Recognizing that research, knowledge transfer, and community engagement are essential for the achievement of all of the Sustainable Development Goals, and that SDG 6 was under review at HLPF 2023, this side event explored best practices in water sector capacity building from around the world, including a focus on partnerships (with educational institutions, local governments, NGOs, etc.) as an accelerator for action.

"How we know what we know about water: Community and partnership-based approaches to capacity building in the water sector" was co-hosted by the International Association of Universities, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and the Global Water Partnership, and supported by Uganda and Finland. It featured experts representing higher education, policy, and practice, who discussed innovative approaches to, and the remaining needs of, capacity building in the sector.

Speakers

• Dr. Yumiko Yasuda, Senior Network & Transboundary Water Cooperation Specialist, Global Water Partnership, and Lead Faculty, Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security MOOC
• Dr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner for Water Resources Planning and Regulation, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda
• Dr. Basant Maheshwari, Distinguished Professor (Water, Environment & Sustainability), Western Sydney University, Australia
• Annina Takala, University Instructor, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Finland
• Dr. Robert O. Manteaw, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Climate Change and Sustainability Studies (C3SS), University of Ghana

The webinar featured welcoming statements from Shannon Kobran, the SDG Academy's Regional Team Lead for Asia at SDSN; and Dr. Jouhaina Gherib, President of Tunisia's University of Manouba and IAU Vice-President/Chair of HESD Working Group.

It was moderated by IAU Secretary-General Dr. Hilligje van’t Land.