The Global Dialogue on Water Tenure is a multi-stakeholder platform initiated by FAO and partners to discuss principles for responsible governance of water tenure, with a view of strengthening secure and equitable access to water resources of all legitimate water users, including women and marginalized groups, in support of wider goals of health, food security, social inclusion, and climate resilience.

The Global Dialogue was launched at the UN Water Conference in 2023 as a commitment of FAO to the Water Action Agenda, in line with recommendations of the FAO Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) recommendations on Water for Food Security and Nutrition.

Key publications

Proposed objectives of the Global Dialogue

• Identify non-binding principles for the responsible governance of water tenure.
• Define criteria to guide the implementation of the principles.
• Build consensus around the principles and criteria though multistakeholder consultations at country, regional and global levels.
• Strengthen capacities of countries and non-state actors to apply the principles.

Elements of the Global Dialogue

• Regional and sectorial consultations with multi-actor participation, at country, regional and global level, involving  governments, civil society, academia, private sector, international organizations, possibly in partnership with CFS with its Civil Society, Indigenous Peoples’ and Private sector mechanism.
• Local and country-level assessments water tenure to inform dialogue processes on water tenure.
• Expert consultations & background papers to guide process and to clarify concepts and criteria of implementation.
• Political process for review and endorsement of guiding principles at international fora (e.g: CFS, Rome Water Dialogue, World Water Forum).
• Advocacy, awareness and outreach Including Partners’ Meetings to build political and financial support.

Global Dialogue updates