FAO convenes key stakeholders to advance the Global Dialogue on Water Tenure

On 27 and 28 May 2025, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted the third Water Tenure Experts’ Meeting at its headquarters in Rome, Italy, within the framework of the ScaleWat project. The meeting brought together 60 experts from 30 partner countries, civil society, academia, FAO and other international organizations with the aim of advancing the Global Dialogue on Water Tenure. 

Discussions centered on the next steps for the Dialogue and the draft principles for the responsible governance of water tenure, an urgent priority amid growing water demand and the accelerating impacts of climate change. 

This hybrid meeting, the third of its kind since the initiative’s inception, responds to a mandate issued by FAO’s Committee on Agriculture (COAG) at its 28th session in 2022 and reaffirmed at its 29th session in 2024. As Lifeng Li, Director of FAO's Land and Water Division, noted during the meeting, “The dialogue is part of FAO’s commitments on the Water Action Agenda – and part of FAO’s Water Journey. This expert consultation constitutes a major milestone on the road of the global dialogue, as you examine draft principles and the roadmap which will provide the basis of upcoming consultations on water tenure at country, regional and global scale.”

Through thematic working groups and interactive sessions, such as the “Water Tenure World Café” highlighting partner initiatives, participants shared insights and identified pathways to strengthen policy coherence and collective action at national and global levels. “The experts’ insights on key definitions and issues surrounding water tenure based on their experience from all over the world – for instance, regarding recording and recognition of rights – provide a solid foundation to shape the contents and process of the global dialogue. We are grateful for their continued support,” said Benjamin Kiersch, ScaleWat Project Coordinator.

The Global Dialogue is supported by the ScaleWat project, with funding from the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity.  It aims to establish inclusive principles for the responsible governance of water tenure and to inform national reforms related to food security, climate resilience, and equitable access to water.

The workshop's outcomes represent a critical step forward in supporting countries to navigate complex water challenges and work toward sustainable and equitable water governance.