Scaling-Up Water Action for Food and Climate Security

A side event during Cairo Water Week 2022

Date and Time: October 16, 2022 - 11:30 - 13:00

Considering the scale of challenge due to climate change and the complex feedback loops between climate, water, and land, in 2021, The State of the World's Land and Water Resources Report for Food and Agriculture: Systems at Breaking Point”, took stock of the implications for agriculture. Shocks, including severe floods, droughts, the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, and social unrest was revealed to divert attention away from development priorities and building resilience.

In light of the above, in June 2022, FAO launched its newly Interregional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS): A Gate Way to Coping with Water Scarcity, to advance water-related action by fostering the interoperability of interventions and by synergizing initiatives, sectors, and approaches at all levels and scales

This proposed session aims to discuss actionable, replicable, and scalable integrated, Water, Agriculture, and Climate Nexus approaches that will contribute to FAO newly established inter-regional Technical Platform on Water Scarcity (iRTP-WS) Work Programme, by adopting interconnected systems thinking that embraces Complexity, Innovation, and Partnerships. A whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is the hallmark of this Platform that will be a key highlight of the event in addressing the following guiding questions: 

1. Exploring ways to advance the work of the regional and national actors in the Water, agriculture, and climate Communities to fortify the security of our water resource with a clear notion of how and where to intervene?
2. Flagging the main water, food, and climate-related issues at the ground level that need further attention in research and innovation.
3. Suggesting proper advocacy mechanisms to advance multi-level inclusive governance and participation. (i.e., national and local government, rural communities, the private sector, and governance that empowers women, youth, and communities in decision making.
4. Identifying entry points to support regional and global efforts concerning standardization of methods, identification of gaps, upscaling of investments, and mobilization to funding resources.