About
Achieving SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 2 – Zero Hunger is central to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to the commitment to "Leave No One Behind". Yet progress remains off track. Water scarcity, climate change, land degradation, population growth and increasing competition for limited natural resources are placing growing pressure on water and food systems across many regions of the world.
Agriculture lies at the heart of this challenge. It accounts for approximately 72 % of global freshwater withdrawals, while at the same time remaining one of the sectors most exposed to drought, water scarcity and climate variability. In the Near East and North Africa (NENA)—one of the world's most water-scarce regions—these pressures are particularly acute, with some of the world's highest levels of water stress and rapidly declining freshwater availability.
Addressing water scarcity therefore requires more than improving water-use efficiency alone. It calls for integrated, inclusive and evidence-based approaches that recognize the interconnections between water, food, energy, ecosystems and climate. Stronger governance, better data and knowledge, innovation, investment, capacity development and meaningful participation of different sectors and stakeholders are essential to translate technical solutions into lasting impact.
Building on the experience of FAO's Regional Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI) Programme for the Near East and North Africa, launched in 2013, the inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS) was established to strengthen collaboration and knowledge exchange across regions and to support countries in responding to increasingly complex water challenges. It provides a collaborative space connecting countries, experts, practitioners, research institutions, development partners and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share innovations and good practices, strengthen capacities and promote solutions that can be adapted and scaled across different contexts.
Through its knowledge products, technical exchanges, capacity-development activities, partnerships and communities of practice, the Platform supports the transition from fragmented and sectoral responses towards more integrated approaches to water management in agrifood systems. Particular attention is given to areas such as water productivity and efficiency, water accounting, climate resilience, drought management, non-conventional water resources, water governance, water tenure, digital and geospatial tools, and the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus.
inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS)
The development of the inter-Regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS) was designed with the aim of aggregation and dissemination of up to date regional, national, and subnational innovations and best practices between experts, stakeholders and donors on specific topics and themes.
The overall goal for the iRTP-WS is to support countries and regions in scaling-up relevant water-related actions, programmes, and policies to cope with water scarcity and food insecurities amid the unprecedented challenges of climate change and socio-economic vulnerabilities, due to disasters and instability. The iRTP-WS is not intended to be an operational body. Instead, it is envisioned to play an integral role in brings together various actors from different countries and regions to work together drawing on their collective knowledge and resources in an action-oriented and result-based partnership.
As a hub for partnerships, knowledge and learnings on water, the iRTP-WS is intended to contribute to the development and dissemination of appropriate methods and tools addressing water scarcity and the water-related objectives of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.” It will include information and material on four main themes that include: Resilience and Climate Change Adaptation; Water Productivity Tools and Analytics; Non-Conventional Water Resources; and Water Governance.
RELATED SDGS
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Mission
To strengthen knowledge exchange and support the development of innovative methods, pilots and tools to scale-up action and address complex development challenges on water and food security to accelerate the achievements of the SDGs, with a special focus on Goals 6 & 2 and considering the interlinkages across other related SDGs.
Strategic Goals
- Bridge the Gap between Science and Policy
- Promote the use of scientific evidence-based policy-making in integrated development planning
- Advance Capacity Development agenda in water, agriculture and climate related topics
Focus areas of Work
Supporting the International Agenda
Leading and facilitating discussions around science and policy interface, governance reforms, effective nexus frameworks, alignment between global, regional, national, and local policies.
Knowledge Management, Technology and Innovation
Makes use of broader inter-regional exchange and learning fora and promotes the use of innovative tools and digital transformation via sharing of state-of-the-art methods, knowledge products, and best practices.
Inclusion & Participation
Fostering intersectoral collaboration; advancing partnerships and facilitating the formation of multi-disciplinary teams to address complex development challenges.
Capacity Development
Supporting the development of a common capacity development agenda to promote sound practices and achieve sustainable development outcomes
Scaling up investments and Innovation
Leveraging financial resources by enabling interactions with donors and financiers; promoting public-private dialogue to scale-up investments in water, agriculture and climate-related programmes and policies.
Main Users and Beneficiary Groups
- Government Officials & Policy-makers;
- International and regional donors & funding agencies and facilities,
- Technical experts and national and local practitioners from all relevant sectors (Water, Agricultural, Energy, Gender, Climate change, Disaster Risk Reduction, etc.).
- Academic researchers, specialized Community of Practices (CoPs) and members of the private sector;
- Actors of play including: Farmers, Water Users’ Associations (WUAs), youth, women and young professionals; specialized media and communicators and planners
- Development partners; International organizations, CSOs & NGOs.
Overarching Operational Guiding Considerations
To catalyze an interactive dialogue on Water for Sustainable Development, the iRTP-WS will consider the following Operational Guiding Considerations that are grounded in FAO scientific evidence and global diverse collective experience:
- Fostering Knowledge Products and Tools adoption, with a special focus on enhancing evidence-based decision-making while maximizing the benefits from indigenous knowledge and experiences.
- Advancing Policy Dialogue to promote convergence between regional, national, and local policies; fostering coherence between water, agriculture, Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development Goals and
advancing the use of the "All-of-Government” approach towards effective and powerful governance.
- Developing Capacities, with a special focus on Promoting on-job training and various approaches like technical webinars;
- Fostering the Use of Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation to enhance the understanding of water-related risks; promote the use of Multi-dimensional (Nexus) approaches, and advance data-sharing and information
exchange.
- Supporting Inclusion and Gender Equality by prompting “A Whole of Society Approach” with a special focus on advancing rural development for improved livelihoods and empowerment of women and vulnerable communities.
- Leveraging Interregional Coordination and Mobilizing Partnerships to assist in advancing multi-action and multi-sectoral mechanisms;
- Scaling up Investments and Resources Mobilization to expand the implementation of pilot projects, enhancing preparedness, and innovation toward a transformative change on the ground.
Partners
Hosted by FAO, the platform benefits from the active collaboration and contributions of partners. Our current partners include governments, other United Nations agencies, research centres, academia, and private sector entities specializing in water, agriculture and climate related topics.
To learn more about current partners, please visit the following link: Partners
To join our efforts and become a partner, please contact us through: Expression of Interest