The Asia-Pacific Forum and the Knowledge Hub Network
The 4th World Water Forum, held in Mexico in March 2006, marked a turning point in addressing water-related issues and challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and led to the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) in September 2006. The APWF is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan, and apolitical network that aims to promote water resources management to support sustainable social and economic development in the region.
To this end, it carries out the following activities:
●Investing in best practices and diverse experiences
●Sharing knowledge, collaborating to achieve results on the ground, and developing capacity
●Facilitating financing
●Prioritizing water supply and sanitation within policy objectives.
To put these goals into action, a knowledge network is essential to communicate feasible strategies to people and adapt them to local conditions. As a first step, the basic concept of the Knowledge Hub Network was adopted at the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, in December 2007, and several organizations were recognized as hubs addressing 21st-century water issues.
With the aim of gathering the best practical knowledge on various water issues, the APWF selected and designated specialized organizations in this field and called on them to promote the dissemination and exchange of knowledge within the region.
Furthermore, during Singapore International Water Week held in June 2008, a Knowledge Hub was launched to address sanitation issues in the Asia-Pacific region. At that time, Japan was also asked to operate a Knowledge Hub on sanitation. Given that Japan possessed expertise and experience in this field and was one of the countries with cutting-edge technology in this area, this request was only natural.
Establishment of the JSC
In Japan, sanitation technologies—comprising both on-site and off-site approaches—have been effectively utilized and properly managed; however, these fall under the jurisdiction of different government ministries, with off-site treatment overseen by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and on-site treatment by the Ministry of the Environment. Given this situation, there was a need to establish a new organization like the JSC to promote the dissemination of information and knowledge, with the aim of spreading comprehensive expertise throughout the Asia-Pacific region and providing effective solutions to sanitation challenges. In response, at the APWF conference held during Singapore International Water Week in June 2009, the JSC’s business plan was approved, and it was officially recognized as a knowledge hub for sanitation in the Asia-Pacific region.
Subsequently, on October 16, 2009, the first JSC Steering Committee meeting was held, marking the official start of its activities.