Scaling up solutions: ScaleWat team sets priorities for next phase

On 29 and 30 May 2025, the ScaleWat team gathered at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations’ (FAO) headquarters in Rome for the Global Mid-Term Planning Workshop. The event brought together project staff from headquarters and country teams in Colombia and Thailand, national government focal points, service providers, and regional office representatives.

The workshop focused on showcasing the implementation in Colombia and Thailand, and charting the way for the next phase of project implementations. National teams shared updates on progress made, from policy reform and institutional coordination to community engagement and technical assessments. The sessions created space for an open exchange on what is working, what has been been challenging, and what lessons from the project can inform decisions on equitable and sustainable water allocation. 

Jippe Hoogeveen, Senior Land and Water Officer at FAO’s Land and Water Division, referred to the growing urgency of water-related challenges and the importance the ScaleWat project in shaping practical, country-led solutions to strengthen water tenure governance. He emphasized that the work of the project is not only timely, but also essential for addressing global priorities.