
— Water for Women (@_waterforwomen) March 22, 2019