Webinars facts
Europe/Copenhagen
The volumes of wastewater generated by domestic, municipal, and commercial sources have increased with population, urbanization, improved living conditions, and economic development. The use of wastewater has also increased, as millions of small-scale farmers in urban and peri-urban areas of developing countries depend on wastewater or wastewater-mixed water sources to irrigate crops for urban markets, often as they have no alternative sources of irrigation water. If used in untreated, inadequately treated or diluted forms, the undesirable constituents in wastewater can harm human health and the environment. Hence, wastewater irrigation is an issue of concern to public agencies responsible for maintaining public health and environmental quality.
The good news is that a paradigm shift is currently underway to a proactive interest in recovering water, nutrients and energy from waste streams. This webinar will undertake situation analysis about wastewater management in developing countries, highlight the potential of wastewater as a water, nutrients and energy resource, and address key challenges and opportunities in transforming wastewater as a valuable resource for a range of stakeholders.
More information
Global Wastewater Initiative: https://www.unenvironment.org/explore-topics/oceans-seas/what-we-do/addressing-land-based-pollution/global-wastewater-initiative
Organisation
The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) is a member of the United Nations University family of organizations. It is the United Nations Think Tank on Water created by the UNU Governing Council in 1996. The vision of the institute is a world free of water problems where sustainable human development and environmental health and security are assured for all. The mission is to help resolve pressing water challenges that are of concern to the United Nations, its Member States, and their people, through knowledge-based synthesis of existing bodies of scientific discovery; through cutting edge targeted research that identifies emerging policy issues; through application of on-the ground scalable solutions based on credible research; and, through relevant and targeted public outreach.
UNU-INWEH’s core functions are derived from its mission, apply to all projects and activities, and are designed and fully integrated to maximize impact within the Institute’s vision. Implementation of these interconnected core functions is fully integrated within each of UNU-INWEH’s programme activities, and designed to mutually reinforce and maximize future impact.
Presenters
Manzoor Qadir (UNU-INWEH)
Manzoor Qadir is an environmental scientist with focus on policy, institutional and biophysical aspects of unconventional water resources, water recycling and safe reuse, water quality and environmental health, and water and land management under changing climate. He has implemented multidisciplinary projects and directed research teams in different regions, particularly Central Asia, Middle East and North Africa regions. In addition to supervising post-doctoral fellows, postgraduate students, and interns, he has undertaken several international and regional capacity development initiatives. He is a fellow of the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation and serves on the Editorial Boards of four international journals. Before joining United Nations UNU-INWEH in Canada, Manzoor previously held professional positions as Senior Scientist jointly appointed by the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI); Visiting Professor at the Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany; and Associate Professor at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan.
Birguy Lamizana (UN Environment)
Birguy Lamizana-Diallo is a broad based development professional with more than 20 years working experience, including extensive knowledge in ecosystem and water resource management, Environmental Impact Assessment, community involvement and a capacity building skills in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). She holds an Engineering degree in Water resources management and a Doctorate in Freshwater Ecology in relation to environmental flows requirement.
Birguy has a long working experience with River basin organizations, NGOs and community involvement in managing National parks and Protected Areas In west and central Africa. Prior to joining UNOPs in 2009 and the UN Environment in 2012, she served as the coordinator of the IUCN West Africa regional wetlands and water resources programme. She has also worked with the Global Water Partnership (GWP) as the regional coordinator for Africa Water Development and with the African Development Bank (AfDB) as Technical Advisor for their Water Partnership Programme Trust fund.
Birguy is currently a Programme Officer in charge of wastewater management within the UN Environment - Global Programme of Action for the protection of the marine environment from land-based Activities (GPA). Birguy is also serving currently as Vice Chair for the IUCN Commission of Ecosystem Management (CEM), in charge for Africa, drylands and wetlands thematic groups.
Kate Medlicottif (WHO)
Kate Medlicott is the Sanitation and Wastewater team leader at the World Health Organization based in Geneva Switzerland. Within her portfolio Kate manages development and implementation of WHO guidelines on safe wastewater use, sanitation and recreational water safety. WHO is the custodian agency responsible for global monitoring and reporting in SDG 6.3.1 which Kate also leads. Within this role Kate also addresses the role of wastewater in specify diseases and emerging risks – especially neglected tropical diseases and antimicrobial resistance.