WHAT WILL THE ENVOYS DO?

During the opening ceremony of the Congress, the World Water Envoys will have the opportunity to talk about the water security challenge they face in their community and the impacts it has on everyday life. They will then have the chance to discuss this issue in more detail over the following days with experts attending the Congress, and then will be asked to summarise in the Closing Ceremony what they have learned over the week, and what connections they made that might help their community to overcome its water security challenge.

The collaboration between IWRA and the Envoys won’t only start at the Congress: the preparation year before the Congress in Korea is an opportunity to already engage with the five Envoys, and give them the chance to take part in IWRA Task Forces and projects.

World Water Envoys for the XVII Congress

Following careful IWRA's selection process among a hundred applications all over the world, the five winners of World Water Envoys are:

Georgina MukwirimbaZimbabweWater Supply

updated

Georgina focuses on the economics of water supply in big cities, in the context of a failing economy. She is currently doing an internship at UNESCO in Harare, working on the "City Blue Print" programme.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Deepesh JainIndiaSafety water and sanitation

updated

Deepesh focuses on the right to water and sanitation in slums, in India. He has a Master’s degree in Water Policy and Governance, worked with the Indian Sanitation Coalition, and currently works on installing temporary toilets during giant pilgrim gatherings similar to Kumbh Mela.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Maria AlmonteDominican RepublicUrban river management

updated

Maria focuses on urban river management, specifically on the recent contamination of a river in Santo Domingo, leading to severe health problems in her neighbourhood, such as dengue fever. She sees education and awareness-raising around waste and water management as a key priority for her community. Maria finished her undergrad in civil engineering.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Bayan KhalafPalestine, West BankAgrochemical pollution

updated

Bayan focuses on agrochemical pollution in Palestine, in rural areas, due to intensive uses of pesticides -which have a big impact on people's health. Bayan is doing a PhD in Germany on the topic and is very passionate about the subject.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Pallavi PokharelNepalGroundwater pollution

updated

Pallavi focuses on groundwater pollution in the city of Kathmandu, Nepal, where 90% of people depend on groundwater, contaminated with arsenic, chemicals and viruses. Pallavi understands well the multifactorial complexity of the situation and is very eloquent. She finishes her undergrad in environmental science.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•