The Budapest Water Summit 2016, with the motto „Water connects”, is under the patronage of H.E. Mr János Áder, President of Hungary and Member of the High Level Panel on Water convened by the UN Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank Group.

The main events of the Budapest Water Summit 2016 are the thematic plenary sessions with high level speakers discussing the issues concerning the implementation of the sustainable development goals related to water (SDG6).

The topics are discussed in the framework of the five thematic plenary Summit sessions. Each thematic session will be introduced by three keynote speeches to be delivered by the representative of a developing country, a developed country and an international organization or NGO, respectively. Keynote addresses will be followed by moderated Davos-style discussions by a series of distinguished panellists, selected with a view to ensure a proper geographical and gender balance. 

The conclusion of each thematic session will be summarized by a rapporteur, who will present the relevant findings to the closing plenary session. The closing joint plenary will adopt the statement.

In addition to the plenary sessions, parallel stakeholder meetings will be held, namely
-    the Science and Technology Forum
-    the Youth Forum
-    the Civil Society Forum
-    the Women’s Forum and
-    the Sustainable Water Solutions Expo. 

The Forums are invited to provide written contributions to the Budapest Statement. Subsequently, the participants of the event will set down their solution proposals for the relevant international forums by discussing and adopting the „Budapest Declaration 2016”.

The organizers expect up to 1200 participants from all over the world to the Budapest Water Summit 2016. No registration fee is charged, but participation is by invitation only. Governments, UN bodies as well as other relevant internal and international organizations, international financial institutions, scientists and business associations, the civil society and the private sector will be invited to the Plenary Sessions of the Summit.  

As for the forums organized parallel with the plenary sessions, the representatives of the scientific and technology community, civil society, youth and women’s organisations will debate the same issues as the plenary. The organizers of each Forum are responsible for the invitation, application and selection of Forum participants.  

The organizers of the Budapest Water Summit 2016 provide a link for online registration for invited participants. Participation at the Summit is only possible after the applicant receives confirmation of the registration.

The registration for invited participants is scheduled to open from the beginning of August.