ESCWA brought the Arab region's water security priorities to the forefront at Cairo Water Week 2026, contributing to high-level and technical discussions on groundwater governance, regional cooperation and preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference. Held from 25 to 29 October under the theme "Water as a Catalyst for: Peace, Shared Prosperity, and a Sustainable Planet", the event convened global water leaders, policymakers and experts.
Delivering a keynote address at the plenary session on "Addressing Water Challenges through Technical Tools, Social Frameworks, Financing, and National Water Governance," ESCWA Executive Secretary Rania Al-Mashat stressed that water was no longer merely a natural resource to be managed, but a strategic imperative. "More than 90% of the Arab region's population lives in water-scarce countries, while water stress is approximately six times the global average," she underscored.
Al-Mashat called for action on three fronts: science-based and knowledge-driven decision-making; innovative and investable solutions; and integrated governance and stronger cooperation. Ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, she urged a focus on the "three I's": innovative, integrated and investable solutions, emphasizing water's role as a foundation for resilience, prosperity and sustainable development across the Arab region.
Under the Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI) Programme, ESCWA organized a session on "Enhancing groundwater governance and monitoring." The session showcased groundwater governance toolkit developed by ESCWA and its application in Morocco, alongside the Arab Groundwater Knowledge Platform and remote-sensing technologies that could help strengthen sustainable groundwater management through better monitoring and knowledge-sharing. Representatives from Oman and the State of Palestine also shared case studies on their applications.
At the session on "The Final Mile to Abu Dhabi: From Dialogue to Action for the 2026 UN Water Conference", ESCWA presented the outcomes of the Arab Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 2026 UN Water Conference, highlighting key messages for the global conference.
ESCWA also participated in the High-Level Joint Technical Committee for Water and Agriculture, which brings together member State representatives from both sectors to advance integrated policymaking and implementation.
