In a world marked by conflict, climate change and inequity, water is both a crisis and an opportunity. Often seen through the lens of scarcity, political tension, and competition, especially in regions where it is a precious and limited resource. When communities lack the water needed to sustain life, and when competition over resources erupts in violence, peace becomes unattainable. Yet amidst these challenges, water carries potential to heal, to unite and to inspire resilience. Water has the power to compel dialogue even in times of conflict. It connects communities and fuels our economies. But more than that it connects us across borders, cultures and generations.
The Geneva Water Hub (GWH) was established in 2014 to build on these unique features and use water as an entry point for peace. We are an international centre of competence on water for peace. Through advocacy, mediation, research and capacity building, we are helping to prevent water conflicts and contributing to peace, stability and sustainable development.
The Geneva Water Hub’s experience and expertise around the world has shown that in the current complex and challenging times, water brings people together. The Hub knows that when water is shared equitably and spared the ravages of pollution and armed conflict, peace can prevail.
The Hub initiated and accompanied the High-Level Panel on Water and Peace in 2015. The resulting report, A Matter of Survival is guiding its efforts ever since. The GWH works towards a vision of the world where water’s nourishing qualities are channeled to transform political and social tensions. Its mission is to advance the use of water for peace in humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. It fulfils its mission through i) water peacebuilding; ii) the protection of water from armed conflict and sanctions; iii) shaping water policy and law; iv) building capacity; and v) water-peace research. As of 2023, the GWH is anchored in the University of Geneva and the Geneva Graduate Institute.
Our work and potential avenues for collaboration
The GWH’s work is structured around five core programmes, each aimed at mainstreaming and operationalizing the concept of “water for peace” while supporting broader efforts to integrate water into peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian agendas. Below is a brief overview of each programme’s objectives, which could also be a good basis to further discuss areas where collaboration could be explored.
BUILDING PEACE THROUGH WATER DIPLOMACY
The Hub engages in three types of Water Peacebuilding: i) peace re-enforcement peacebuilding where Hub partners are readily mobilised to shift from good relations to prosperous ones; ii) proactive and preventive peacebuilding where addressing water-related issues has the potential to decrease political tensions; and iii) rapprochement or détente peacebuilding where political relations are at their most tense. The Hub has found that water works best for Track 1.5 diplomacy (where the Hub plays its part between state actors) and Track 2 diplomacy (ensuring interaction between non-state actors informs political processes). One of the keys to the Hub’s success is the extreme confidentiality it maintains throughout the processes.
Focus areas: Western Asia and North Africa (Tigris-Euphrates basin, Gaza, Syria) and in the Sahel and West Africa (Senegal, Mauritania, Gambia, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry)
Selected Key Initiatives:
- Development of a transboundary groundwater agreement in the Senegal-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin with UNECE and the International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC).
- Promotion of peaceful governance of water resources in the refugee camp of M’Berra (Hodh Chargui, Mauritania) at a local level with UNHCR.
PROTECTING WATER DURING AND AFTER ARMED CONFLICT
The Hub seeks to improve the protection of water from armed conflict by extending i) the legal framework during armed conflict, and ii) the knowledge base about the impact of armed conflict and sanctions. Here, the Hub relies on its development of the very widely-used Geneva Principles on the Protection of Water Infrastructure, a fully-fledged Environmental Peacebuilding training programme aimed at militaries and diplomats, and the dynamic Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflict, which was launched at the UN Protection of Civilians Week in New York in May 2024. The latter two are executed through excellent collaboration with and the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia. Areas the Hub is currently active in or planning such work include Gaza, Ukraine-Russia, Yemen, Central African Republic, and Senegal.
Focus: Safeguarding water resources from conflict-related damage and ensuring their inclusion in post-conflict recovery
Selected Key Initiatives:
- Leading the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflict, whose members are (as of May 2025): Slovenia, Switzerland, Costa Rica, Panama, Indonesia, Philippines, Senegal, Hungary, Pax for Peace, UNICEF and Geneva Call.
- Advancing the Geneva List of Principles on the Protection of Water Infrastructure to integrate water into international humanitarian and environmental law.
- Study on Gaza and soon Case Study on Yemen
SHAPING POLICY AND LAW
We advocate for progressive, innovative, and inclusive policy and law everywhere. Based on our analysis of the benefits of transboundary and inter-sectoral cooperation, and the merits of harmonising national and international legal frameworks, the Hub shapes policy and law for the sustainable use and sharing of water. We support the development of good practices through multi-stakeholder and confidential platforms, and facilitate exchanges with key actors in the humanitarian, development and peace communities – all in alignment with the principles of international law.
Focus: Ensuring multilateral policy and legal frameworks are shaped towards the use of water for peace
Selected Key Initiatives:
- Convening the Group of Friends on Water and Peace, fostering high-level dialogue in Geneva.
- Influencing policy and legal frameworks at various levels, highlighting the benefits of transboundary and inter-sectoral water cooperation, harmonizing legal frameworks, and implementing the human right to water and sanitation.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
The Hub provides tailor-made training programmes for civil society, military, and diplomats. We run fully-credited distance-learning courses on International Water Law and the law of Transboundary Aquifers in English and French, and a fully-credited two-week in-situ summer school in water governance through the University of Geneva amongst other trainings. As part of our extensive alumni network, trained professionals form a community of practitioners to advance water for peace well into the future.
Focus: Empowering individuals with the knowledge and skills to utilize water for peace and inspire future leaders
Selected Key Initiatives:
- Hosting the fully accredited annual two-week Summer School in Water Governance, uniting professionals to tackle pressing water challenges.
- Hosting the Environmental Peacebuilding training, exploring how natural resources influence conflict dynamics and peace processes, addressing key legal frameworks, challenges, and strategies.
- Offer a diverse range of classes and teaching formats, including free MOOCs, and tailor-made training courses and programs.
SETTING THE RESEARCH AGENDA
The Hub knows that policy must be based on a solid understanding of socio-political processes, if it is to be credible, legitimate, and salient to political processes. We examine how alternative messages may counter damaging narratives, how joint visions and benefits can counter inequitable arrangements, and the extent to which international norms and law are useful in realpolitik.
Focus: Establishing evidence-based insights into water and peace to inform global policy.
Selected Key Initiatives:
