Archived News & Publications

Over two days of discussions and dialogue, the International Water, Peace and Security (WPS) Conference (27-28 October) convened with a mission: to break the vicious cycle of water conflict — turning water into a driver of peace, resilience and cooperation. The gathering was held in Nairobi, Kenya, to bring together policymakers, scientists, peacebuilders, youth and women’s groups, local community leaders and NGOs from across Africa and beyond, to give lesser heard voices a platform.

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - August 2025 Quarterly Update

In the wake of the 5th Baghdad International Water Conference, over 100 Iraqi policymakers, academics, technical experts, and international partners gathered for a focused one-day Water, Peace & Security (WPS) Symposium. Organised by the WPS partnership, the event marked a pivotal step toward transforming data and insights into collaborative solutions for Iraq’s mounting water-related challenges.

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - April 2025 Quarterly Update

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - January 2025 Quarterly Update

WPS at COP16 on Desertification: Make Water an Entry Point for Peacebuilding

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - October 2024 Quarterly Update

Dams At Increasing Danger Of Collapse Due To Climate Change And Conflict Dams at Increasing Danger of Collapse Due to Climate Change and Conflict

IFRC and WPS Launch Cooperation Addressing Water-related Conflict and Instability

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - June 2024 Quarterly Update

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - March 2024 Quarterly Update

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - December 2023 Annual Review

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - November 2023 Quarterly Update

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - August 2023 Quarterly Update

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - May 2023 Quarterly Update

Is Joint Water Management Possible In Djenne, Mali?

Mopti‘s Fishermen and Boatmen: Resisting a Receding River

The Inner Niger Delta: In Konna, water is a source of life and conflict

Dialogue and Peacebuilding in Lake Turkana: "Talking is like a detergent that washes what is inside you"

Resource management challenges in Lake Turkana: “The changes can be attributed to climate change”

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - December 2022 Quarterly Update

A Miracle in the Desert: The Lake Turkana Communities Facing the Harsh Realities of Climate Change

WPS GLOBAL EARLY WARNING TOOL AUGUST 2022 QUARTERLY ANALYSIS

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - May 2022 Quarterly Analysis

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - February 2022 Quarterly Analysis

This September 2021 Quarterly Analysis flags potential hotspots.

In western Sahel countries, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, our machine learning model is predicting emerging and ongoing conflict across much of the region.

In western Sahel countries, including Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Nigeria, our machine learning model is forecasting emerging and ongoing conflict across much of the region.

This December 2020 Quarterly Update flags potential hotspots in Mozambique, Chad, Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Sudan.

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - September 2020 Quarterly

IOM and WPS partner Deltares launched their new report and web tool to improve understanding of variations in water quantity and quality in Iraq and provide insight into the risks facing them.

WPS Global Early Warning Tool - June 2020 Quarterly Update

Water, Peace and Security Partnership awarded Luxembourg Peace Prize in the Environment Category

Water, Peace and Security Launch: Significant Risk of Water-related Conflict in parts of Iraq, Iran, Mali, Nigeria, India, and Pakistan over the next 12 Months

Entry-points for Collaborative Water Governance in Southern Iraq

Participatory Analysis of Water-Related Conflict Risks in Complex Adaptive Systems: The Case of the Inner Niger Delta in Mali

Water-Related Conflicts in Turkana: The Need for a Solution

Agent-Based Modelling of Conflict Risk in the Inner Niger Delta

Flowing together: Learning Event on WPS Initiatives in Turkana County

Frexus Project: Final Report on the Codevelopment of Analytical Tools

Navigating Water (In)security in Taliban’s Afghanistan

Water Resources in Mali’s Inner Niger Delta: Actions to Promote Peaceful Governance

Understanding the Pathway from Water Insecurity to Urban Migration in Southern Iraq

The WPS Approach: Addressing Water-related Security Risks in an Integrated, Inclusive and Informed Way

Water Governance in Iraq: Enabling a Gamechanger

Water-related conflicts in Turkana County: Analysis of stakeholder interests and concerns

This WPS-Clingendael policy brief suggests three priorities for the new government to improve Iraq’s water situation and prevent or mitigate related crises.

