Save the date 20-22 April 2018
BioVisionAlexandria 2018
New Life Sciences: Towards SDGs
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Speaker Details

 
 

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   Biography
 
Professor Salif Diop has been working at the United Nations, in particular at UNEP’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment (DEWA) as a Senior Officer for nearly 16 years. He is a water specialist with extensive experience in various aspects of coastal oceanography, freshwater assessment, aquatic and marine issues, sustainable management and development. He holds from University Louis Pasteur/Strasbourg/France, a 3rd Cycle Doctorate he defended in 1978 and a State Doctorate he defended in 1986. He had spent a 1-year sabbatical as a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences of the University of Miami/USA, Division of Biological and Living Resources in 1986/87. He is a member of various expert and working groups, including numerous scientific and research institutions. He has more than 40 referred publications with 6 books as main author and co-author and has been awarded a Nobel Peace Prize Certificate – IPCC 2007. Other 140 publications can be added to his own list as technical documents, research work, monographs, thesis, abstracts, and book reviews. He is a University Professor, Vice-Chair of ILEC (International Lakes Environment Committee Foundation), since Nov. 2016, Member of the National Academy of Sciences and Techniques of Senegal since February 2006, Member of the African Academy of Sciences (ASS) since December 2009 and Member of The World Academy of Sciences for the Advancement of Sciences in the Developing Countries (TWAS) since October 2010. For more details, including recent publications, kindly visit the following website of Professor Salif DIOP: http://www.esalifdiop.org .
 
 
  Abstract
 
Water and sanitation in the UN 2030 Agenda
Water and Sanitation in the UN 2030 Agenda By S. Diop Executive Summary This presentation is focused on “water and sanitation within the UN 2030 Agenda” and more particularly on the lessons learnt on SDG’s-6 implementation by voluntary countries, including in Africa, Senegal and Uganda selected at the first instance at UN level. More emphasis is put on methodologies and preliminary conclusions from the SDG-6 monitoring exercise undertaken by the countries themselves. Such SDG-6 monitoring programmes have been implemented since April 2016, with the assistance of UN-Water and GEMI/Global Expanded Monitoring Initiative on Integrated Monitoring of Water and Sanitation Related SDG 6 Targets. Indeed, UN-Water, in assisting SDG-6 implementation, has always reiterated the need for a clear definition of approaches and methodologies for integrated monitoring of targets and indicators of the SDG-6 dedicated to water and sanitation, bearing in mind that “it is not possible to manage what is not measured”. Thus, the importance for countries to obtain reliable data in order to properly inform water and sanitation ministries, as well as other related directorates and managers. The following elements will be considered and discussed during the presentation: 1. Brief description of SDG-6 and the core global indicators that have been considered; 2. What are the countries involved in this exercise, based on voluntary considerations and on their own interests? 3. UN Agencies involved in the follow-up process; 4. Example of indicator 6.3.2 on Water Quality; 5. Example of indicator 6.6.1 on Water & Ecosystems; 6. Lessons learnt and what do we get from such monitoring exercise by countries themselves of SDG-6? In fact, the main theme of SDG-6 “water and sanitation” is at the core of sustainable development. “Water Security” is embedded into the SDG-6 principal components, including: • Drinking water, sanitation and hygiene - pillars of human health and well-being; • Water for food, energy and industrial production - potentially conflicting uses – and integrated management; • Wastewater - water pollution - recycling and reuse; • Water for healthy ecosystems - improved resilience; • Climate change - shifts in water availability - water scarcity, flooding; • Risks related to famine, epidemics, migration, inequalities, and political instability. The SDG-6 main goal is to: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” by considering the water cycle in its entirety, including environmental, social and economic aspects, promoting an integrated approach to the management of water resources, and seeking to overcome sectoral and regional fragmentation. The presentation of the global indicators will be concluded by highlighting the importance of the monitoring process, while insisting on the following key elements: • Data that constitutes the “lifeblood of decision-making and the raw material for accountability”; • We cannot manage what we do not measure…; • Credible water sector data that will maximize human, financial and natural resource use efficiency: • Underpin advocacy and stimulate political commitments, while informing decision-making at all levels; • Trigger well-placed public and private investments; • Foster learning about best practices, including new technologies to improve our capacity to collect, store, analyze, report and share data; • Cutting costs and improving data disaggregation; • Integrating and expanding existing monitoring efforts, to ensure harmonised monitoring of the entire water cycle; • Provide Member States with a monitoring guide for SDG targets [6.3-6.6]; • Engaging Member States and enhancing their capacity in water sector monitoring; • Flexible methodologies for Member States to undertake monitoring efforts consistent with national capacity and resource availability.