The shortage of clean drinking water is a growing global issue, with almost a billion people living without adequate freshwater resources around the world. To address the health, social and economic consequences of this growing crisis in the Arab World, the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association invites decision-makers and water management practitioners to tackle the issue, through establishing and nurturing partnerships. The 3rd Arab Water Week is an international event to be held between 11-15 January 2015 in Jordan with the aim to reach agreements among decision-makers in regards to their water management practices, especially in the light of climate change threats. After a devastating Human Development Report in 2011, which deemed the area one of the most deprived of clean freshwater resources per capita in the world, it became evident that steps needed to be taken. However, matters became worse when the 2012 Millennium Development Goals report found previous findings to be a vast underestimation of the number of people in the Arab World deprived of drinking water facilities. To address these growing problems, ACWUA established Arab Water Week as an annual event, now in its third year. This year’s meeting is, therefore, of crucial importance, not only for the Arab World’s economic growth but also its peace. Numerous examples from around the world indicate shattering social consequences of water shortages. Death and epidemics, children missing out on schooling to help their families looking for water, as well as wars and other criminal behaviour being the most obvious concerns. The international community therefore is expecting the event to produce decisions and to implement these in the foreseeable future to ensure more and more people’s access to clean drinking water facilities. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R_vpNQ0fJc
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