Megaconferences: view from Southern Africa

Abstract

As part of a global survey to evaluate the impacts of megaconferences in the water sector conducted by the Third World Centre for Water Management in Mexico, the African Water Issues Research Unit was commissioned to undertake a regional survey of the Southern African region. The overarching objective of this study is to evaluate whether or not global megaconferences, often highly criticized and expensive by their nature, do have a marked effect upon local realities within the Water Sector, how they are perceived by the regional water community and what we can do to improve their impact and standing globally. This report highlights the most interesting things that came out of the questionnaires, and does therefore not treat all the subjects asked about in the actual study. It is to be seen as a contribution to the debate about the nature and future of megaconferences based on empirical research. As such it is intended to spark further discussion, rather than provide conclusive answers.