The UNESCO Category II Centre “Water for Sustainable Development and Adaptation to Climate Change” (WSDAC) participated in the first webinar of a new quarterly webinar series on water cooperation launched by the International Water Resources Association (IWRA). The webinar, entitled “Water Cooperation – Why does it matter?”, was held online on 21 January 2026.
The webinar series addresses one of the most pressing challenges in global water governance—water cooperation, a theme strongly emphasized in the United Nations World Water Development Report 2023, which highlights that nearly every water-related intervention involves some form of cooperation. Water cooperation has also gained increasing international attention in recent years, featuring prominently at the UN 2023 Water Conference and forming an important part of the agenda for the upcoming UN Water Conference in 2026.
The first webinar introduced the concept of water cooperation and explored its importance for sustainable and equitable water management, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding. It examined key dimensions of cooperation and reviewed long-standing international initiatives and frameworks, thereby setting the stage for more in-depth discussions in the subsequent webinars of the series.
The event brought together high-level speakers and experts from international organizations, governments, academia, and development institutions, including representatives of UNESCO-IHP, UNECE, IWRA, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovenia, SADC Groundwater Management Institute and other global water leaders. The webinar series is organized in collaboration with key partners such as UNESCO, UN-Water, UNECE, SIWI, the Geneva Water Hub, IAH, AIDA, and others.
The IWRA webinar series, titled “Water Cooperation: Overcoming Challenges, Showcasing Achievements, Shaping the Future,” consists of four interconnected sessions that guide participants from foundational concepts toward action-oriented approaches. Through dialogue and knowledge exchange, the series aims to contribute to preparations for the UN Water Conference 2026 and to promote more inclusive, informed, and effective water governance across scales, sectors, and borders.
