Topics

Water connects climate, food production, ecosystems and people’s livelihoods. SIWI’s topic pages explain these connections, the governance challenges they raise and how SIWI contributes. Choose a topic below to find explanations, research, publications and examples from our work.

Drip Irrigation
Agriculture and food systems for food security
Agriculture depends on water and underpins food security and rural livelihoods. Sustainable practices for green water and landscape management, support productivity, ecosystems, and climate resilience.
Flooded street in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Climate resilience
Climate resilience depends on water management as climate change intensifies floods, droughts, and variability, shaping how societies and ecosystems cope with risk.
Boreal forest, Sweden
Forests
Forests play a critical role in the water cycle, influencing rainfall, soil moisture, and freshwater systems. Integrating forest and water governance is essential for climate resilience and long-term sustainability.
Gender and water
Gender and water
Gender inequality in water governance limits participation and weakens solutions, despite women’s central role in water management and community resilience.
Transpiration in the Borneo Rainforest
Green water
Green water is the moisture stored in soils and vegetation and released into the atmosphere as evaporation and rainfall. Governing forests and landscapes is essential to manage these flows and sustain climate, ecosystems, and agriculture.
Rustic water well in the Sahara Desert, Merzouga, southeastern Morocco
Groundwater
Groundwater is a critical yet often overlooked water source. Strengthened governance and monitoring of aquifers are essential for resilience, drinking water, agriculture, and ecosystems.
Communal water collection point, Baidoa, Somalia
Human rights
Human rights-based approaches promote equitable access to water and inclusive governance. Principles such as participation, accountability, and non-discrimination are central to sustainable water management.
Six Nations of the Grand River Pow Wow, Ohsweken, Canada
Indigenous Peoples
Indigenous Peoples hold deep knowledge of water, landscapes, and ecosystems. Supporting Indigenous rights and leadership ensures policies reflect this knowledge and strengthen resilience and justice.
Welding a circular water pipe from the inside
Industry, business and water
Industry and business play a key role in water stewardship. Managing water risks, reducing pollution, and aligning economic activity with responsible water use are essential.
Restoration of the wetlands in Alviso Marsh, Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, California
Landscapes and ecosystems
Integrated management of land, water, and ecosystems supports biodiversity, livelihoods, and water flows. Healthy landscapes are essential for climate adaptation and mitigation, and long-term resilience.
Mangrove plantation
Nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions use ecosystems to manage water risks, improve resilience, and support biodiversity, livelihoods, and climate adaptation.
Rivers wetlands and basins
Rivers, wetlands and basins
Rivers, wetlands, and basins form the backbone of freshwater systems. Their protection and sustainable management are essential for ecological health and water security.
Triple border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, divided by the rivers Iguaçu and Paraná
Shared waters cooperation
Shared waters link regions and sectors, making cooperation across local, national, and basin levels essential for water security, development, and ecosystem health.
Aït Benhaddou between Marrakech and the Sahara Desert, Morocco
Water and human security
Water security underpins health, livelihoods, and economic stability, with risks spreading across food, energy, and society when water is scarce or polluted.
Sunrise on the Mekong river, on the border of Thailand and Laos
Water diplomacy and peace
Water diplomacy fosters cooperation over shared freshwater across sectors and borders, supporting conflict prevention and sustainable peace.
Water governance 1
Water governance
Policies, institutions and social values shape how water is managed across sectors and scales. Effective governance underpins equitable, impartial, and sustainable water decisions.
Youth
Youth engagement
Young people are essential actors in addressing global water challenges. Meaningful youth participation strengthens water governance and climate action at all levels.
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