39
Business in water-stressed areas: The importance of conflict-sensitive water
management strategies
Date:
29 March 2016
Location:
Peace Palace, Academy Building, The Hague, The Netherlands
Economic fra meworks to inform de cision-ma king
BACKGROUND
Business operations in water stressed areas are risky. The availability and accessibility of water, based on its
quality and/or quantity in provision often comes up as an ingredient for conflict. Not only does scarcity in water
resources increase the vulnerability of the people, but also transforms water from an asset to a vital tool of
power. Under these circumstances, access to water can deteriorate further and conflicts exacerbate.
It is therefore imperative for sound water management strategies to be developed, taking into account the risks
associated with water stress and conflict-sensitive approaches. Taken together, these form the essential
components of a business strategy that addresses the needs of water-stressed areas today and in the future.
It is against this backdrop and the UN Appeal to all stakeholders to contribute to sustainability, that the Water
Round Table brings together entrepreneurs, diplomats, experts and researchers to share insights, experiences
and ideas on water management in water-stressed areas and to discuss possible mitigation strategies and
methodologies. In addition to knowledge exchange, the Round Table will facilitate the identification of specific
follow up actions in support of policy formulation, guidelines for businesses and for applied research.
The Round Table is organized by the UPEACE Centre The Hague in partnership with United Nations Global
Compact in the Netherlands (UNGC), the World Business Council for a Sustainable World (WBCSD), the Water
Diplomacy Consortium and Water Partner.
The significance of the Round Table is particularly driven by:



The concerns about water-stress expressed at the World Economic Forum that ranked water as the top
global risk for the next decade;
The United Nations endorsed Sustainable Development Goals, in particular the urgency of ensuring the
“universal access to safe and affordable drinking water” (SDG 6) by 2030, as a way to ensure
sustainability, thus peace and prosperity;
The CEO Water Mandate, a corporate institution that advances a multi-stakeholder collaboration
engagement multiple in order to promote a responsible business engagement with water-related
public policy.
Therefore, the aim of the round table is to:
a.
b.
Share practices and solutions to address water related issues in water-stressed areas;
Identify specific follow up actions in support of policy formulation, guidelines for businesses and for
applied research.
PROGRAMME
Time
13:30 – 13:40
Theme
Welcome
13.40 – 13.50
The relevance of conflict-sensitive strategies for businesses in waterstressed areas
13:50 – 14:00
The UN Global Compact and the relevance of the CEO Water Mandate
for businesses operating in water-stressed areas
Business in water-stressed areas; the WBCSD perspective and the link
with the SDG 6
14:00 – 14:10
14:10 – 14:20
Givaudan: perspective on water management in water stressed-areas
14:20 – 14:30
ACTIAM: Investments in water- stressed areas
14:30 – 14:40
Business perspective on hydropower in water-stressed areas
14:40 – 14:50
IFC: Business development in water-stressed areas
14:50 – 15:00
Reflections on the presentations
15.00 – 15:30
Presentor
Marius Enthoven,
Chair of the Board of UPEACE Centre The
Hague
Nika Salvetti,
Programme Leader, Business & Peace at
UPEACE Centre The Hague
Koos Brandenburg,
UN Global Compact Netherlands
Joppe Cramwinckel,
Director Water Programme at World Business
Council for Sustainable Development
Koos Brandenburg,
Head of Sustainability Operations
Kristel Verhoef,
Active Ownership Specialist at ACTIAM
Miroslav Merence,
Associate Professor at UNESCO-IHE
Bastiaan Mohrmann,
Co-Head, Asia and Middle East at 2030 Water
Resources Group / IFC
Kees Rade,
Director Climate, Water, Food Security,
Energy and Natural Resources / Ambassador
Sustainable Development
Coffee and tea
Breakout Group Discussions
15:30 – 16:15
(Presentation
outcomes breakout
discussions by
reporters; Plenary
discussion on
support for activity)
Rationale and issues for advocating the role of businesses in contributing to the achievement of SDG 6 in waterstressed areas.
Moderator: Eppy Boschma, UNGC. Reporter: Jeroen Kool, Water Partner
Rationale and issues for policies on water management in water-stressed areas for businesses.
Moderator: Roel Martens, BUZA. Reporter: Henk van Schaik, UPEACE Centre, The Hague
Rationale and scope of cases on water management by businesses in water-stressed areas for research, dissemination
and education.
Moderator: Koos Brandenburg, Givaudan. Reporter: Nika Salvetti, UPEACE Centre The Hague
Rationale and scope for Guidelines on water management for businesses in water-stressed areas and implementation.
Moderator: Joppe Cramwinckel, WBCSD. Reporter: Rens Willems, UPEACE Centre The Hague
Plenary Round Table discussion
Moderator: Henk van Schaik
1. Support for: Advocacy activities for businesses on appropriate water management in water-stressed areas.
2. Support for: Policy rationale document for businesses on water management in water-stressed areas.
3. Support for: Compilation of case studies of businesses in water-stressed areas from multilateral, medium and small
enterprises and partnerships for dissemination and suggestion of future topics for research.
4. Support for: Guideline development and dissemination on best practices in water management for businesses
operating in water-stressed areas.
