The U.S. Department of State hosted the launch of the U.S. Water Partnership’s H2infO – a new platform that offers the global community online access to a growing library of U.S.-generated water data and knowledge – at an event in Washington, D.C. on Monday, October 6.  Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Catherine Novelli keynoted the event.

H2infO increases global access to important U.S.-generated water information resources, filling a gap in knowledge management identified by the international water community.  H2infO (www.H2infO.us) was developed by the U.S. Water Partnership, a public-private alliance that unites and mobilizes U.S. expertise, resources and ingenuity to address water challenges where needs are the greatest.  H2infO currently hosts over 3,000 resources from leading U.S.-based institutions and will continue to expand.

The event showcased interactive exhibits and hands-on demonstrations of water technologies and data application.  Exhibitors included the Millennium Challenge Corporation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Agency for International Development, Millennium Challenge Corporation and Xylem Inc.  In addition to Under Secretary Novelli, the event featured remarks from Ambassador Judith Garber, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Thomas Kelly, Acting Vice President for Policy and Evaluation, Millennium Challenge Corporation; Ambassador Hattie Babbitt, Chair, U.S. Water Partnership Steering Committee; Tim Prewitt, CEO, iDE; Chris Holmes, Global Water Coordinator, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Prince Ermias Sahle-Selassie, President of the Crown Council of Ethiopia.

H2infO is the first installment of the U.S. Water Partnership’s commitment to the President’s Climate Data Initiative.  For more information, see the  White House Council on Environmental Quality’s fact sheet recognizing H2infO’s role in building a “virtual community of practice to share data, experiences, lessons and practices,”  available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/07/29/fact-sheet-empowering-america-s-agricultural-sector-and-strengthening-fo

For more information about the U.S. Water Partnership, please visit:  http://uswaterpartnership.org.