What we do | SIWI - Leading expert in water governance

Only by focusing on water, can we tackle humanity’s greatest challenges. We need improved water governance, with better water decisions and cooperation over shared waters. SIWI is the leading expert in these fields.

Many of the world’s greatest challenges are linked to water. Climate change, for example, is primarily felt in the form of too much or too little water, like floods or droughts. In the coming years, we will see a growing number of water-related climate disasters and more hunger when rainfall patterns are increasingly unpredictable. The Global South and people living in poverty will be hardest hit, resulting in growing inequality.

Viewed this way, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals may seem like a pipe dream. But we can choose another path and instead invest in improved water governance. This will reduce poverty (SDG1), strengthen food security (SDG2), improve people’s health (SDG3) and ensure that more children go to school (SDG4), especially girls who are otherwise most at risk of having to fetch water instead of studying.

Graphical representation of SIWI's main focus: sustainable management of shared water resources, resilient water services and infrastructures, inclusion of relevant stakeholders and water governance innovation based on knowledge and learning. — no caption

SIWI advocates for this at the local, regional, national, and global levels. Decision-makers need to be aware of existing solutions and have the capacity to make important shifts. Food security in Sub-Saharan Africa could for example increase significantly with more investment in improved water management for the region’s many smallholder farmers. Poverty levels can drop if everyone has access to clean water and safe sanitation. It is possible to reduce the risk of climate disasters and water pollution by using trees and wetlands in city planning to clean water and prevent flooding. To name but a few examples.

Recognizing that these challenges will not be solved by one organization, group, or country alone, SIWI takes a multi-disciplinary approach. We work across sectors, countries, and cultures to generate and share knowledge on solutions that improve the resilience of people and societies.

A new approach to water governance is urgently needed and SIWI is leading the way. With three decades of experience, an extensive network and a uniquely broad range of expertise, we are well-positioned to help different stakeholders navigate this new and challenging water governance landscape. SIWI offers advice, facilitates dialogues, provides platforms for collaboration, generates knowledge, implements programmes, and develops capacity for improved water governance all over the world.