From fragmentation to action: strengthening water governance for resilient agri-food systems

Water is fundamental to agriculture, food security, climate resilience, biodiversity, health and water and sanitation services – yet international water governance remains fragmented. More than 30 UN entities and a large number of partnerships operate in parallel, often with limited coordination. Accounting for around 72% of global freshwater withdrawals, agriculture is both highly vulnerable to climate-induced water scarcity and a key driver of water stress. Addressing these challenges requires stronger, more integrated governance to safeguard the human rights to water, sanitation, and food, and to achieve the SDGs.

The 2023 UN Water Conference, the appointment of the UN Special Envoy for Water, the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation and the 2026 UN Water Conference all open new opportunities for more coherent, cross-sectoral collaboration.

This panel will explore how stronger water governance can build resilient agri-food systems, protect ecosystems and strengthen human rights. It will provide input to the High-Level Preparatory Meeting ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference in Dakar the following week.

The discussion will focus on solutions at three levels: global (multilateral agendas, post-2030), cross-sectoral (alliances and partnerships), and national (practical, real-life examples). The goal is to develop concrete policy recommendations that would enable effective governance across these levels to secure sustainable management of water resources and resilient food systems.