John Briscoe wins 2014 Stockholm Water Prize

2014 Stockholm Water Prize is awarded to John Briscoe for his "unparalleled contributions to global and local water management," announced the Stockholm International Water Institute in a statement on Friday. The Stockholm Water Prize Committee stated in the citation that John Briscoe "has combined world-class research with policy implementation and practice to improve the development and management of water resources as well as access to safe drinking water and sanitation." Today's world is beset by daunting water challenges as human water security and biodiversity are at risk, global demand for water is soaring, and droughts and floods cause deadly disasters. Briscoe's genius lies in his fusion of science, policy and practice, giving him unrivaled insights into how water should be managed to improve the lives of people worldwide, said the statement. "At the end of the day, it is what happens on the ground that matters. All policies must be judged by whether they make a difference on the ground," said Briscoe, adding that "I believe that the years I spent working at the micro level is what enables me to be an effective policy maker." John Briscoe, who is a native of South Africa and is 66 years old, currently is a professor in the schools of Engineering and Applied Science, Public Health and Government at Harvard University of the United States. Briscoe has become known for his commitment to sustainable economic development, his disrespect for constructed boundaries between sectors and people, and for his insistence that the voice of people who are affected, from the poorest of farmers, to the private sector, to political leaders, be heard. One of Briscoe's accomplishments is the 2003 Water Strategy for the World Bank, which provided a new, creative and enduring benchmark for global understanding of the need for both better infrastructure and improved institutions. The strategy has had implications far beyond the water sector, helping to ensure that developing and emerging countries get a stronger voice in global governance. After that, Briscoe brought his experience of high-level policy with him to Brazil as the World Bank Country Director in 2005, and he was praised for bridging the divide between sound environmental management and economic development objectives in the Amazon and other parts of this rapidly developing nation. Upon receiving the news, Briscoe said he was "very surprised and honored,"adding that "I was delighted for the recognition this gives to thinking practitioners, of which I consider myself one." King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will present the prize to John Briscoe at a Royal Award Ceremony during 2014 World Water Week in Stockholm on September 4. The Stockholm, Water Prize is founded in 1991 and presented annually by the Stockholm International Water Institute to an individual, organization or institution for outstanding water-related achievements.