IUCN at World Water Week 2024

Online and onsite. Location onsite: C3, Level 2 

Water quality cooperation for building peace from source-to-sea

Transboundary water quality degradation challenges basin states and communities. However, cooperation presents an opportunity to address degradation and promote peaceful dynamics within and across borders. This session explores how transboundary water quality cooperation across the source-to-sea continuum can be developed and maintained in the face of pressing challenges. 

IUCN contact person: Diego Jara │ Conveners:  IUCN, Action Platform for Source to Sea Management, GIZ, Global, GEF/IWLEARN,  Water Partnership, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, SIWI, Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management, UN Environment Programme, UN Economic Commission for Europe, World Quality Alliance  

Online and on-site. Location onsite: C2, Level 2 

Fit for Principle, Insufficient for Purpose? Advancing Transboundary Water Cooperation

This session examines bottlenecks to advancing transboundary water cooperation, namely: inadequate agreement formation, inadequate financing, insufficient river basin organization visibility, and scant institutional alignment to the basin. This session recognizes that cooperation will need to accelerate if SDG target 6.5 is to be achieved. 

IUCN contact persons: James Dalton & Maria Carreño Lindelien│ Conveners: IUCN, IWMI, Oregon State University  

Online and on-site. Location onsite : Talkshow Studio, Level 5 

Talkshow: Freshwater Challenge - mobilising transboundary action to achieve ambitious goals

The Freshwater Challenge (FWC) - the largest river and wetland restoration initiative in history – is a global initiative for freshwater ecosystem protection and restoration. This session is an opportunity to examine ways of strategic cross convention cooperation for healthy freshwater ecosystems, healthy people and climate-resilient societies. 

IUCN contact person: James Dalton │ Conveners:  IUCN, World Wide Fund for Nature, The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands International, Conservation International, UN Environment Programme, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands 

Online only  ​​​

SIWI Seminar Series (1/3): Art of Water Diplomacy

The first session of the Art of Water Diplomacy series starts at the beginning: What is water diplomacy? Why is it needed? With an emphasis on not only building, but also institutionalizing and maintaining relations between states and non-state actors, water diplomacy is as much about the process as it is about results. The session underscores the vital importance of water diplomacy in today’s geopolitical arena, and identifies the various challenges posed by transboundary water resources. It explores the goals of diplomatic efforts and how we might measure its success, while giving an overview of the varied skills, competencies, and actors involved. 

IUCN contact person: Maria Carreño Lindelien │ Conveners:  SIWI, IUCN, UNESCO, The Folke Bernadotte Academy, EcoPeace Middle East.  

Online only  ​​​

SIWI Seminar Series (1/3): Management of shared water resources for peace and cooperation

Water resources that cross national boundaries present unique challenges and opportunities for cooperation. This session will explore the complexities of transboundary water management, focusing on innovative solutions that promote peace and regional stability. Experts will discuss case studies, share best practices, and provide insights into the governance mechanisms that facilitate effective collaboration among nations. 

IUCN contact person: James Dalton │ Conveners: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), ACTO, Deltares, IDB, MEDRC, SDC, World Bank 

Online and on-site. Location onsite : C1, Level 2  ​​​​​​​

Water Solutions for a Resilient Net Zero Future

This event presents why and how to invest in water to enable resilient low emission development. It will present solutions across agriculture, water, sanitation, energy and nature-based solutions; policy triggers to overcome barriers and mainstream water into climate actions; and financing; including high integrity carbon credits and more. 

IUCN contact person: James Dalton │ Conveners: Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), IUCN, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Water Initiative for Net Zero, United States Department of Energy 

Online and on-site. Location onsite : C2, Level 2  ​​​​​​​

From Source to Sea: advancing plastic pollution international policy

This session will assess the impact, challenges, and opportunities to reduce plastic pollution in water flows, from source to sea. It will provide good practice examples and identify gaps to feed the process for an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty that seriously tackles plastic flows from land via water and wetlands. 

IUCN contact person: James Dalton │ Conveners: Action Platform for Source to Sea Management, French Water Partnership ,Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, International Water Resources Association, Ocean Sewage Alliance, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, Stockholm International Water Institute 

Onsite only. Location : Room 27, Level 2  ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Standing their ground: Deltas as connectors from source to sea

Deltas bridge land, freshwater, and the ocean; successful delta management depends on these linkages. IPDC and S2S Platform join forces in a discussion on how the source-to-sea approach unlocks pathways for cooperation on climate resilience and sustainable development. This interactive workshop will discuss concrete cases from deltas around the world.

