Policy publications|

Putting water at the centre of ambitious NDCs

Climate resilienceWater governanceWater and human securityNature-based solutions
Putting-water-at-the-centre-of-ambitious-NDCs
SIWI, through the support of GIZ, has developed recommendations based on a review on how the inclusion of water has evolved within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This policy brief, aims to look at the current bottlenecks in NDC implementation and to offer examples from countries on how these national climate plans can be achieved in practice.
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AUTHOR

David Hebart-Coleman
David Hebart-Coleman

Senior Programme Manager

david.hebart.coleman@siwi.org

+46 (0)720 50 60 77

Water is the thread that connects climate change vulnerabilities and responses when it comes to both climate mitigation and adaptation. Accordingly, water-related strategies are becoming more prominent in many nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement. However, there remains considerable room for enhancing these measures, as many NDCs lack specific, quantitative targets and fail to consider the cross-sectoral impacts of water use.

In anticipation of the next round of NDCs due in 2025, this Policy Brief offers several recommendations to support an increased ambition. These improvements will not only bolster countries’ climate mitigation and adaptation efforts but also enhance water security, identify co-benefits and trade-offs in water use, protect ecosystems, and strengthen investment opportunities in water-related projects.

Istanbul,,Turkey,-,Aug,10,2025:,View,Of,Bosporus,,Ships

Policy publications · 14 May 2026

SIWI Insight Brief: 5th Istanbul International Water Forum

A SIWI Insight Brief analysing key discussions and emerging signals from the 5th Istanbul International Water Forum, including implementation, resilience, financing, and cooperation across the global water agenda.

The-Panj-River-bordering-Tajikistan-and-Afghanistan.-Source_Alec-Forss

Reports and papers · 20 Mar 2026

Confluence Beyond Borders in a Changing Climate: Dialogue for Cooperation in Central Asia and Afghanistan

This report examines the growing risks to water security in Central Asia and Afghanistan as climate change accelerates glacial melt, alters river flows, and increases the frequency of extreme weather events. These changes are intensifying seasonal water shortages and creating cascading impacts across the region, including rising humanitarian needs, economic strain, and heightened risks to social and regional stability.

shutterstock_2523643615-lo-res

Reports and papers · 16 Dec 2025

The Ethiopian Juba-Shebelle Water Cooperation: The Roles of IOS Enabled Knowledge, Information and Data Supply Chain Collaboration

The Juba-Shebelle Basin is a vital transboundary water system in the Horn of Africa, underpinning livelihoods, economic development and regional stability across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. This study, commissioned by the International Centre for Water Cooperation (ICWC), examines current challenges and opportunities for improved water and climate resource management in Ethiopia’s part of the basin. It introduces a data-driven framework to strengthen coordination, governance and cooperation within Ethiopia and across riparian states, with the aim of supporting more effective, adaptive and collaborative water management.

Lilla bommen , Gothenburg sweden glowing in golden sun light during one spring evening

Reports and papers · 10 Nov 2025

Current situation and external environment analysis (in Swedish)

This report in Swedish presents the first phase of the project, offering an analysis of how the port regions of Malmö, Trelleborg, and Visby are addressing climate adaptation. Based on interviews, stakeholder analyses, and document reviews, it lays the groundwork for developing a climate service to support decision-making, investments, and the monitoring of adaptation plans.

Zambezi-Rainfed-Agriculture-Investment-Forum

Reports and papers · 22 Jan 2025

Unlocking the potential of rainfed agriculture

A workshop and training in Malawi, under the the TIARA programme, explored the potential with rainfed agriculture and sustainable farming practices to boost yields, restore landscapes, and strengthen resilience in the Zambezi Basin.

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Guidance, methods and frameworks · 03 Jul 2024

Capacity Development for Water: A step-by-step guide from individual to sector wide capacity development

This guide forms part of SIWI’s work to offer a range of capacity development tools, services and opportunities to low and middle-income countries around the world. It is also contributing to international agendas of accelerating the implementation of the SDG 6, the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk reduction, through capacity development.

Interactions-between-GBF-and-HRHE-and-implications-for-water-goverence

Reports and papers · 19 Jun 2024

Water governance using the Global Diversity Framework and the Human Right to a Healthy Environment

At the halfway point of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world is significantly off track in meeting the Agenda's targets. Meeting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 “ensuring access to water and sanitation for all” is one of the globe’s biggest challenges, whilst also being an indispensable requirement to achieving global sustainable development.

Water in the NDCs Increasing-cover

Reports and papers · 05 Jun 2024

Water in the Nationally Determined Contributions: Increasing Ambition for the Future

SIWI, through the support of the UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility and GIZ, prepared a review on how the inclusion of water has evolved within Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with key trends, gaps, and recommendations.

cover image final-groundwater-seminar-2024

Guidance, methods and frameworks · 17 Apr 2024

Framtidssäkra kommunen med hållbar grundvattenförvaltning

Medlemmar i Swedish Water House klustergrupp om grundvatten släppte 2024 presentations-material med tillhörande faktaskrift, som riktas mot kommuner. Materialet presenterades under ett webbinarium och kan användas inom kommuner för att höja kunskapen om grundvatten.

Beautiful cityscape in Singapore. Modern buildings among trees

Policy publications · 30 Jan 2024

Urban river governance: A pathway for cities to achieve climate goals

Water resilience has become a key agenda for cities today, as most natural and climate-change induced disasters usually manifest through water, such as floods, storms, water-borne disease outbreaks, and droughts. Amid the climate change impacts, it is necessary that cities prioritize on improving the governance of its freshwater systems, including its rivers.

water-photo

Reports and papers · 02 Jan 2024

Study into gender mainstreaming in projects in the water sector in Mozambique

Water equality is a multi-dimensional concept with gender and social inclusion considered as one of the main dimensions. The review of the IWRM and WASH projects supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Mozambique identified several gender and responsive interventions with potential to make water equality a reality though gender mainstreaming and gender transformation.

Aerial top view photo of floating islands on Lake Titicaca in Peru – a habitant of indigenous community Uros who are living on floating self-made islands made of totora plant

Reports and papers · 01 Jan 2024

Supporting the Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in Transboundary Water Cooperation

The purpose of the working paper is to examine how Indigenous Peoples can have a more meaningful role in Transboundary Water Cooperation (TWC). The working paper draws on case studies and literature to explore how Indigenous Peoples have been engaging in TWC and where barriers to their inclusion persist.

Laos-integrity-training

Explainers and briefs · 19 Dec 2023

Capacity Development for Water

Capacity development can be understood as processes through which institutions and individuals obtain, strengthen, and sustain learning and capabilities to set and achieve development objectives over time. To achieve progress and improvements in water governance, it is essential to strengthen capacity-building processes that include all key stakeholders and consider all institutional and organizational performance determinants.

Gaborone-Dam,-Botswana

Publication · 23 Nov 2023

Water Cooperation Global Outlook Initiative

Transboundary water cooperation is an essential tool for humanity to deal with the increasing water challenges of today and those in the future. Countries can greatly improve their resilience to climate change induced water disasters if they jointly manage shared water resources. Assessing the water cooperation preparedness of a country gives insight into the potential for water cooperation in a region.

Zambezi-Rainfed-Agriculture-Investment-Forum

Reports and papers · 16 Oct 2023

Zambezi Rainfed Agriculture Investment Forum – Post event report

The Zambezi Rainfed Agriculture Investment Forum took place on the 8 and 9 August 2023 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, Botswana. Over 80 participants from diverse backgrounds and affiliations from 17 countries gathered for discussions and collaborations.

Yaa Heen Koosge Base Report_cover

Reports and papers · 06 Oct 2023

Yaa Heen Koosge: Indigenous Peoples and Water Wisdom

Water governance from an indigenous perspective; exploring key values, concepts, and approaches that underlie how Indigenous Peoples’ interact and relate with water.

Xinghai-Bay,-Dohai-Sea

Reports and papers · 20 Sept 2023

Building momentum to accelerate adoption of source-to-sea management

This report is the first ever analysis of the implementation of the source-to-sea approach. The applicability of this holistic approach is demonstrated and recommendations to accelerate adoption of source-to-sea management are offered.

Transbounary Working paper-cover

Reports and papers · 18 Aug 2023

Water Cooperation for Accelerated Agenda 2030 Implementation: Special focus on transboundary water cooperation in Africa

This working paper highlights some initial water cooperation trends as assessed in the upcoming Water Cooperation Global Outlook Report.

shutterstock_1339948649

Reports and papers · 02 May 2023

Water Governance Processes: Examples Across Four Countries

The quality of a water governance process sets the basis for the quality of its outcomes, and GoAL-WaterS has provided means to invest in governance. This publication provides examples of achievements in Cambodia, Laos, Jordan and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Climate-smart-cities

Policy publications · 22 Mar 2023

Guide to climate-smart and water-wise cities

This policy brief will help decision-makers in cities develop more effective climate strategies. It builds on insights from the landmark report The Essential Drop to Net-Zero: Unpacking Freshwater’s Role in Climate Change Mitigation. Summarizing current research, the report identifies new approaches to climate planning with water as the starting point.

Topics

Climate resilienceWater governanceWater and human securityNature-based solutions

Thematic area

Water governance in a changing climate and hydrological cycle

Engagement pillar

Curating knowledge and research
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