Flowing Towards Peace - Recommendations ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference

Building Peace Brief and commentary

Building on the momentum of the 2023 UN Water Conference, the 2026 Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates, will be organized around six interactive dialogues: Water for People, Water for Prosperity, Water for Planet, Water for Cooperation, Water in Multilateral Processes, and Investments for Water.

This policy brief argues that peace is the thread unifying all six dialogues, placing water squarely within the UN’s purpose to maintain international peace and security, foster friendly relations among nations, promote sustainable development, and uphold human rights.

Water is far more than a technical, environmental, or development concern. It is a human right and a necessary condition for life, dignity, public health, livelihoods, and social cohesion. It is also deeply political. When governed equitably and sustainably, water can support legitimacy, trust, cooperation, and shared prosperity. When withheld, polluted, overexploited, or weaponized, water becomes a source of exclusion, fragility, and suffering.

You can access the Policy Brief documents below.