SIWI Insight Brief on Cairo Water Week 2026

Stockholm International Water Institute

District,With,Modern,Buildings,On,The,Riverbank,Of,Nile,In — District with modern buildings on the riverbank of Nile in Cairo. Photo credit: Zevana

Green water Industry, business and water Water governance

How can water governance better inform policy and investment? This SIWI Insight Brief draws on discussions at Cairo Water Week 2026 to examine the growing focus on governing the whole water cycle, including water held in soils. It identifies priorities for turning evidence into decisions ahead of the UN 2026 Water Conference in Abu Dhabi.

Explore the Insight Brief

Thomas Rebermark

Director Swedish Water House/Strategic Partnership Development

thomas.rebermark@siwi.org +46 (0)72 0506 085

Drawing on SIWI’s participation at Cairo Water Week 2026, this brief examines how discussions on water governance are translating into practical priorities. It highlights growing attention to green water, the water held in soils and used by plants, alongside cooperation over shared waters.

The brief also identifies unresolved questions. How does scientific evidence inform national budgets? How can private investment deliver public benefits? And how can capacity development strengthen institutions and improve coordination?

Looking towards the UN 2026 Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, SIWI calls for clear responsibilities, financing, and measurable outcomes. The brief proposes practical next steps, including testing approaches that account for both blue and green water and assessing capacity development by what participants accomplish afterwards.

Part of SIWI’s 2026 Engagement Series, the Insight Brief connects observations from international water meetings with priorities for policy and implementation.