Egypt aspires to collaborate with new UN water envoy appointment to face water scarcity: Foreign ministry

CAIRO – 14 September 2024: Egypt said it looks forward to collaborating with the new UN Special Envoy on Water, Retno Marsudi, to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda in addressing water scarcity.

In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, Egypt said it welcomes the decision of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday (13 September) to create this role and appoint Marsudi, the present Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, to take up the position from November 2024 onwards.

Egypt, in collaboration with Germany, led a comprehensive move in preparing for the United Nations Water Conference in 2023, the statement said. This initiative successfully garnered support from 151 countries with the aim of establishing the position of the UN Special Envoy on Water to support the efforts of member states, especially water-scarce countries, in addressing the challenges of achieving the sixth goal of the Sustainable Development Goals related to water.

The ministry described the UN secretary-general's decision to establish this international position as a culmination of Egyptian efforts in developing multi-lateral work to meet emerging challenges.

The statement highlighted the significant efforts made by the state towards sustainable water resource management and enhancing cross-border cooperation in accordance with international law.

Marsudi is set to take up the role on 1 November 2024, after concluding her government service, said the UN on Friday.

She brings distinguished experience in diplomacy with almost four decades, including serving as the Indonesian foreign minister since 2014 and until October 2024.

Duties & responsibilities

The UN has outlined the duties of Marsudi and the UN water envoy, including working towards securing a water-sustainable future for all by promoting increased political, economic, and socio-cultural collaboration across various levels.

Moreover, se will strive to strengthen global partnerships and harmonize different international water initiatives to advance the accomplishment of all water-related objectives and milestones.

In her role as a prominent advocate for water and sanitation matters, the envoy will prioritize elevating water concerns on the political agenda both within and beyond the UN.

This involves bringing together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, amplifying the efforts of the UN system, and mobilizing resources and initiatives to combat the worldwide water crisis.

As the representative of the United Nations secretary-general in global water initiatives, Marsudi will collaborate with UN-WATER and its affiliates to facilitate the execution of the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation at all levels, aligning with the SDG 6 Global Accelerator Framework.