Secrétariat international de l'eau - International Secretariat for Water ’s Post

Down To Earth on #waterconflicts in #africa Published on:  28 Aug 2024, 2:19 pm Across Africa, the incidences of violence over water resources increased by around 34 per cent during 2022-23. There were at least 71 such incidents recorded in 2023 compared to 53 in 2022.  From 2019-23, such conflicts increased by around 154 per cent. In 2023, Africa reported the highest number of water-related conflicts and disputes since 2019, revealed an analysis of the world’s most comprehensive open-source database on water-related violence released August 26, 2024.  The annual, updated data and analysis was released by the Pacific Institute ahead of the world’s largest international conference on water, Stockholm’s World Water Week, the year's theme for which is 'Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future'.  https://lnkd.in/gmXqQ-93

On this year's World Water Day with #WaterForPeace at its core, the main question is if water is a stream of peace or a source of conflict in society? 🌍 In a #WorldWaterDay Op-Ed, Kingdom of the Netherlands Ambassador to Kenya Maarten Brouwer asks exactly this question about the nature of competition over water resources in Kenya. Trying to solve issues over water use by different regional and local stakeholders asks for good governance to limit the risk of conflict over water. Such is the case around Lake Turkana in northern Kenya.   💪🏽To assist in providing good governance in the Turkana area, the #WaterPeaceandSecurityPartnership, supported by IGG, helps in providing an integrated approach in predicting and mitigating water-based issues and conflict. The partnership, a collaboration between IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, World Resources Institute,HCSS - The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, Wetlands International, Deltares Water, Peace & Security and International Alert collaborates with the Turkana government to help prevent water conflict. The partnership uses data monitoring, traditional approaches as well as a stimulating dialogue to foster sustainable water management and cooperation. 🌐 Good governance as prerequisite for preventing water conflicts is also the main take-away for the United Nations 2024 World Water Development Report (WWDR), launched today. This flagship report offers policy recommendations and in-depth analyses on water and sanitation issues, where water can be turned into a driver of peace. 🇳🇱Find the full article of KNL Ambassador to Kenya Maarten Brouwer here: https://lnkd.in/dseXPJ43   🔗 Interested in the Water, Peace and Security Partnership? See: https://lnkd.in/ey4HEXj. Want to know more about the UN World Water Development Report, find the report here: https://lnkd.in/ejnuQwg9 #WorldWaterDay #WaterForPeace #UNWater #WWD

Is water a stream of peace or a source of conflict in society?

Water security and climate-resilient sanitation are the bedrock for Africa’s economic growth, social cohesion, joint prosperity, and ultimately – peace. The quote below is sourced from the Africa Rising Investment Tide report published one year ago at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference by the African Union Commission and the International High-Level Panel on Water Investments for Africa. Download it here https://lnkd.in/dDiiFMvP #waterinvestment #africadevelopment

[#10thWorldWaterForum - 22th May 👉Basin Segment Day] 🌏 As part of the 10th Water Forum, INBO is co-organising the High-level policy segment dedicated to basins. Throughout the day, round tables on topics such as #governance, #planning, #financing, water information systems and cross-border #cooperation will bring together political leaders and representatives from different regions of the world. 🎯 The aim? To engage and mobilise stakeholders to accelerate the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by and for river basins https://lnkd.in/eWFUeKG9

Celebrating #WorldWaterDay 2024: Navigating Water Conflicts and Fostering Peace Today, on World Water Day, we delve into the theme "Water for Peace," highlighting water's complex role as both a potential trigger for conflict and a vital tool for fostering global peace. As we stand at the crossroads of increasing water scarcity and the urgent need for cooperation, this year's focus is more relevant than ever. Contributions from Laura F. Zarza and Pablo González-Cebrián of the Smart Water Magazine 💧 Team shed light on the duality of water's impact on global tensions and harmony. With insights from Aaron T. Wolf, a professor at Oregon State University and the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, we're reminded of the intricate challenges and opportunities that lie in managing water resources across boundaries—whether political, sectoral, or ethnic. As global population grows and #climatechange accelerates, the pressure on #water resources intensifies, often sparking conflicts over access and management. However, amidst these challenges, there's a growing awareness and effort towards leveraging water as a catalyst for #cooperation and peace. Historical disputes over shared water resources, from Africa's Nile River to Asia's Mekong, underscore the urgent need for dialogue and negotiation. World Water Day 2024 urges us towards a commitment to ensuring no one is left behind, promoting a cooperative approach to water management that seeks to balance diverse needs and forge a more peaceful world. In an era where over 3 billion people depend on transboundary waters, and with just a fraction of nations having cooperation agreements in place, the path forward is clear. We must harness the potential of water diplomacy, embrace collaborative decision-making, and support inclusive policy institutions to navigate the challenges and harness the opportunities that water presents for peacebuilding. From the historical examples of the Indus Waters Treaty between #India and #Pakistan to the collaborative efforts in managing the Colorado River between the #UnitedStates and #Mexico, there are success stories that offer hope and guidance for the future. As we reflect on World Water Day, let us recognize water not just as a source of life but as a foundation for peace. Through cooperative efforts and a shared commitment to sustainable management, water can indeed be a powerful tool for building a more peaceful and equitable world. https://lnkd.in/dWtY-6ur

