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Topic.
Water Diplomacy and Peace
Water diplomacy is a process that fosters cooperation over shared freshwater resources among diverse actors across levels and scales, using both formal and informal diplomatic channels. By strengthening collaboration across sectors and borders, water diplomacy contributes to conflict prevention and sustainable peace.
Why water matters for peace
Today, climate change is intensifying water-related security risks. Increasing scarcity, variability, and extreme events place additional pressure on regions already affected by instability, inequality, or weak governance. Where political tensions are high and institutions are fragile, water-related stresses can amplify existing risks and undermine peace if they are not addressed cooperatively.
How SIWI contributes
SIWI advances water diplomacy through dialogue facilitation, trust-building, and governance processes that enable cooperative engagement and support peace and security. As an impartial platform, we convene governments, regional organizations, interest groups, experts, and civil society to facilitate dialogue on shared water challenges. We support the integration of water considerations across peace and security processes, foreign policy, and regional cooperation frameworks, helping actors explore cooperative responses to shared risks.
What water diplomacy enables
By advancing water diplomacy, SIWI helps reduce the risk of tensions and conflict, strengthen relationships across political and other divides, and support peaceful responses to climate-related security challenges. Treating water as a connector rather than a divider enables dialogue to continue under complex conditions, contributing to stability and long-term peace.
