Paris, At this year’s 10th World Water Forum, UNESCO is spearheading international efforts to address the pressing challenges of water management and climate disruption. The organization is advocating for improved cooperation, better data collection, and enhanced educational initiatives to achieve global water security and resilience. Key focus areas include the management of transboundary water resources, advancing data collection technologies, and raising public awareness about water issues.

According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO is emphasizing the need for increased cooperation on transboundary waters, such as rivers, lakes, and aquifers that cross national borders. The organization has identified hundreds of transboundary systems worldwide and has been actively involved in projects like the Governance of Groundwater Resources in Transboundary Aquifers (GGRETA), which spans three continents. Notably, UNESCO highlights the success of the Manantali Dam in the Senegal River Basin as a model for cooperative regional development.

UNESCO is also focusing on reversing the decline in water data collection seen since the 1980s, utilizing its Water Information Network System to harmonize global water data, which supports informed decision-making. Moreover, the organization’s Climate Risk Informed Decision Analysis (CRIDA) methodology aims to manage water resources in arid regions by identifying vulnerabilities and implementing early warning systems for floods and droughts.

Further, UNESCO is committed to training water professionals and increasing public understanding of water conservation. Annually, it trains approximately 20,000 individuals through a network of research centers and university chairs. Additionally, UNESCO’s Global Network of Water Museums educates millions on water conservation, aiming to blend traditional knowledge with modern science to foster sustainable water management solutions.