UN organized the "Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference" from 13th to 16th January 2014. One of the focuses was the Partnerships improving Water and Energy efficiency, security and sustainability. The Conference analyzed the commonalities and differences of both sectors and the advantages and disadvantages of partnerships. It looked into setting up, composition, financing, incentives, synergies, skills, cost effectiveness and support for and from partnerships. As well as definition of responsibilities and liabilities, benefit sharing, symmetries, long-term sustainability, negotiation and the flexibility required. The Conference aimed to draw lessons on what the factors that make successful partnerships are, in water and energy, the role of different actors and how to scale up partnerships.
This report brings together outputs from the UN-Water Zaragoza Conference 2014, summarising contributions from different UN agencies and programmes, more than 120 experts, representatives of international companies in the water and energy sector, governmental and non-governmental organisations. An introduction provides insight into the interlinkages between water and energy and the prospects for a sustainable future. The report then examines the future of the water-energy nexus and partnership under 6 key headings: The UN and the Water-Energy Nexus; Water and Energy Scenarios and Challenges; The Water and Energy Nexus: Opportunities and Choices; Making the Case for Partnerships; Building Partnerships-partnerships in practice; and Key Lessons on Partnerships.
The report has been prepared by UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC) with United Nations University (UNU) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). Read more: http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/water_and_energy_2014/pdf/water_and_energy_2014_final_report.pdf .
