Antti Rautavaara’s Post

On Water Day there were many events across the globe. This year our event in Finland was world class and certainly did not shy away from any other event, such as the events in New York and Paris. Water Association Finland organised the World Water Day Seminar on Friday 22 March 2024, in cooperation with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the Water4Peace-project coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute. The event was organised in a hybrid format, onsite at Tieteiden talo in Helsinki and via livestream. Speakers included: Elina Valtonen Margot Wallström Tanja Miškova Jon Lane Antti Rautavaara Laura Turley, PhD Elina Häkkinen Suvi Sojamo Anna Huovila Marko Keskinen Erik Aarnos etc

At 4th Baghdad International Water Week (BIWC) was pleased to join #UNECE Helsinki Water Convention to explore Finland’s experiences from upstream benefits, both geopolitical and practical. Most importantly there are geopolitical benefits, as Accession to Water Convention gives recognition by the international community to all countries, also upstream. It sends a signal of geopolitical significance that a country respects international law and rules based order, and wishes no harm to their neighbouring countries. Moreover it signals to the neighbours that this country is seeking regional stability, maybe even integration, but at least peace and security. For themselves, and also for their entire region. Transboundary water cooperation also enables finding practical and technical win-win solutions, which benefit also upstream countries and their local populations, among other (i) joint operation of cascaded dams, (ii) water level stabilisation (iii) reduction of pollution discharges, (iv) improvements on ecological conditions, incl such as migratory fish migration upstream and benefiting local population via tourism opportunities. Francesca Bernardini Meike van Ginneken Henk Ovink Saroj Kumar Jha Barbara Pompili Tanja Miškova

Global gathering of Special Envoys for Water at Dutch Embassy in Baghdad; a founding session of Global Coalition of Water Envoys (GCWE) 😂😂😂. For time being very good gender balance at GCWE, regardless with Meike van Ginneken we strongly encourage UN to appoint a colleague (with any gender) for us as soon as possible. This with all the love ❤️ to all You Water Ambassadors out there who could not make it to Baghdad this time around. Together We Can! Tanja Miškova Henk Ovink

Excellent meeting today with Eng. Aun Dhyaib Abdullah, Minister of Water Resources #Iraq in the margins of 4th Baghdad Int’l Water Conference. Congratulations to Iraq for regional leading role acceding UNECE Helsinki Water Convention. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland Antti Rautavaara Jukka Ilomäki Eija Isomaki Simo Ristolainen Anu Saarela

Special Envoy for Water Antti Rautavaara from Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland participates at 4th Baghdad Int’l #Water Conference in Iraq. ” #Iraq as new party to UNECE Water Helsinki Convention pioneers transboundary water cooperation in the region for #Peace and #Security”

Talking water is one thing, but delivering water during times of mega earthquake is another. Today 9 years ago we survived in Nepal a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Close call. Second 7.5 magnitude. Even closer. Happy to be alive. As UNICEF #WASH Chief this was also a start of years long work streak on response and recovery. As a community of #Water professionals we delivered under slogan ”Yes We Can!”. Somehow we matched the impossible and delivered world class #Water, #Sanitation and #Hygiene results and fought off even #cholera outbreaks. #Nepal did not turn out as new Haiti. Still today my heart is with all You colleagues there in Nepal and elsewhere; Yes We Could! Sharing an article from my only appearance on The New York Times cover, hoping that it also shall be my last. “There will be outbreaks of cholera and other diseases,” said Antti Rautavaara, chief of water, sanitation and hygiene for Unicef in Nepal. “It is a battle we cannot win. We can only try to minimize the pain and death.”