IUCN contact person: James Dalton │ Conveners: Action Platform for Source to Sea Management, Deltares, Global Water Partnership, International Network of Basin Organizations, International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, The Netherlands, Stockholm International Water Institute, UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme 

Online only   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Unleashing the Potential of Water for Peace in West Africa

The session will examine transboundary basin politics in West Africa by first highlighting key lessons from the history of basin organizations, focusing on both conflicts and best practices. It will then propose a collective reflection on emerging stakes in shared water resources and ways to reinforce cooperation in the region amidst interstate tensions. The session will highlight the importance of distinguishing between water use conflicts and territorial disputes, setting water allocation tools, and valuing ecosystem services. The principle of sharing benefits has been crucial for mutualizing investments and de-escalating tensions, and it should be further explored to address challenges like surface and groundwater management and enhancing local transboundary cooperation. 

IUCN contact person: James Dalton & Maria Carreño Lindelien │ Conveners: Geneva Water Hub, IUCN, Pôle Eau Dakar 

Online and on-site. Location onsite : C3, Level 2   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

SIWI Seminar Series (2/3): Management of shared water resources for peace and cooperation

This session will delve into the critical role of organizations, institutions, and river basin organizations in fostering peace and cooperation in water management in very many diverse ways. It will examine the contributions of such organizations in fostering cooperation and early warning systems for potential disputes. Participants will examine governance challenges, funding constraints, and political dynamics these entities face, while also exploring successful strategies through case studies. The session will highlight tools and mechanisms for enhancing cooperation, such as data sharing platforms, conflict resolution techniques, and capacity-building initiatives, culminating in recommendations for improving organizational effectiveness in sustainable water management. 

IUCN contact person: James Dalton│Conveners: ACTO, Deltares, IDB, MEDRC, SDC, World Bank 

Online and on-site. Location onsite : C1, Level 2   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

SIWI Seminar Series (2/3): The art of water diplomacy

While continuing to address the questions outlined in the first session, Session 2 focuses on practical questions of identifying interests, managing the process, building political will and trust, addressing asymmetries, managing uncertainty and complexities, and more. Learn about the key actors and stakeholders, the tools required, and what successful outcomes look like.

IUCN contact person: Maria Carreño Lindelien │ Conveners: SIWI, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), The Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), EcoPeace Middle East 

Online and on-site. Location onsite : C4, Level 2   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Himalayan Rivers: Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation and Financing for Long-term Resilience

The Himalayas are impacted by climate change. National policies recognize basin-level strategy as the way forward to tackle impacts. However, lack of regional cooperation and limited funding limits the design of transformational nature-based initiatives. The session will explore strategies to reshape regional Himalayan diplomacy to address these gaps. 

IUCN contact person: Maria Carreño Lindelien │ Conveners: Asia-Pacific Water Forum, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, International Union for Conservation of Nature, International Water Management Institute, Asian Development Bank 

On-site only. Location : Room 27, Level 2    ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

SIWI Seminar Series (3/3): The Art of Water Diplomacy

There is no better way to understand water diplomacy in action than by delving into examples. Each study will provide an overview of the context: the specific problem and its uniqueness, stakeholders involved and their interests and priorities. They will explore relevant aspects of the process, how the problem was approached and which tools were used, before giving a status update: the results of efforts thus far, expectations for the future, and what might be learned or applied to future issues. 

IUCN contact person: Maria Carreño Lindelien │ Conveners: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), The Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), EcoPeace Middle East 

Online and on-site. Location onsite :Talkshow Studio, Level 5   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Power of Community: Human Rights in Water and Nature 

This Talkshow aims at connecting the human rights-based principles behind the right to a clean, safe and healthy environment and the rights to water and sanitation recognising that: 

1.      The conservation of biodiversity is critical in many areas to ensure sustainable access to clean water for drinking and personal use 

2.      The principles of a human rights-based approach, and the involvement of local communities in a meaningful way are key elements to  providing solutions for both people and the environment that are inclusive, and sustainable long-term. 

The panellists reflect on the successes, challenges and lessons learned of relevant initiatives that have integrated meaningful participation, and the practical steps required to embrace a human rights-based approach. 

IUCN contact person: Alejandro Iza │Conveners: HR2W, ADB and IUCN  

Online and on-site. Location onsite : Room C4, Level 2   ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

A guideline for assessing Ecosystem-based Solutions in agriculture 

Explore the effectiveness of Agricultural Ecosystem-based Solutions in mitigating land and water degradation while enhancing food and water security. The workshop introduces a tool with quantifiable indicators and qualitative measures, offering participants a comprehensive understanding of planning and effectively monitoring ecosystem-based solutions in agriculture.  

IUCN contact person: James Dalton & Maria Ana Borges │ Conveners:  Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Arizona State University, The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 

• James Dalton, Director, Global Water and Wetlands Team
• Alejandro Iza, Director, Environmental Law Team
• Maria Carreño Lindelien, Water Governance Coordinator, Global Water and Wetlands Team
• Diego Jara, Legal Officer, Environmental Law Team
• Maria Ana Borges, Water for Landscapes Manager, Global Water and Wetlands Team
• Maria Laura Piñeiros,  Programme Officer - Water, Southern America Regional Office 
• John Owino, Senior Programme Officer - Water, Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office