EcoHub holds event on water resilience as part of WUF13
Baku, May 20, AZERTAC
EcoHub – Supporting Environmental Initiatives Public Union has held an event titled "Water Resilience from Communities to Cities: Access, Efficiency and Sustainability" as part of the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The event, which took place at the NGO Agency Pavilion of the WUF Urban Expo, was organized by EcoHub in partnership with the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan, with the support of The Coca-Cola Company.
The event was attended by representatives of state institutions, international and local companies, civil society and the private sector. Participants discussed practical approaches to strengthening water resilience in Azerbaijan and the region.
Opening the event, Chairperson of EcoHub Tukezban Aghababayeva highlighted the importance of partnership in addressing environmental challenges. She noted that water security is no longer solely an environmental issue, but has become an economic, social and development priority requiring the active engagement of all sectors of society.
"At EcoHub, we believe that no single organization can address today's environmental challenges alone. I would like to express my gratitude to the NGO Agency, the State Water Resources Agency, The Coca-Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola İçecek Azerbaijan for their continued trust and support," Tukezban Aghababayeva emphasized in her address.
The panel discussion, moderated by Operations Director of EcoHub Akbar Mikayilov, featured speeches by Sustainability Director of The Coca-Cola Company's Eurasia & Middle East Operating Unit Ece Gilava, Head of Corporate Affairs at Carlsberg Azerbaijan Lala Afandi, Head of the Water Safety Sector at the Regional Water Melioration Service of the Azerbaijan Water Resources Agency Jeyhun Kazimov, and Founder of AgroElm LLC Tarlan Jarullazade.
The discussion focused on sustainable water access, water-use efficiency, innovative irrigation technologies, corporate water stewardship, and the role of multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Speaking on behalf of The Coca-Cola Company, Ece Gilava stated that the company's global ambition is to reach 100% water replenishment in each of its more than 200 high-risk locations by 2035.
"With funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation and CCI Azerbaijan, we have implemented water-access projects in Marzandiyya village in Shamakhi and Sincanboyad village in Shabran, benefiting more than 2,180 people. We are now advancing similar work in Shorabad village in the Khizi district," Ece Gilava noted.
She also added that real and lasting impact requires collective action across business, civil society, government, local communities, and international partners and that is why platforms such as WUF are so valuable, they enable dialogue, partnership, and the scaling of solutions that work.
Speakers highlighted that water security is becoming an increasingly critical priority in the context of climate change, urbanization and population growth, underlining the need for coordinated action among state institutions, businesses, civil society organizations and communities to build more resilient water systems.
The event concluded with a networking session.
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