17.30 – 17.45
Concluding remarks: Guido Landheer, Deputy Director General, Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
17.45 – 18.30
Drinks
16:30 – 17.30
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
1 Mr Ram
Aviram
BIT Consultancy
2 Ms Marije
Balt
SpringFactor research & consultancy
3 Ms Eppy
Boschma
UN Global Compact Netherlands
4 Mr Koos
Brandenburg
Givaudan and UNGC
5 Mr Fred de
Bruijn
Witteveen+Bos
6 Mr Joppe
Cramwinckel
World Business Council for a Sustainable World
7 Mr Marius
Enthoven
UPEACE The Hague
8 Mr Daco
Enthoven
Consultant SilverWaterFund
9 Mr Patrick
Huntjens
The Hague Institute for Global Justice
10 Mr Jeroen
Kool
WaterPartner Foundation
11 Mr Guido
Landheer
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
12 Mr Paul
Langeveld
Unie van Waterschappen
13 Mr Willem
Mak
Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment
14 Mr Rens de
Man
The Hague Institute for Global Justice
15 Mr Roel
Martens
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
16 Ms Ruth
Mathews
Waterfootprint
17 Mr Hein
Molenkamp
Water Alliance
18 Ms Loren
Motamedi
Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
19 Ms Ashley
Myers
Deloitte
20 Mr Arthur
Mynett
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
21 Mr Edwin
Obiero
The Hague University of Applied Sciences, UPEACE The Hague
22 Mr Kees
Rade
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
23 Ms Tineke
Roholl
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
24 Ms Nika
Salvetti
UPEACE The Hague
25 Mr Henk van
Schaik
UPEACE The Hague
26 Mr Joop de
Schutter
WaterPartner Foundation
27 Ms Gerdien
Seegers
Cordaid
28 Ms Zaki
Shubber
UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education
29 Ms Christine
Sijbesma
Water Partner Foundation
30 Mr Rob
Verheem
Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment
31 Ms Kristel
Verhoef
ACTIAM
32 Mr Gilbert
Verschelling
Unilever
33 Mr Arjen de
Vries
ACACIA
34 Mr Peter
Wiers
PW Advies
35 Mr Rens
Willems
UPEACE The Hague
ABOUT THE PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
UPEACE Centre, The Hague
Founded in 2012, UPEACE Centre, The Hague is the European subsidiary of the University for Peace (UPEACE).
The institution was created in order to contribute to higher education and research in the area of peace and to
promote and facilitate UPEACE operations in The Netherlands. Located in the Academy Building of the Peace
Palace, UPEACE The Hague works in close collaboration with institutions in the Hague area including the Carnegie
Foundation, The Hague Institute for Global Justice, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Leiden University
College The Hague, the International Institute of Social Studies and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education.
Specific services that UPEACE The Hague offers include the provision of educational services to The Hague
University of Applied Sciences, carrying out peace-related research and organizing conferences, seminars and
lectures (like the Lecture Series “Peacebuilding in Progress”).
UN Global Compact Netherlands
The Netherlands Network of the UN Global Compact (GC NL) is an initiative of Dutch business leaders to further
the contribution of private business, within its sphere of influence, to sustainable development. Led and driven
by signatory companies, GC NL will be guided in its efforts by the ten Global Compact principles with an aim of
committing to the principles and implementing them in internal business strategies, management systems and
operations.
World Business Council for a Sustainable World (WBCSD)
The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led organization of forward-thinking
companies that galvanizes the global business community to create a sustainable future for business, society and
the environment. Through its members, the Council applies its respected thought leadership and effective
advocacy to generate constructive solutions and take shared action to drive business action on sustainability in
the coming decade and beyond. The WBCSD aims to be the leading voice of business that will support companies
in scaling up true value-added business solutions and in creating the conditions where more sustainable
companies will succeed and be recognized.
Water Diplomacy Consortium (WDC)
The consortium is becoming a global hub for the theory and practice of water diplomacy. WDC undertakes highquality interdisciplinary policy-relevant research, advises private and public sector organizations, facilitates the
resolution of water-related disputes, and provides capacity building to stakeholders globally.
WDC is composed of The Hague Institute for Global Justice, the Netherlands Institute for International Relations
“Clingendael,” Water Governance Centre, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, and the UPEACE Centre
The Hague.
Water Partner
Water Partner Foundation is a non-profit organisation that aims to increase global dissemination of knowledge
and experiences in good governance, financing and sustainable management of the world’s water resources and
the environment. Rapidly growing water demands, increasing flooding problems and droughts, growing threats
for water pollution and environmental degradation pose serious responsibilities on the shoulders of today’s
governments and the society. Good governance and sustainable management of the water resources around the
world are therefore key challenges of today’s water and environmental managers.
Against this backdrop, the Water Partner Foundation mission is to initiate, stimulate and support projects and
programmes by bringing together good governance, water management and financing expertise.
Unilever
Unilever is an Anglo-Dutch multinational consumer goods company co-headquartered in Rotterdam,
Netherlands, and London, United Kingdom. Its products include food, beverages, cleaning agents and personal
care products. The company is committed towards making sustainable living commonplace by developing new
business practices that not only grow the company and communities, but also create a brighter future through
sustainable products.
ACTIAM
ACTIAM is a Dutch responsible fund and asset manager that manages a multi-billion worth of assets. The
company provides a range of comprehensive funds and solutions based on a clear sustainable policy, with stable
performance and transparent communication. ACTIAM was one of the first asset managers to integrate
corporate responsibility throughout its processes, setting it apart from its competitors and proving a leadership
in this area.
International Finance Corporation (IFC)
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution focused exclusively on the
private sector in developing countries. The institution utilizes and leverages its products and services — as well
as products and services of other institutions in the World Bank Group — to provide development solutions
customized to meet clients’ needs. IFC applies its financial resources, technical expertise, global experience, and
innovative thinking to help our partners overcome financial, operational, and political challenges. IFC believes
that embracing sustainability practices is key to long-term business growth and positive development outcomes.
Its integrated approach to sustainability helps our clients identify opportunities for growth and innovation while
promoting sound environmental and social practices, broadening our development impact, and encouraging
transparency and accountability.