XIX World Water Congress of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA): WATER IN A CHANGING WORLD: INNOVATION AND ADAPTATION

Veranstaltungsart
Congress

Ort / Datum
Marrakech, Morocco, 01.12.2025 bis 05.12.2025

Veranstalter

German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS); Institute for Environmental Studies; Centre de Recherches et d’Études sur les Sociétés Contemporaines (CRESC); Laboratoire LADSIS, Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines Ain Chock, Université Hassan II de Casablanca; Université Cadi Ayyad, Faculté polydisciplinaire, Safi; International Water Resources Association (IWRA).

Event 1: Panel discussion, 1 December, 2:30-4:00 pm

Morocco at a critical juncture: expert debate on opportunities for improved water governance.
Part 1: Gender mainstreaming in the water sector, part 2: Legal and institutional frameworks including for megaprojects

Morocco faces a severe water crisis that affects different sectors, population groups and regions in different ways, and has large impacts on rural women. The technical and financial measures to address the crisis such as large-scale infrastructure programs -including desalination, wastewater reuse, and inter-basin water transfers- raise new needs for adequate governance responses, while existing governance challenges remain. This session brings together Moroccan and international experts to discuss related opportunities for inclusive and sustainable governance arrangements. It consists of two debates, where participants present their views on successful policy measures, persisting challenges and recommendations to address them, and then engage with the public. 

The first debate addresses gender implications of the water crisis and related governance responses. In the context of important male migration, climate change and changing gender roles, women play an increasingly important role in water management, rural development and agriculture in vulnerable rural areas. While Morocco adopted the Strategy for Institutionalising Gender Integration in the Water Sector (SIIGSE), gender mainstreaming and support for rural women in the water sector still often prove challenging. Based on policy expertise, research and experiences on the ground, four experts propose concrete ways to improve the integration of gender issues in water policies to support resilient and inclusive water governance: Ms Touria ElAfti, expert advisor to the Minister of Equipment and Water; Ms Raja Aouijil, farmer and president of an agricultural cooperative in Boudnib/ Drâa-Tafilalet region; Dr Lisa Bossenbroek, senior researcher, CRESC/ LADSIS and Dr Annabelle Houdret, senior researcher at IDOS.

The second debate focuses on the legal and institutional framework of water governance in Morocco, i.e. rules (both "modern" legal statutes, and customary laws), institutions and financing mechanisms. It assesses these frameworks in light of recent infrastructure measures such as desalination and water transfer projects, and points to critical implications for environmental sustainability and social equity. Three scholars from the University of Cadi Ayyad (Master on Law and Integrated Water Resources Management, Polydisciplinary Faculty – Safi) will address the current issues related to water governance in Morocco and present the project AutEauGov: Pr Idllalène Samira, Pr Alazali Monia and Ms Radia Benabderrazik.

Dr. Raya Marina Stephan, project officer, International Water Resources Association (IWRA) moderates the two debates which each consist of short expert statements on key governance achievements and challenges, and continue with recommendations, and then open the debate to the public.

Session Organizers:

  • German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
  • Centre de Recherches et d’Études sur les Sociétés Contemporaines (CRESC)
  • Laboratoire LADSIS, Faculté des Lettres et des Sciences Humaines Ain Chock, Université Hassan II de Casablanca
  • Université Cadi Ayyad, Faculté polydisciplinaire, Safi
  • International Water Resources Association (IWRA)

 

 

Event 2: Paper presentation, 2 December, 8:30

Dr. Ines Dombrowsky: Mechanisms for governing Water Energy Food Ecosystem (WEFE) nexus: A comparative analysis.

 

 

Event 3: Panel discussion, 5 December, 8:30-10:00

Enhancing Water and Biodiversity Protection through Environmental Justice: Lessons from Nature-Based Solutions for Water Security in Europe and South America

Background and Justification:

Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) have emerged as a globally recognized approach to tackling water security, biodiversity loss, and climate change. While they offer promising pathways to enhance freshwater ecosystems and community resilience, their implementation can also lead to trade-offs that exacerbate environmental injustices. Many NbS projects fail to equitably distribute benefits, acknowledge diverse knowledge systems, or include marginalized communities in decision-making.

This session, drawing on insights from an international research project with case studies in Europe and Latin America (“BIO-JUST"), critically examines how NbS contribute to environmental justice in water governance and to the several SDGs achievement. It will explore governance frameworks that ensure NbS foster both social and ecological resilience by addressing equity in benefit distribution, inclusive decision-making, and the recognition of diverse worldviews and rights.

This discussion aligns with the XIX World Water Congress subthemes, particularly:

  • Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity – Enhancing the resilience of freshwater ecosystems while ensuring social equity.
  • Governance Frameworks for the WEFE Nexus – Strengthening institutional mechanisms for just and participatory NbS implementation.
  • Water for Sustainable Development – Exploring NbS contributions to SDG 6 and related goals, particularly in marginalized communities and climate-vulnerable regions.
  • Rights to Water and Sanitation – Leveraging NbS to ensure equitable access to water, sanitation, and hygiene for all, including displaced populations.
  • Water & Islands – Examining how NbS mitigate water scarcity and climate risks for island nations facing disproportionate environmental threats.
     

Session Objectives:

  • Assess NbS's role in enhancing freshwater ecosystem resilience while ensuring biodiversity protection and social equity.
  • Identify governance frameworks that promote participatory decision-making and equitable access to NbS benefits.
  • Explore the interconnections between NbS and SDGs (SDG 6, 3, 5, 10, 11, 12, and 15).
  • Highlight strategies to ensure NbS secure water and sanitation rights for marginalized communities, including those displaced by climate change.
  • Investigate how island nations can leverage NbS for water security and climate adaptation.
     

Key Themes and Discussion Topics:

  • NbS and Environmental Justice – Examining the distribution of water-related benefits and burdens across different societal groups.
  • Inclusive Governance Frameworks – Integrating local and Indigenous knowledge into NbS planning and implementation.
  • Water Security and Rights-Based Approaches – Designing NbS to ensure equitable access to clean water and sanitation.
  • NbS for Climate Resilience in Islands and Vulnerable Communities – Exploring place-based strategies to address water scarcity, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise.
     

Session Structure (90 Minutes):

1. Opening & Framing (10 minutes)

  • Welcome & Introduction: The session moderator introduces the topic, objectives, and the BIO-JUST project, along with a powerpoint with the map of the location of the case studies.

2. Expert Panel Discussion (55 minutes) (Moderated dialogue among experts)

  • Segment 1: NbS and Environmental Justice (25 min): How do (in)justices materialize in our different cases?
  • Segment 2: Aligning NbS justice with SDGs: How can the justice dimension be effectively integrated into Nature-based Solutions (NbS) practices in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets?

3. Interactive Q&A with Audience (25 minutes)

  • Open discussion with audience participation.
  • Moderator Wrap-Up (5 min): Summary of key discussion points and final reflections from panelists.
     

Moderators & Presenters:

  • Wageningen University (Netherlands) – Juan P. Hidalgo-Bastidas
  • Universidade Federal do ABC (Brazil) – Vanessa Empinotti
  • Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (France) – Cécile Herivaux
  • Universidad de La Laguna (Spain) – Noelia García-Rodríguez
  • Associação Natureza Portugal (WWF, Portugal) – Raul Xavier-de-Oliveira
  • Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Institute for Environmental Studies (Netherlands) – Mirja Schoderer
     

Session Organizers:

  • German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
  • Institute for Environmental Studies

 

Hinweis

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