Water for Peace Diplomacy in Western Asia and North Africa (WANA)

The vision of the Geneva Water Hub extends to Western Asia and North Africa (WANA), a region which unfortunately faces protracted humanitarian crises, political uncertainty, civil unrest, and the impacts of climate change. The definitions of WANA vary widely, but we adopt the definition provided by the WANA Institute, which aligns with our commitment to human geography over political geography, our people-centred diplomacy, our basin-level approach, and our human rights convictions. By embracing this approach, we aim to offer innovative solutions to address current and potential conflict situations in the region, working with actors from humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding communities.

Yarmouk Knowledge Portal

The Yarmouk project facilitates the emergence of law-based, equitable and sustainable transboundary water arrangements on the Yarmouk tributary of the Jordan River. The project does this by generating knowledge, building capacity, and develop common understanding of the most pressing issues surrounding water use in and around the basin. The project ran from 2016 to 2021 and was jointly supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Jordan University of Science and Technology, and Geneva Water Hub colleagues based at the University of East Anglia. The Yarmouk project has led to the establishment of the Water Diplomacy Centre, at the Jordan University of Science and Technology - the first organisation dedicated to water issues in the sub-region.-

Women Leadership in Water Diplomacy

We prioritize inclusion and recognize the vital role of women in water diplomacy and peacebuilding, respecting their values, and socio-cultural norms. Our commitment to this principle is embodied in the Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA Region Initiative, launched jointly with the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean in 2020. -

Positive Peacebuilding

Going beyond negative peace and its focus on the cessation of violence, we emphasize positive peace, rooted in institutions, attitudes, narratives, and structures, as is essential for sustaining peaceful societies. To realize positive peace, we must address fragility, enhance governance effectiveness, foster social cohesion, bolster trust in government, and promote favourable public perceptions. We advocate for citizen diplomacy, echoing a key recommendation of the "A Matter of Survival" report—a blueprint guiding the work of the Geneva Water Hub and the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace.-

Rapprochement in the Tigris and Euphrates Basin

We believe in a basin-wide, holistic approach for the sharing of transboundary water resources in the Tigris and Euphrates basin, prioritizing justice and equity for all riparian states. This approach transcends bilateral dynamics and creates new opportunities for cooperation and for addressing of long-standing “silent" conflicts.-

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