Join the Government of the Netherlands at World Water Week 2024
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World Water Week 2024 will take place from 25-29 August and is focused on water cooperation, for peace and security. The theme, Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future, asks us to recognize the regional and global interconnectivity of communities and nations, and underscores the collaborative effort needed to achieve a peaceful and sustainable future.
Water is fundamental to life and integral to our collective vitality – people and ecosystems. Without it, food production stops, economic activity grinds to a halt, biodiversity declines, greenery turns to sand. Water intersects with global challenges in delicate and interconnected ways. This calls for solutions grounded in holistic thinking and meaningful collaboration across sectors and levels.
World Water Week is a key event for the Government of the Netherlands to engage with these issues, bring innovative solutions, learn from others and continue working on the 800 commitments made at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in March 2023. Successful implementation of the current commitments requires everyone to play their part.
This World Water Week, join us in embracing the transformative potential of water, fostering multi-sectoral collaboration for a water secure and sustainable future.
Join us in supporting and learning from initiatives that prioritize dialogue, trust, and cooperation among nations sharing water resources. Learn about the Dutch approach to the water, energy, food and biodiversity nexus which explores and exemplifies sustainable integration across sectors.
Learn from the architects and champions of Heads of State Initiatives as they share insights on building high-level engagement in water, sanitation and hygiene and using it to drive change.
Looking forward to seeing you online or in Stockholm at various sessions, events and at the Netherlands Pavilion, a lively place to meet & greet Dutch and international water experts and share knowledge and expertise through presentations and discussions.
Scroll down for the Government of the Netherlands highlights from the programme.
Heads of State Leadership on Water and Sanitation for All
Monday 26 August Time: 11:00 - 12:30 Location: On-site (C4, Level 2) and online
Visionary national leadership is essential for ensuring the human right to safe water and sanitation for all. One year after the launch of the Heads of States Initiatives, we will celebrate the first national compacts that set out ambitious and detailed commitments by countries to accelerate improvements in WASH services.
This session will share examples from different countries on how their heads of state and political leaders are mobilizing to elevate sanitation and water on national agendas. Their architects and champions will share insights on building high level engagement and using it to drive change.
Conveners: Government of the Netherlands, IRC, Sanitation and Water for All, UNICEF
Water in Business I, II and III
Monday 26 August Time: 16:00-16:30, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 August Time: 14:00-14:30
Location: On-site (Centre Stage, A1, Level 4)
There is an urgent need for all economic sectors to address the escalating global water crisis. As human activity pushes beyond safe boundaries, and demands from food and energy production and population growth increase, the private sector's responsibility for significant water impacts grows.
World Water Week's Water in Business programme, developed with the Government of the Netherlands, promotes greater interest and capacity among businesses to consider, implement and report on sustainable water management in their operations and across value chains. This year’s programme will highlight recent legislative developments including the importance of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and the role they can potentially play in helping address corporate water impacts.
Conveners: Government of the Netherlands, SIWI
High-Level Panel on Water's Pathway in the Global Processes
Tuesday 27 August Time: 09:00-10:30 Location: On-site (Centre Stage, A1, Level 4) and online
The High-Level Panel on Water’s Pathway in the Global Processes is a platform for stocktake and dialogue on how we can best harness the political momentum for collective action through the ongoing water-related processes at the UN level and highlight and explore the importance of intersectoral cooperation and partnerships in meeting the targets of SDG 6 and achieving a peaceful and sustainable future.
Workshop on Water's Pathway in the Global Processes
Tuesday 27 August Time: 11:00 - 12:30 Location: On-site (Centre Stage, A1, Level 4) and online
This workshop comes after the High level Panel on "Water's Pathway in the Global Processes". In this workshop, we will engage in a more hands-on discussion, addressing the gaps within the Water Action Agenda (WAA) and identify what relevant actors are doing towards filling those gaps. We will also highlight impactful partnerships and solutions that can be leveraged and accelerate action.
Conveners: Government of the Netherlands, SIWI
A Stable Water Cycle as a Collective Responsibility
Tuesday 27 August Time: 14:00 - 15:30 Location: On-site (C4, Level 2) and online
Changes in the water cycle are having material economic impacts across geographies and value chains. In the context of the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, the session will host a discussion on how to achieve higher levels of collective ambition and transformational changes to stabilize the hydrological cycle. Attendees will be encouraged to engage, exchange ideas, and potentially commit to these initiatives. Special consideration will be given to the economic and justice aspects of these discussions.
