After Brazil, on to Namibia: the 2028 INBO World Basin Summit will be held in Windhoek

The INBO World Basin Summit concluded in Rio de Janeiro on 19 June 2026, marking a new phase in international cooperation on water. Over the course of four days, nearly 400 representatives from 48 countries confirmed that, in the face of the accelerating impacts of climate change and the need to adapt to them, numerous strategic, technical and operational solutions must be discussed and shared at all levels to ensure water security and strengthen the resilience of regions.

This momentum will continue at the next INBO World Basin Summit, to be held in Windhoek, Namibia, in 2028.

Windhoek 2028: a new global gathering for water stakeholders

At the close of the conference, INBO officially entrusted Namibia with the organisation of the next World River Basin Summit. This announcement was made by H.E. Ms Selma Nghinamundova, Namibia’s Ambassador to Brazil.

The choice of Windhoek carries symbolic significance, against a backdrop of dwindling resources and the growing reliance on non-conventional water sources. Situated in one of the driest countries in southern Africa, where only 1 per cent of rainfall seeps into the ground, the Namibian capital has been a pioneer in the recycling of wastewater for the production of drinking water since 1968. Its direct reuse plant, commissioned in 1968, was the first in the world to develop this process on a large scale. Hosting the INBO World Summit of River Basins in this city thus illustrates the importance of innovation and adaptation in the face of the challenges of climate change and water security.

Following on from Latin America, this new edition, organised on the African continent, highlights Africa’s important role in international issues relating to water, climate resilience and sustainable development. It will provide an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between river basins, share innovations and promote concrete solutions to water-related challenges.

For over 30 years, INBO, a recognised public-interest organisation founded in 1994, has placed the promotion and support of the implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in national and transboundary river basins, lakes and aquifers at the heart of its mission.

INBO brings together 192 members from 88 countries, organised into regional networks to facilitate the exchange of experiences and the development of solutions tailored to the specific circumstances of each territory.

Held every two years, the INBO World Basin Summit brings together these networks and all stakeholders in water management (ministers, government representatives, basin organisations, scientists, international institutions and civil society organisations) to share their experiences and strengthen cooperation in order to tackle the major challenges relating to water resources management, the conservation of biodiversity and hydrodiplomacy.