Water and conflict in the Inner Niger Delta:a governance challenge

Water challenges and conflict dynamics in Southern Iraq: An in-depth analysis of an under-researched crisis

Policy Brief - From forecast to prevention: Acting on resource-related conflict risks

Conflicts over water and water infrastructure at the Tajik-Kyrgyz border. A looming threat for Central Asia?

The Impact of Covid-19 in Water-Stressed Iraq: How Covid-19 is exacerbating Iraq’s Health, Economic, Socio-political and Security Challenges

Water for Peace: How to make climate action conflict sensitive

Ending Conflicts over Water: Solutions to Water and Security Challenges

Interprovincial Water Challenges in Iraq

Leveraging Water Data in a Machine Learning–Based Model for Forecasting Violent Conflict

Are water and conflict linked and what actually links them?

Water, Peace and Security: Challenges for Central Mali

Advancing Water, Peace and Security: Field Mission Insights from Kenya

2024 Year in Review: WPS Work in Southern Iraq

Sudan’s Jebel Aulia Dam Faces Rising Risks Amid War and Climate Extremes

Lessons Learned at World Water Week

WPS in Mali: Field Visit

Dutch Ambassador to Kenya: Is Water a Stream of Peace or a Source of Conflict in Society?

Reflections on the WPS MENA Training in Amman, Jordan

Kakhovka Dam Collapse: Medium-Term Consequences

Key Insights Into The Nova Kakhovka Dam Destruction: An Initial Analysis

Troubled Waters Between Afghanistan And Iran As Border Troops Clash Over The Helmand River

Challenges in Urban Water Governance: Informal Water Tanker Supply in Chennai and Mumbai, India

The emerging dynamics for conflict and cooperation between Iran and the Taliban over the Helmand River

A multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder response to water-related conflict risks.

A multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder response to water-related conflict risks.

Mitigating Water-related Security Risks: The Need for Informed and Inclusive Water Resources Investments

Drought and Water Mismanagement have Brought Iran's Water Crisis to a Boil and Threaten both National and Regional Security

Water and (In-)Security in Afghanistan as the Taliban Take Over

Turkey's Drought

The Coronavirus Pandemic Will Impact Global Security - The Water, Peace and Security Partnership can help address these threats

Water for Peace: Preventing Conflict Related to Water and Wetlands

We Predicted Where Violent Conflicts Will Occur in 2020. Water Is Often a Factor

Water and Conflict – an Unavoidable Link?

Water for Peace: Relationship between Water Security and Fragility

Water for Peace: Role of Programming in Dealing with Water Insecurity and Fragility Issues

Water for Peace: Lebanon and Conflict Prevention

Water for Peace - Collaborating on Water Insecurity

Impacts of WPS in Kenya

A Single Hand Doesn't Clap - Toward Collaborative Water Governance in Iraq

Water Scarcity in Iraq: From Competition to Collective Action

Impact Story: Resolved Conflict over Herd Migration in Mopti, Mali

Impact Story: Resolved Conflict over a Dam in Djenné, Mali

Inner Niger Delta: Agent Based Model Explained

Video of session at the Fragility Forum

Video highlights of the 11th meeting of The Hague Roundtable on Climate & Security on April 22nd 2021.

The Water, Peace and Security Partnership engages representatives from the international community on a panel discussion on how to best adapt to climate change while fostering sustainable water management.

Ending Conflicts Over Water: Solutions to Water and Security Challenges By Kitty van der Heijden, Charles Iceland, Peter Gleick, Ayushi Trivedi, Chris Baker, and Susanne Schmeier

BBC: How water shortages are brewing wars

DW: Tackling the growing threat of water conflict

Vice: This Map Shows You Where Violence Could Break Out Because There's Not Enough Water

The Guardian: Water wars: early warning tool uses climate data to predict conflict hotspots

Reuters: New app predicts water-related conflict up to year in advance

ecdpm Great Insights: Water Scarcity and Conflict: Not such a straight-forward link