The document discusses the growing challenges and conflicts associated with water security, highlighting that water can serve as a trigger, weapon, or casualty in conflicts. It emphasizes the need for multi-faceted solutions including technical, economic, political, and legal strategies to improve water management and resolve disputes. Additionally, it addresses barriers to implementation and the importance of gender equity in addressing water insecurity.

1. Ending Conflicts Over Water:
Solutions to Water and Security Challenges
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2. SPEAKER BIOS
Kitty van der Heijden
Director-General, International
Cooperation, Dutch Ministry of
Foreign Affairs
Charles Iceland
Director, Global and National
Water Initiatives, Water Program,
World Resources Institute
Peter Gleick
Co-Founder and President
Emeritus, Pacific Institute
Ayushi Trivedi
Gender and Social Equity
Research Analyst,
World Resources Institute
Chris Baker
Programme Head
Water Resources,
Wetlands International
Susanne Schmeier
Senior Lecturer, Water Law
and Diplomacy, IHE Delft

3. Water as a Trigger, Weapon, or Casualty of
Conflict: Overview and Trends
Peter H. Gleick
Ending Conflicts over Water: Solutions to Water and
Security Challenges
Webinar: September 2, 2020
http://www.pacinst.org
http://www.worldwater.org/
@petergleick

5. Water, Security, and Conflict
• Definitions of “security” vary and are expanding.
• There is a long history of conflicts over fresh
water.
• Such conflicts take many forms (as a trigger,
weapon, casualty).
• The risks of water-related disputes are growing,
including over “peak water” constraints of all
kinds.
• These water-related factors will have both direct
and indirect impacts on security and conflict.

6. Water Conflict Categories
• Trigger: Water as a trigger or root
cause of conflict
–Pastoralists v. farmers in Africa; scarcity and
control in India and Iran (2018-19)
• Weapon: Water as a weapon of conflict
–Diverting water from villages; opening
floodgates on dams (Iraq 2017); poisoning
wells (Somalia 2017)
• Casualty: Water resources or water
systems as a casualty or target of
conflict
–WWII, Vietnam, Iraq, Syria, Yemen

7. The Water Conflict Chronology
(www.worldwater.org)
Photo: David J. Phillip AP 2017

8. The Water Conflict Chronology
http://worldwater.org/water-conflict/

9. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Weapon
Casualty
Trigger
Water Conflict Events by Type
1980-2019
P.H. Gleick, 2019. Water Conflict Chronology Update.
www.worldwater.org

10. Global Early Warning Tool 2020 Forecast
(WPS Partnership)
https://www.waterpeacesecurity.org/

11. Strategies for Ending
Conflicts Over Water
• Technical (address water scarcity, improve
efficiency)
• Economic (improve allocation/use; smart subsidies)
• Management (address institutional failures)
• Political and Legal (move toward cooperation)
Source: Report on “Ending Conflicts over Water: Solutions to Water and Security
Challenges.” P.H. Gleick, C. Iceland, A. Trivedi. September 2020. Pacific Institute,
World Resources, Institute, Water Peace and Security Partnership.

12. Dr. Peter H. Gleick
pgleick@pacinst.org
Pacific Institute
Oakland, California
@petergleick
www.pacinst.org

13. Ending Conflicts Over Water:
Solutions to Water and Security Challenges
Solutions and Barriers to Implementation
Charles Iceland
World Resources Institute
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14. Solutions to Water and Security Challenges
1. Natural resources, science and
engineering approaches
2. Political and legal tools
3. Economic and financial tools
4. Policy and governance strategies

15. Natural Resources, Science, and
Engineering Approaches
1. Natural resources, science and
engineering approaches
2. Political and legal tools
3. Economic and financial tools
4. Policy and governance strategies

16. Water Efficiency and Conservation
Improvements
PHOTO SOURCES: WISEGEEK.COM; MARKETRESEARCH.BIZ

17. PHOTO SOURCE: FLICKR/CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM, NANTICOKE RIVER WETLANDS

18. Data Collection and Information Systems
SOURCE: WWW.SEBAKMT.COM

19. Political and Legal Tools
1. Natural resources, science and
engineering approaches
2. Political and legal tools
3. Economic and financial tools
4. Policy and governance strategies

20. PHOTO SOURCE: FRESHWATER INFLOWS

21. Economic and Financial Tools
1. Natural resources, science and
engineering approaches
2. Political and legal tools
3. Economic and financial tools
4. Policy and governance strategies

22. IMAGE SOURCE:FREESVG.ORG/OPENCLIPART

23. Policy and Governance Strategies
1. Natural resources, science and
engineering approaches
2. Political and legal tools
3. Economic and financial tools
4. Policy and governance strategies

24. PHOTO SOURCE: BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

25. Barriers to Implementation
Examples of barriers:
 Political and economic trade-offs inherent in the proposed
solutions
 Problems associated with collective action, such as the issue of
“free riders” who use services without paying for them
 Scarce financial resources
 Insufficient technical capacity
 Social or cultural barriers
 Widespread and entrenched corruption
 Etc.

