For Convenors

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For further information about Seminars and Side events please contact:


Mr. Michael Moore
Phone: +46-(0)8 522 139 83
Email: michael.moore@siwi.org

For further information about Workshops please contact:


Ms. Katarina Andrzejewska 
Phone: +46-(0)8 522 139 75
Email: katarina.andrzejewska@siwi.org

For further information about Exhibitions Closed meetings and Side events please contact:


Rosanna Ricciuti
Phone: +46-(0)8 522 139 98
rosanna.ricciuti@siwi.org

Information for Convenors

The call for seminar and side event proposals is now closed for the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm. The deadline was February 15, 2010.

For more information on how seminars and side events fit into the programme of the week, please refer to the First Announcement.

For more information contact Michael Moore at michael.moore@siwi.org.

Seminars and Side Events

By hosting an event, organisations engage a wide range of stakeholders present at the conference in discussions and debate around specific issues. Organisations develop their own programmes, invite speakers and decide on the event format. SIWI encourages convenors to collaborate with other organisations as co-conveners, thereby facilitating partnerships and allowing for a diversity of perspectives.

What is a seminar?

An open seminar at the World Water Week is typically a 3 hour session. Seminars take place on Sunday, Monday afternoon, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the week. The content, format and programme of the seminar are developed by the convening organisation(s). Seminars run in parallel with workshops, seminars and other events.

What is a side event?

An open side event at the World Water Week can be either a lunchtime event (12:15-13:15) or an evening event (17:45-18:45). Side Events take place every day during the week. Like seminars, the content, format and programme of the side event are developed by the convening organisation(s). Side events are commonly used by convenors to launch projects or publications, debate and discuss particular water-related issues and present tools, initiatives or project results. All ideas are welcome. Side events run in parallel with side events, workshop poster sessions and other events.

Event formats

Organisers are able to arrange their seminar or side event using various formats. These can include:

  • Standard presentations followed by discussion.
  • Open space sessions to maximise interaction between participants.
  • Roundtable group discussions.
  • Classroom style workshops.
  • Other formats determined by the organiser.

Seminars and side events will be published in the Second Announcement and Programme for the World Water Week, as well as within the Event Finder tool at this website. Each event in the programme will have its own page on the website, enabling convenors to market the event leading up to the conference and to upload flyers, discussion papers and the outcomes from the event. Following the conference, results and recommendations from the event will be included in a variety of printed and online materials.

Application process

The application process for 2010 is now closed.

For organisations that have submitted proposals, the process from February will be:

  1. Proposals will be analysed by SIWI when developing the programme (see below for rationale).
  2. Where appropriate, SIWI may suggest a merger between events that deal with similar topics or issues. Convenors of proposed mergers will be contacted by SIWI to discuss the suggestion.
  3. Convenors will be notified by April 2010 of the decision regarding their proposal.
  4. The open programme for the week will be set by SIWI prior to the publishing of the Second Announcement in April 2010.

Rationale behind the World Water Week programme

SIWI will determine the programme for the week based on a review of the application forms submitted by all prospective convenors. Considerations include the following:

  • Whether the proposal fits within the thematic scope of the World Water Week. One option for convenors is to frame their event under the overall theme of "The Water Quality Challenge - Prevention, Wise Use and Abatement". 
  • Extent to which events focus on a relevant topic of debate and generate new and innovative ideas. Outputs from the events should aim to improve the understanding and management of water and sustainable development issues around the world.
  • Extent to which events facilitate multistakeholder dialogue and encourage open discussion involving stakeholders with potentially conflicting views.
  • Diversity of interests and organisational types in the programme, including research institutes, government agencies, non-government organisations, donors, academic institutions, stakeholder groups, business, consultants and others.
  • Contribution to the diversity of the overall open programme for the week in terms of topics, geographic regions, convenors, formats, target audiences and other aspects.