Conveners: Government of the Netherlands, Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
Water, Food and Biodiversity: From Fragmentation to Integration
Wednesday 28 August Time: 09:00 - 10:30 Location: On-site (C2, Level 2) and online
Water is a prerequisite for sustainable food systems and thriving biodiversity - but water insecurity is growing, biodiversity falling and food systems are at risk. Embracing synergies and encouraging the sustainable integration across sectors is a core feature of the Dutch approach to the biodiversity, food security, energy and water management nexus. It encourages sustainable integration across sectors. Examples include using solar-powered water-efficient irrigation or expanding mangroves for flood protection and improved biodiversity.
This session will explore the interlinkages between water, food systems and biodiversity, and how they can be addressed from a systemic perspective.
Conveners: Government of the Netherlands, Netherlands Food Partnership, Wageningen University & Research
Water Constellations: Values-Based Decision Making for Innovative Water Governance
Thursday 29 August Time: 9:00 - 10:30 Location: On-site (Centre Stage, A1, Level 4)
In a world increasingly dominated by technology, there's a tendency to control what is important to us. The escalating complexity of global challenges makes this desire more elusive than ever. Also, in the domain of international water.
It's within this context that the Valuing Water Initiative (VWI) seeks to bring a paradigm shift in the international water debate, by introducing innovative methodologies for interhuman communication and dialogue. The aim is to improve inclusivity in decision-making processes and help people understand how (often subconscious) dynamics influence the systems behind the difficulties in creating a water secure world.
Join this session to experience first-hand how systemic methodologies and constellations can contribute to our approach to water management challenges.
Conveners: Government of the Netherlands
Water as Leverage Cartagena, Colombia
Sunday 25 August Time: 14:00 - 15:30 Location: On-site (Room 27, Level 2)
Convenors: Felixx Landscape Architects & Planners, Government of the Netherlands, Witteveen+Bos
How Locally-Led Adaptation Can Support Water Security & Peaceful, Sustainable Ecosystems
Monday 26 August Time: 09:00 - 10:30 Location: On-site (C3, Level 2)
Convenors: Fundación Futuro Latinoamericano, Government of the Netherlands, IMPACT-Kenya, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), SOS-Sahel Sudan, TUPADO
Standing Their Ground: Deltas as Connectors from Source to Sea
Tuesday 27 August Time: 09:00 - 10:30 Location: On-site (Room 27, Level 2)
Convenors: Action Platform for Source to Sea Management, Deltares, Global Water Partnership, International Network of Basin Organizations, International Panel on Deltas and Coastal Areas, Government of the Netherlands, Stockholm International Water Institute, UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme
Unlocking Water Cooperation Solutions: How to Make It Happen?
Tuesday 27 August Time: 11:00 - 12:30 Location: On-site (A2, Level 6)
Convenors: Government of Sweden, Government of the Netherlands, International Centre for Water Cooperation, Stockholm International Water Institute, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Uppsala University
How Accurate Data on Water is Fostering Joint Decision Making
Tuesday 27 August Time: 14:00 - 15:30 Location: On-site (C2, Level 2)
Convenors: eLeaf, European Space Agency, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, International Water Management Institute, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands, Niger Basin Authority, CEO Water Mandate, World Bank Group
Four Years, Five Regions, Three Million End-Users Impacted
Wednesday 28 August Time: 11:00 - 12:30 Location: On-site (C1, Level 2)
Convenors: European Union, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Water and Energy for Food, USAID.
Resilience in Economic Planning and Forecasting: Water as Currency
Wednesday 28 August Time: 14:00 - 15:30 Location: On-site (C4, Level 2)
Convenors: Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, Government of the Netherlands, World Bank Group
Deploying Water Accounting Tools for Climate Financing and Innovation Scaling
Wednesday 28 August Time: 17:00 - 18:00 Location: Online
Convenors: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands, Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, USAID, Water and Energy for Food
Water Smart Energy Transition - Impact of Renewable Energy Investments
Thursday 29 August Time: 09:00 - 10:30 Location: On-site (Room 27, Level 2)
Convenors: Government of the Netherlands, IPIECA, Royal HaskoningDHV, World Bank Group, World Wide Fund for Nature.
Water, Peace and Security: Innovation to Action – Lessons Learned
Thursday 29 August Time: 10:00 - 11:00 Location: Online
Convenors: Government of the Netherlands, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Stockholm International Water Institute, Water, Peace and Security partnership.
Countries and Partners Step up Collaboration towards Resilient Agrifood Systems
Thursday 29 August Time: 14:00 - 15:30 Location: On-site (C1, Level 2)
Convenors: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture, Government of Cabo Verde, Government of Italy, Government of the Netherlands, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute at the University of Nebraska, Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture Women for Water Partnership.