26. Thank You!

27. IMAGE SOURCE: GUENTERGUNI/ISTOCK
GENDER AND SOCIAL EQUITY
CHALLENGES OF WATER INSECURITY
Ayushi Trivedi
World Resources Institute

28. IMAGE SOURCE: D.MCCOURTIE/ WORLD BANK
• Some groups are more vulnerable
than others
• Social, economic and environmental
impacts of inequity
WATER INSECURITY IS INEQUITABLY DISTRIBUTED

29. IMAGE: BIOVERSITY INTERNATIONAL/FLICKR
• Women are especially vulnerable
• Gender inequality and conflict are related
WOMEN AND WATER INSECURITY

30. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Natural Resources, Science, and Engineering
Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and services
Political and Legal Tools
Water and land rights reform
Human right to water and sanitation and the right to a healthy environment
Multi-stakeholder peacekeeping groups
Policy and Governance
Decentralization of water management
Stakeholder and community engagement
Gender equality
Population policies

31. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
Human right to
water, sanitation
and hygiene
Inclusive
decision-making
Equitable
policies
Rights-based
population
policies

32. HUMAN RIGHT TO WASH
IMAGE SOURCE: SUC/ISTOCK
• Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure and
services
• Human right to water and sanitation and the right to a healthy
environment

33. IMAGE SOURCE: AARON MINNICK / WRI
INCLUSIVE DECISION-MAKING
• Multi-stakeholder peacekeeping groups
• Decentralization of water management
• Stakeholder and community
engagement
• Gender equality

34. IMAGE SOURCE: SYED TOUHID HASSAN/FLICKR
RIGHTS-BASED POPULATION POLICIES
• Gender equality
• Population policies
• Increasing secondary education rates
for girls while maintaining rates for boys
• Increasing acceptance of and access to
reproductive health services and family
planning options
• Reducing infant and child mortality

35. IMAGE SOURCE: MARIA FLEISCHMANN/WORLD BANK
EQUITABLE POLICIES
• Water and land rights reform
• Gender equality

36. IMAGE SOURCE: GUENTERGUNI/ISTOCK
THANK
YOU!
Ayushi Trivedi
Research Analyst II, Gender and Social
Equity Initiative
World Resources Institute
Ayushi.Trivedi@wri.org

37. Water Conflicts and Solutions in
Mali
Dr Karounga KEITA, Regional Director, Sahel Office
Dr Chris Baker, Programme Head Water Resources, Global Office
Joyce Kortlandt, Senior Advocacy Officer, Global Office
Dr Beteo Zongo, Environmental Economist, Sahel Office
2nd September 2020, WRI Webinar

38. Wetlands in the Sahel
38
• 70% - 85% of the population living within 50 km along the main rivers
and lakes (Niger, Senegal, Volta, IND, Lake Chad ...)
• Livelihoods highly dependent on the flood regime and the eco-
agricultural systems driven by it

39. The Inner Niger Delta in Mali
39
2nd largest wetland in Africa, hub of
food production and biodiversity:
• Home to approximately 2 million
people
• Provides 15% of the nation’s cereal
production
• Provides 80% of the nation’s fish
production
• Supports 50% of the nation’s livestock

40. Factors Contributing to Conflicts
40
• Narrowing of the flooded area: From 41,000 km2 to less than 10,000
km2 in 50 years ...
• Acceleration of population growth: From half million to more than 2
million deriving their livelihood from the DIN
• Drastic increase in water stress contributing to (armed) conflicts
between fishermen, farmers, pastoralists40

41. Competition for Natural Resources: Source of
Conflicts in the Inner Niger Delta

42. Growing Pressure on Water Resources
42

43. Impacts of Planned Developments
Cumulative impacts of Fomi and expansion of irrigation ON
• 3-11% fall in rice
production in the
Inner Niger Delta
• 5-20% decline in
commercial fishery in
Mopti
• 2-7% fall in the cattle
population in Mopti
• Dramatic increase in
drought and severe
drought frequency

44. Solutions
44
Local level
• Build unions and coalitions
• Improve efficiency of water use
• Invest in pilot projects to build stability
National and regional level
• Integrated Water Resources
Management
• Establish environmental flow
• Risk perspective for new development
projects
Global level
• Recognize importance of water, peace
and security
• Translate into action:
• Policy dialogue with national actors
• Technical and financial support
• Enhanced coordination

45. Thank you for your attention

46. THANK YOU. CONTACT US:
Charles Iceland, Director, Global and National Water
Initiatives, Water Program, WRI, charles.iceland@wri.org
Peter Gleick, Co-Founder and President Emeritus of the
Pacific Institute, pgleick@gmail.com
Ayushi Trivedi, Research Analyst II, Gender and Social
Equity, WRI, ayushi.trivedi@wri.org