After a long period of inactivity, marked in particular by the failure to hold statutory meetings of the Permanent Framework for the Consultation and Monitoring (PFCM) bodies for nearly a decade, a revitalisation of the regional IWRM process in West Africa has been underway since 2024, notably with the organisation of the 11th Ordinary Session of the Technical Experts Committee (TEC) and the 5th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee (MCC), which were held in Abuja from 21 to 24 June 2024.
Sri Lanka Water Partnership (GWP Sri Lanka) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) organised the above stakeholder discussion on 28 August 2025 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Water, vital for sustaining life, is becoming increasingly scarce as global demand has surged tenfold over the past century. In Southeast Asia, ASEAN countries share 19 transboundary water resources, including surface and groundwater, most of which are managed bilaterally. The Mekong River Commission (MRC), formed by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, aims to promote sustainable development, management, and conservation of the Mekong Basin. Despite growing cooperation, challenges remain, such as the lack of legal frameworks for managing shared aquifers and the absence of cooperation mechanisms beyond the Mekong region. Water diplomacy provides a vital approach, offering strategies to address disputes and foster joint water governance through political processes that extend beyond traditional water agreements.
Climate change remains one of the most pressing global challenges, affecting vital sectors such as agriculture and water resources. For the Kingdom of Eswatini, these challenges are not just theoretical but a lived reality. Erratic rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and recurrent floods pose significant threats to water security and sustainable development. In response, Eswatini is actively implementing initiatives to strengthen climate resilience in its water sector.
From August 26 to 29, 2025, Bamako hosted a national strategic training workshop on climate finance and the preparation of bankable projects through the Green Climate Fund (GCF), as part of the project “Support for GCF Readiness of the African Union Commission's Multi-Country Program to Accelerate the Water Investment Program (AU AIP)”.
At the AU – AIP Africa Water Investment Summit 2025, held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 13 – 15 August 2025, H.E. Retno Marsudi, United Nations Special Envoy on Water, delivered a powerful address affirming her commitment to advancing Africa’s water agenda.
The Governments of Eswatini, Mozambique and South Africa have officially endorsed and kick-started the implementation of a joint transboundary water project titled “UNDP-GEF Project: Strengthening Integrated Transboundary Management of the Incomati and Maputo River Basins.”
