At the 10th World Water Forum held in Bali, Indonesia, from 18 to 25 May, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was awarded the highly coveted King Hassan II Great World Water Prize. Based on the theme “Securing water resources for food sovereignty and shared prosperity”. Thiss award recognizes outstanding efforts in the protection, preservation and sustainable management of water resources, as well as in raising awareness on critical water issues. The award, now in its eighth edition, is presented every three years and comes with a prize of half a million dollars.

Since the start of its water journey, FAO has demonstrated unparalleled convening power with countries, providing them with technical, policy, and strategic support, and with rural communities through on-the-ground projects which have improved water availability for agricultural production and food security and nutrition. In the coming months, FAO will be engaged in the World Food Forum in Rome, with a special event and sessions on water, and in the International Land, Soil and Water Forum in Bangkok, Thailand.

We had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Lifeng Li, Director of the FAO Land and Water Division, who received the prize on behalf of FAO Director-General >>>

Read also FAO Director-General' statement welcoming the award >>>