16th Meeting of the Group of Friends on Water and Peace

The meeting featured keynote addresses from Ambassador Anita Pipan, Chair of the Group of Friends, Ambassador Coly Seck, and Ambassador Jürg Lauber, Co-Chairs of the Group. The forum’s framework and key objectives were presented by Mr. Abdoulaye Sene, Executive Secretary of the 9th World Water Forum, followed by a presentation of the UN World Water Development Report 2022, "Groundwater: Making the Invisible Visible", by Ms. Alice Aureli from UNESCO. Additional presentations on activities leading to the forum were delivered by Ms. Sonja Koeppel (UNECE Water Convention) and Mr. Mark Zeitoun (Geneva Water Hub).

Discussions revolved around key guiding questions:

• How can Geneva-based expertise contribute effectively to the forum?
• What are the expected outcomes and impacts of the 9th World Water Forum?
• How can collaborative efforts be enhanced to support global progress on water security and SDG 6?
• How will discussions on the nexus of water and peace be framed at the forum?

The session underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing global water challenges and highlighted the forum's role as a key preparatory event for the 2023 UN Water Conference. Participants emphasized the need to leverage international expertise and partnerships to ensure the forum generates actionable solutions for water security, peace, and sustainable development.