Signing of a partnership with the FAO to strengthen IWRM on a global scale

INBO and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Tuesday 14 October in Rome (Italy) aimed at strengthening their collaboration in the field of integrated water resources management (IWRM) and promoting agricultural and food systems that are more resilient to climate change.

This new agreement consolidates a long-standing partnership between the two organisations, based on shared values and objectives: preserving water resources, soils and ecosystems, strengthening food and water security, and supporting public policies on sustainable development.

The Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Elizabeth A. Bechdol, Assistant Director-General of the FAO, and Dr. Éric Tardieu, Secretary General of INBO during the session ‘Impactful solutions for water’ of the Rome Water Dialogue, establishes a framework for cooperation for the period 2025–2028.

This partnership aims to:

• Promote IWRM at the level of river basins, lakes and aquifers, including in transboundary contexts;
• Sustainably integrate agriculture, fisheries and forestry into basin management plans;
• Develop ecosystem-based solutions (EbS) for more climate-resilient agriculture;
• Strengthen data and knowledge systems on water and agricultural land management;
• Contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

The joint activities planned under the MoU will extend globally, with a particular focus on countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where the need for capacity building and financing for IWRM is greatest.

The two organisations are committed to jointly organising international events, publishing technical papers and developing pilot projects in river basins.