FAO promotes more equitable water governance for food security at Rome Water Dialogue

The need to strengthen water governance, ensure the equitable distribution of water resources and advance institutional frameworks that contribute to food security was at the centre of discussions at the 2026 Rome Water Dialogue, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Held at FAO headquarters under the theme Global Dialogue on Water Tenure: Innovative Water Governance for Food and Water Security, the event brought together government officials, representatives of international organizations and other key stakeholders to exchange experiences and contribute to the development of international principles for the responsible governance of water tenure.

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rene Orellana Halkyer, moderated two high-level panels focused on policies, governance instruments and national experiences aimed at ensuring equitable and sustainable access to water resources.

Discussions addressed the role of water tenure in allocating water resources for agriculture, the challenges countries face in strengthening their institutional frameworks, and opportunities for international cooperation to promote more inclusive and sustainable water management.

The first panel, held at the ministerial level, featured the participation of Tajikistan’s Minister of Agriculture, Qurbon Hakimzoda; Türkiye’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Ibrahim Yumakli; Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Arsen Zhakanbayev; and the Syrian Arab Republic’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Moustapha Zakia.

Other participants included Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Research and Innovation, Abdulaziz bin Malek Al Malek, who joined virtually; Germany’s Permanent Representative to FAO, Andreas von Brandt; and Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to FAO, Satyajit Arjuna Rodrigo. The session also featured a video message from the Secretary-General of Thailand’s Office of the National Water Resources, Chayan Muangsong.

During the dialogue, moderated by Orellana Halkyer, participants discussed the solutions countries are implementing to ensure water availability and allocation for agriculture, the role of water tenure systems in putting these measures into practice, and opportunities to strengthen international cooperation on water governance.

The exchange brought together diverse national perspectives on the need to link public policies, technical evidence and territorial management experiences to advance the responsible management of water resources.

International cooperation and investment for sustainable water management

In a second high-level panel, Orellana Halkyer led a discussion with the Director General of Water at Morocco’s Ministry of Equipment and Water, Salahddine Dahbi; the Deputy Director-General of the International Economic and Technical Cooperation and Exchange Center of China’s Ministry of Water Resources, Xinyang Chi; and the Director General of the Asian Development Bank, Winfried Wicklein.

The discussion focused on the importance of water governance mechanisms in advancing sustainable development policies and strengthening international cooperation.

Key topics included the importance of integrating water access rights and equitable allocation criteria into investments in water infrastructure, as well as the role that multilateral development banks and international financial institutions can play in strengthening water governance.

Participants also examined how principles for the responsible governance of water tenure can contribute to international discussions, particularly in the lead-up to the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.