SESRIC participated in the 5^th Istanbul International Water Forum (IIWF), jointly organized by the Turkish Water Institute (SUEN) and General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works (DSİ) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, on 5-6 May 2026. Under the theme “Strengthening Water Resilience: Innovation to Action”, the event served as a high-level platform for 9 ministers, 8 deputy ministers, and global experts to address escalating water challenges driven by climate change and rapid urbanisation.

In his keynote address, H.E. İbrahim YUMAKLI, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, highlighted the deepening global water scarcity and the necessity of shifting from theoretical discussions to field-applicable policies. He emphasised that as pressures on water resources intensify, it is essential to undertake a fundamental re-evaluation of the value attributed to this strategic resource and its existing management frameworks. H.E. YUMAKLI shared that under the patronage of the First Lady of Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Emine ERDOĞAN, the `Water Efficiency Mobilization” had been launched to foster a proactive mindset transformation. This initiative, rooted in the “zero loss” principle across urban, industrial, and agricultural sectors, aims to bring about a society that accounts for every drop of water. Furthermore, the esteemed Minister noted that climate change is heavily impacting water resources in the Mediterranean and Middle East, and underlined that technical and financial support is being extended to numerous countries in Africa and other regions to support the SDGs.

Mr. Loic FAUCHON, President of the World Water Council (WWC), commended Türkiye’s leadership, specifically citing the 80-kilometre cross-basin water supply project to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as a global model of innovation. He reaffirmed that water needs to remain a top priority and stated that any aggression toward water resources is fundamentally unacceptable.

H.E. Retno MARSUDI, UN Special Envoy for Water, described Istanbul as a historic bridge for global cooperation and underscored the urgent need for 140 billion USD in annual financing to ensure global water resilience. She urged that water be placed at the centre of all future development and innovation plans to effectively combat water-related diseases and climate pressures.

During the Ministerial Closed Session on the first day of the Forum, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK represented the OIC and delivered a message on behalf of H.E. Hissein Brahim TAHA, the OIC Secretary-General. The message emphasised the critical importance of intra-OIC cooperation and solidarity in addressing water stress across member states. H.E. SELÇUK also participated as a panellist in the High-Level Panel on Water Efficiency held on 6 May, sharing critical insights on the socio-economic impacts of water scarcity and highlighting the importance of data-driven policies in building resilient systems. Furthermore, SESRIC contributed to the Panel Session on “Strengthening Capacities for a Water-Resilient World”, which focused on the necessity of enhancing institutional frameworks and technical expertise to effectively manage climate-related risks.

On the sidelines of the Forum, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK held a series of bilateral meetings on both days of the Forum to discuss joint projects and strengthen technical cooperation. These meetings included high-level representatives at the level of Ministers and Deputy-Minidters from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and Uzbekistan. The discussions focused on expanding the cooperation with the counterpart countries in sharing best practices in water management and aligning regional efforts with the OIC Water Vision.

The Forum’s sessions addressed the multi-disciplinary nature of water management, exploring the link between water and finance, diplomacy, and ecosystems. Discussions were structured around 4 key sub-themes: Water Dialogue for Resilience, Finance Mobilization and Innovation, the “One Water, One Health” approach, and the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus. Panels covered a wide range of critical topics, including climate-resilient finance for transboundary cooperation, circular approaches in wastewater management, and the adaptation of WASH services to climate challenges. Furthermore, a high-level session was dedicated to the COP31 Pathway, focusing on global action and innovation for climate adaptation.

The outcomes of the 5^th Istanbul International Water Forum are expected to provide significant inputs to the COP31 Climate Summit in Antalya in November 2026, the 2026 UN Water Conference co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal in UAE on 2-4 December 2026, the 11^th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027, and the 20^th World Water Congress in Istanbul in 2027.

For more information, please visit: https://iusf.org.tr/en/

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