lessons learned at WPS' World Water Week session

Water wars are uncommon. However, the global average monthly number of security incidents related to water increased by 230% between January 2019 and May 2024. In regions facing water stress and water scarcity water-related tensions and conflicts are set to increase. At the World Water Week in Stockholm in August, the Water, Peace, and Security (WPS) partnership hosted an online session titled "Water, Peace, and Security: Innovation to Action – Lessons Learned". The session explored the intricate relationship between water management and conflict, emphasizing the potential for water to serve as both a source of tension and a catalyst for peace.

In his opening remarks Maarten Gischler, Water Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised the Water, Peace and Security partnership for bringing together the different skills, competences and understandings through the consortium to combine analytical, conflict prevention, mediation and education capabilities. “We all speak water in one way or another,” he said, “but we do so in different ways.”

Threat and opportunity
Anders Jägerskog, Programme Manager at the World Bank and Focal Point on Transboundary Water, posed the critical question: “We often see water and conflict coexist. It is both a threat and an opportunity, so how can we transform this into water for peace?"

He highlighted the importance of water security and transboundary cooperation as essential elements for fostering development, peace, and security. “We believe at the World Bank that in order to provide water services and supply, water sanitation and so on so forth, at the national level, countries need to work with their neighbours on having a secure access to the water that they will need."  Last year, the World Bank launched its Global Facility for Transboundary Water Cooperation, to strengthen efforts in this critical area through enhanced partnerships and innovative approaches.

Water as a peace dividend
Daisy Kosgei shared insights from WPS partner International Alert’s work in the arid landscapes of Northern Kenya, describing how, Lake Turkana pastoralists had reached agreement with fishermen over where their cattle can drink water and cross the river. "Now water is seen as a peace dividend," she said. Adding, "We should bring all the sectors on board into the water-peace nexus."

The collaborative approach of the WPS partnership has brought the Kenyan Ministries of Water and of Peace together in joint coordination meetings. These efforts have resulted in more effective conflict resolution and improved water management. Additionally, capacity-building programmes and a data-driven approach, including water and conflict mapping, have provided decision-makers with valuable insights to address water-related conflicts in the region.

Implementing existing resilience
Representing the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), Hiba Abualrob emphasized the need to recognize that the current world is vastly different from when traditional water systems were first established. In a collaboration with WPS, the IFRC aims to address the intricate challenges posed by the water security nexus by leveraging the humanitarian development and peace approach in the MENA region.

“The issues arising from water conflicts are becoming more and more. Most of the countries in the region are sharing transboundary water basins. Although most of them have agreements, many of them are not respected,” said Abualrob. She highlighted the importance of ensuring dignified access to safe water for communities and advocated implementing their existing methods of resilience to combat water scarcity, floods and contamination.

Sharing water intelligently
Speaking on behalf of the Geneva Water Hub, Caroline Pellaton highlighted the importance of incorporating community concerns in discussions about transboundary water management, especially in regions far from central governance. She emphasized that for communities living along rivers that serve as state borders, national boundaries are often irrelevant in their daily lives, making river basin organizations crucial for bridging the gap. She called for raising awareness at the highest level, "We need to share water intelligently and spare water from armed conflict." 

Yasir Mohamed (IHE Delft) lead of WPS cited the bombing of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine and more recently, the recent dam collapse in Sudan as examples of situations where water is embroiled in conflict regions. The WPS approach strives to turn violent cycles of water conflict into positive cycles of water cooperation "The most important lesson is to define the water and security nexus, because it can be very complex. when you understand it you can propose the right solutions," he concluded.

Watch the recording of the session here.

If you want to continue the conversation, contact WPS at info@waterpeacesecurity.org