Key points on future of water portals

More than 40 people joined two working group sessions during WIS6 and identified six key issues for the future of water portals.

The six key issues were:

1. Users (needs, access , involvement, interaction)

2. Set up and management

3. Content (scope, quality, collection, CMS)

4. Sustainability (process, funding)

5. Technical issues

6.Multiplication versus integration, interoperability

These issues featured again in the presentation of The Sanitation Connection, An Environmental Sanitation Network that has been running since 2000, now involving 18 partners. It is an Internet-based resource that gives access to accurate, reliable and up-to-date information on technologies, institutions and financing of sanitation systems around the world. UN and NGO institutions of international standing contribute to the information base by providing and maintaining specialist topics

The discussion identified incentives for collaboration as a critical factor in achieving contributions and sustainability. The question and answer session turned, at the request of participants, into an interactive session to define the critical success factors for setting up and running a Portal, using the IRC Portal development process as an example.

Below are some key findings of what is needed and some suggested action.

Findings

Lots of organisations are working on water web sites or starting new ones, to raise the visibility of their organisations.

There is not enough collaboration on water sector portals, resulting in competition for scarce resources.

Portal versus web site: The Portal concept is not yet clear. It is not just a web site: a portal is a single point of access to aggregated information - a virtual front door. It involves more than one organisation, allowing collaboration with partners, providing more interaction for users.

Portal technology alone is not the solution, people and their needs and skills is the key.

What is needed?

Better access to, and availability of, existing information on key selected thematic areas, structured for specific audiences. Localisation of content in developing countries, in local languages, for specific user segments (not necessarily through a portal)

Portals need to be an integral part of a broader portfolio of information and communication products and channels.

Building skills and competencies for collecting, sharing and using information at grass root level is a pre-requisite for sustainable use of information to improve decision making.

Suggestions for action

In the final plenary the following suggestions for action were adopted:

• Governments / Private sector must invest in local ICT infrastructure and skills.
• Focus on local solutions for local problems.
• Invest in partnerships and training.
• Build and expand on existing partner initiatives, such as the Water Information Network South Africa and Streams network.
• Pay more attention to incentives for collaboration and the sustainability of initiatives.
• Establish a working group for the creation of a common thesaurus.