Shared waters cooperation

Nearly half of the world’s population depends on rivers, lakes, and aquifers and hydrological cycles that cross national borders. As climate change intensifies droughts, floods, and unpredictable water availability, shared waters are becoming both more valuable and more vulnerable. Cooperation is increasingly essential — not only for managing resources, but for safeguarding stability, economies, and ecosystems.

This thematic area focuses on how countries, regions, and communities can work together to manage shared waters effectively, reduce climate-related security risks, and build long-term trust.

Why this matters now

When water moves across borders, so do risks. Climate change is increasing variability in river flows, lowering groundwater levels, and stressing shared ecosystems — often in regions where political systems are fragile or institutions are weak. Without cooperation, countries face growing uncertainty, rising costs, and the risk of escalating tensions.

Stronger, climate-resilient cooperation helps countries share benefits, prevent conflict, manage disasters, and support sustainable development across entire regions.

Where we drive change

SIWI’s work centres on two priorities that will shape the future of cooperation around shared waters.

1. Promoting water as a vehicle for peace and conflict prevention

Shared waters can be powerful catalysts for cooperation — but only when countries have the trust, dialogue, and governance arrangements needed to manage shared risks. As climate pressures increase, fragile countries and regions face heightened tensions, making early action even more important.

We help position water as a pathway to peace by:

identifying shared climate-related security risks and potential hotspots
strengthening dialogue and diplomacy between countries, communities, and sectors
contributing to conflict prevention and supports peace and security across the full conflict cycle — from prevention and crisis management to resolution and peacebuilding

Treating water as a vehicle for cooperation — not competition — is essential to preventing conflict and building long-term stability.

Gazi Rumkale, the junction of the Euphrates River and Merzimen Creek, southeastern Turkey. — Photo: Yakup Yener

2. Strengthening transboundary water cooperation

Many transboundary rivers, lakes, and aquifers lack strong agreements or institutions to govern effectively. Climate change amplifies uncertainty, making coordinated planning, shared information, early warning, and flexible governance systems critical for all countries involved.

We help strengthen transboundary cooperation by:

supporting the development or modernisation of legal and institutional frameworks
improving data sharing, joint monitoring, and coordinated basin planning
ensuring shared ecosystems and water allocations are managed equitably
facilitating dialogues sectoral and political borders to increase joint understanding or shared water and climate-related challenges

Cooperation that is durable and climate-resilient gives countries the stability they need to plan, invest, and thrive together.