The Minister of Agriculture, Water, and Land Reform, Carl Schlettwein calls for UN coordination in water management. 

The minister said the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres should create a position within the UN that takes responsibility for water.

Schlettwein who is attending the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York, said during an interview that the UN Secretary-General was approached by the Bonn Water Dialogues Key messages supporters to create a position within the UN that would be responsible for water and fill the coordination gap.

Schlettwein said they have approached the secretary general to create a position for an envoy responsible for water, as there is a coordination gap that the envoy should cover.

The minister said the envoy would make the decision-making process towards water management easier.

He said water matters have no home where members can sit, discuss and make decisions on how the matters especially as a result of climate change, can be taken into the future.

Schlettwein added that the Namibia and German Ambassadors, have been appointed by the chair of the UN to spearhead the development of water and the future of other factors related to water.

He explained that as a line ministry, they will give its full support where it is needed.

The UN 2023 Water Conference, formally known as the 2023 Conference for the Midterm Comprehensive Review of Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation took place between 22 and 24 March.

Schlettwein is accompanied by Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila.