International Conference on Water, Peace and Security 2025
Water as a Catalyst for Peace and Cooperation
27-28 October 2025 - Hybrid (Nairobi, Kenya & online)
The International Conference on Water, Peace, and Security will bring together governments, international organizations, researchers, civil society, and key stakeholders to explore the critical role of water as a catalyst for peace and cooperation.
Participants will examine the challenges posed by water insecurity, including conflicts triggered by water scarcity, pollution, and mismanagement. The conference will also spotlight innovative strategies, tools, and policies that can transform these challenges into pathways for sustainable peace and development.
For more information contact: info@waterpeacesecurity.org
About the Conference
Water insecurity and its negative impact on cooperation, stability and peace are a growing threat in many regions of the world. Triggered by water scarcity, pollution, mismanagement and unequal distribution, water insecurity exacerbates tensions and hinders development. Africa, with its rivers, lakes, aquifers and ecosystems, faces unique challenges and opportunities in leveraging water as a tool for peace and security. Other regions, e.g. the MENA region, are facing acute water scarcity, hindering sustainable development and triggering tension and instability.
In recent decades, water-related conflicts have intensified globally due to climate change, population growth and unsustainable water management. The Pacific Institute’s Water Conflict Chronology lists more than 280 conflicts since 2020 in which water issues have acted as a trigger. At the same time, there is growing recognition that water cooperation can act as a bridge for peacebuilding, fostering dialogue, trust and collaboration across communities and nations.
Themes:
- From water-conflicts to peace and cooperation: Case studies of successful prevention/mitigation/resolution of water-related conflicts, and pathways towards conflict sensitive and cooperative water management.
- Innovations for water and peace: Exploring the role of data and models in promoting peaceful and cooperative water resource management.
- Climate change and water security: Addressing the intersection of climate change impacts (floods and droughts), and associated conflict risks, and mitigation experiences.
- Agency of marginalized groups in water, peace and security: Amplifying the role of underrepresented groups (women, youth, indigenous) in water governance and peacebuilding.
Keynote speakers:
- H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo - Former president of Ghana
- H.E. Outi Holopainen – Under-State Secretary for Foreign and Security Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
- Frederic Gateretse-Ngoga – Member of the WPS Advisory Committee and Senior Advisor for International Partnerships, Political Affairs, Peace, and Security Commission of the African Union.
- Dr. Madiodio Niasse – Director of Dakar Water Hub
- Karin Roelofs – Former Head of the Water Team at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Violet Matiru – Independent Consultant for Various Development Agencies
- Abdoul Aziz Alhousseini - Voice4Thought, Mali Youth
- Pieter van der Zaag – IHE Delft Head of the Land and Water Management Department and Professor of Integrated Water Resources Management
- Yasir Mohamed – Head of WPS and Associate IHE Delft Professor of Water Resources Management
Draft programme
Please see the programme online. Please note: times are in East African Time.
Social Media
If you want to post on social media. Please tag us on LinkedIn @Water Peace and Security
And use the hashtags:
#WPSConference2025
#WaterandPeace
#WaterPeaceSecurity
Location
The conference will be held at the Ole-Sereni Hotel.
Address: Ole Sereni - Airport Hotel, Nairobi, Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 732 191 000
Email: info@ole-serenihotel.com
More information:
Registration
Registrations to join the conference in-person and online are closed.
Submitting abstracts
The deadline for submissions has passed (30 June). The authors of the selected abstracts will be informed by 1 August. They will be provided with a template for the extended abstract.
For researchers from low-income countries, a limited number of conference allowances (covering travel and hotel) are available. Selection will be based on submitted abstracts. If you wish to apply, please indicate this on the additional information part of the registration form.
Requesting a session
The deadline for Requesting a session has passed (30 June). The organisers of sessions will be informed by 1 August, whether their request has been successful.
Co-sponsors:
