ScaleWat advances water tenure governance at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture 2026

During the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA), held in Berlin from 14 to 17 January under the theme “Water. Harvests. Our Future.”, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partners contributed to advancing discussions on water tenure governance by leading an expert panel on equitable water allocation.

The session “Sharing water fairly for food and water security: The Global Dialogue on Water Tenure” brought together policymakers, researchers, practitioners and water rights holders to examine how water tenure arrangements – the formal and informal rules governing access to and use of water – can support food security, rights-based approaches and climate resilience. 

Convened within the framework of the FAO-led Global Dialogue on Water Tenure, the session highlighted global, national and local perspectives on defining and assessing water tenure, sharing country experiences, and identifying opportunities for policy and practice. Experts emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable groups, including smallholder farmers, pastoralists and fishers whose livelihoods rely on secure water access.

Participants identified key governance challenges and practical recommendations, including stronger cross-sector coordination, integration of customary and statutory water rights, and stakeholder engagement in decision-making. The discussions at the panel will inform future regional and national processes and contribute to momentum ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.

GFFA 2026 Final Communiqué highlights water tenure and equitable access

Following GFFA 2026, Ministers and representatives from 59 countries attending the 18th Berlin Agriculture Ministers’ Conference, adopted the GFFA 2026 Final Communiqué, recognizing that access to water is crucial for food production, emphasizing the need for inclusive governance to strengthen global food and water security and thus aligning closely with the objectives FAO’s Global Dialogue on Water Tenure.

The Communiqué:

• Recognizes water as crucial to life, economies, and food systems, noting water stress affects billions worldwide and poses serious risks to agriculture and nutrition;
• Affirms agriculture’s central role in water governance and food security, calling for the sector to be meaningfully represented in global water policy frameworks;
• Commits to facilitate equal participation and access to water for vulnerable and underrepresented groups, including smallholder farmers, Indigenous Peoples and youth, paying particular attention to the challenges faced by agricultural communities in areas of instability or climate vulnerability;
• Stresses integrated and participatory water allocation regimes, with strong institutions and inclusive processes to reconcile competing water uses and ensure equitable access for vulnerable groups;
• Acknowledges the FAO “Global Dialogue on Water Tenure” as a critical initiative to support context-specific, equitable, timely and safe access to water resources.

The Communiqué calls on the international community to engage agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture as key sectors in water policy deliberations, particularly ahead of the unfolding UN 2026 Water Conference and beyond.