The Peer-to-Peer (P2P) project at the 2026 World Basin Summit

In the face of increasingly severe droughts, floods and pressure on water resources, cooperation between regions is becoming a key driver in strengthening the resilience of river basins. Implemented by INBO, with the support of ANBO, and backed by the European Union, the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) project focuses on direct exchange between basin organisations to share concrete solutions, lessons learnt and operational tools relating to water governance, hydrological data and Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

As we approach the INBO World Basin Summit, to be held from 16 to 19 June 2026 in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), at the invitation of the Rio de Janeiro State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainable Development (SEAS), François-Xavier Imbert, Deputy Project Manager for P2P, outlines this international initiative, which highlights the need to develop collective responses tailored to local realities and global climate challenges.

What is the aim of the P2P project?

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) aims to strengthen direct cooperation between basin organisations on very practical water management issues: droughts, floods, governance, ecological restoration and information systems.

The idea is really to start with the needs expressed by the partners themselves and to encourage highly practical exchanges between practitioners so that everyone can develop their skills through the sharing of expertise, experiences and feedback from the field. The project is also part of a broader initiative led by the European Commission focusing on strengthening climate resilience, water governance and international cooperation between regions. The significant support from the European Union reflects this commitment to developing concrete and sustainable cooperation between river basins, particularly in regions highly exposed to the effects of climate change.

What sets this approach apart?

The project is based on a model of peer-to-peer cooperation. It is not a top-down model; each peer contributes their experience, context, history, successes, challenges and working methods.

Cooperation is built up gradually around joint action plans, involving technical exchanges, field visits, webinars and the sharing of tools. For example, some partnerships are working on issues of drought management and the allocation of water resources between different uses. Others cooperate on water information systems and real-time hydrological monitoring. Several partnerships also focus on nature-based solutions, with exchanges on the restoration of wetlands, floodplains and flood prevention.

What are the most pressing challenges today?

Issues related to climate change adaptation are very much in the spotlight, particularly the management of droughts and floods. We are also seeing strong demand for river basin governance, water data and nature-based solutions. In some cases, partners are working, for example, on the challenges of sharing water resources between agriculture, drinking water and ecosystem conservation.

Others are seeking to improve coordination between institutions operating at different levels within the same basin. Some partnerships are also exchanging ideas on digital tools to improve hydrological forecasting, early warning systems or the management of hydraulic structures.

What does the INBO World Basin Summit mean for the project?

The 2026 World Basin Summit is a significant milestone in promoting the initial cooperation initiatives and raising the profile of the partners involved in the project.

Several sessions will be specifically dedicated to P2P during the summit, including a strategic workshop on partnership building and initial feedback from the partnerships, as well as a second workshop focusing more on the didactic curriculum and exchanges between partners, particularly those from Latin America, on the themes of governance and SfN.

The aim will also be to hear directly from the organisations involved so that they can share their expectations, the difficulties encountered, and the very concrete initial results that are already beginning to emerge on the ground.