Under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the founding member states of the Global Water Organization (GWO) signed the Global Water Charter, officially launching the organization’s activities from Riyadh. The founding countries included Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Spain, Greece, Senegal, Pakistan, and Mauritania.
The event attracted significant local and international participation, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Saudi Arabia established the GWO, as announced by MBS in September 2023, with its headquarters located in Riyadh. The organization aims to coordinate efforts among nations and institutions to comprehensively address water challenges. This includes sharing and enhancing technical expertise, fostering innovation, promoting research and development, facilitating the creation of high-priority projects, and easing their financing—all to ensure the sustainability of water resources and improve global access to water.
Saudi Arabia has committed to fully fund the operational budget of the Global Water Organization for its first five years and to host its headquarters in Riyadh. This commitment was reiterated during the charter signing ceremony, held under the auspices of MBS.
At the ceremony, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan noted that the establishment of the organization unifies international efforts and creates a multilateral platform to enhance dialogue among nations. He emphasized that this initiative enables the development of innovative solutions within the water sector.
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Promoting collaborative solutions
The charter signatories highlighted the significance of attaining the organization’s objectives, marking a new milestone for international cooperation in water management. Participants emphasized the importance of this groundbreaking initiative in driving collaborative solutions to water-related challenges.
The founding nations further underscored the necessity of adopting a unified strategic vision and mission centered on water resource sustainability, aiming to promote global progress toward practical solutions for environmental and climate challenges related to water. The agreement establishes enhanced cooperation and coordination among member states, ensuring the protection of water resources in both quantity and quality, thereby securing continued water supplies for future generations.
Promoting research and innovation
The organization also called for strengthening partnerships with non-member countries, United Nations organizations, international financial institutions, and all relevant stakeholders to support its objectives.
Moreover, members stressed the establishment of best practices and international standards in water management while fostering knowledge and methodological exchange between countries and initiatives engaged in this field. Supporting innovation efforts, the meeting highlighted the vital role of research, encouraging the development of sustainable technologies, and providing joint mechanisms and programs.
The meeting addressed the necessity of promoting data collection and analysis efforts for informed decision-making, supporting the formulation of effective policies and flexible governance models to enable sustainable practices at various levels.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to building national, regional, and international capacities within the water sector, while also providing joint technical and advisory support among members, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals and enhancing global water security.
The charter signatories are further dedicated to confronting the growing challenges in the water sector by promoting social, economic, health, and environmental development to ensure equitable access to water and sanitation for all and achieve sustainable management.
Additionally, the Global Water Organization stands as a pivotal step in addressing one of humanity’s most pressing challenges, as water scarcity impacts billions worldwide and climate change intensifies the pressure on global water resources.