Happy World Water Day! (March 22, 2024). The application of smart technology can free up 85% of capital expenditures in selected high cost applications, easing the challenge of Transboundary Waters highlighted in the article below.

How can water trigger war? How can water be driver of 🕊️peace? And what can we do to prevent water-related conflicts in the future? Freshwater supplies worldwide are shrinking, while demand for water is greater than ever, resulting in a growing number of conflicts centering on its availability and distribution. That is why the theme of this #WorldWaterDay is the role of water in peace and conflict. 📽️In this video, Director-General Water & Soil Jaap Slootmaker of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water tells us about his visit to the UN to support the NL efforts in making water a driver of peace and following up on the #UN2023WaterConference, hosted by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Republic of Tajikistan. 🤝🏽The most effective ways to resolve or prevent water-related conflicts are cooperation and agreements on water management distribution. The Netherlands has a great deal of knowledge on and expertise in this area, which can benefit other countries. #Waterdiplomacy is central to this approach. This involves addressing issues relating to managing and distributing water and agreeing solutions with all water users – from countries to businesses and knowledge institutions. 🚰The increasing pressure on freshwater supplies doesn’t necessarily have to lead to new conflicts. By working together, making agreements and managing water better, it is possible not only to prevent conflicts but also to contribute to development and greater prosperity. Collaboration on water can therefore be a driver of cooperation in other areas, like economy and trade. 🇳🇱 Interested in NL projects abroad to boost international water co-operation? See: https://lnkd.in/eFJc6zpZ 🇺🇳 Want to know more about water as a driver of peace or conflict? See the 2024 UN World Water Development Report 'Water for Prosperity and Peace' here: https://lnkd.in/eRCiCjQ5

This year’s World Water Day, on 22 March 2024, will take place under the theme ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his World Water Day message, emphasized the urgent need for increased transboundary water cooperation: “Water for peace is the theme of this year’s World Water Day. Achieving it relies on far greater cooperation. Today, 153 countries share water resources. Yet only twenty-four have reported cooperation agreements for all their shared water. We must accelerate efforts to work together across borders, and I urge all countries to join and implement the United Nations Water Convention – which promotes managing shared water resources sustainably.“ https://lnkd.in/eURdZP58

💦The interplay between water resources, peace and security is increasingly gaining attention as the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, population growth, and intensifying resource competition. As the sector evolves, several emerging trends are shaping the discourse around this critical intersection. 🌡️One of the most pressing trends revolves around the impact of climate change on water resources. Rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns, and a surge in extreme weather events, especially in arid and semi-arid areas of Africa, are culminating in heightened water scarcity. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of conflicts arising over access to and distribution of water resources, as seen, for example, in Kenya. 👣Furthermore, population displacement, another emerging trend, also intersects with water peace and security concerns. The climate-induced challenges and conflicts compel populations, especially pastoralists, to migrate in pursuit of water and pasture. This migration places additional stress on regions already grappling with water scarcity, thereby exacerbating protracted intercommunal conflicts. 📃Our new Water, Peace & Security working paper summarises a learning event that brought together state and non-state stakeholders involved in interventions related to water security in Turkana county and at the national level in Kenya. Read the paper: https://lnkd.in/etD5vbcu 🤝The Water, Peace & Security partnership is a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and a consortium of six partners Deltares, HCSS - The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Wetlands International, World Resources Institute and International Alert. #WaterPeaceSecurity #WaterSecurity