Water and Forest – Path forward to COP30 and UN Water Conference (2026)

Across Africa, the changing climate has exposed the fragility of rain-fed agriculture. Erratic rainfall, recurrent droughts, and degraded land threaten millions of livelihoods. Irrigation therefore stands as the cornerstone of food security, resilience, and inclusive growth.

The latest round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0) represents a pivotal time for water and climate adaptation. With an increasing number of countries mainstreaming water into their NDCs and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), attention must now be given to how to implement these plans in an effective, sustainable and inclusive manner.

The High-level Panel will examine how water is being mainstreamed in climate commitments and being used as a connector across sector strategies and plans at the country level. COP30 will be the first COP post the September 2025 deadline for NDC 3.0. It is therefore an important opportunity to maintain focus on NDCs and NAPs, identifying how to move the new plans from paper to action. With the amount of NDCs and NAPs including water looking likely to have increased by the end of 2025, emphasis must now be on moving these plans into effective and inclusive implementation, maximizing synergies with other sectors to ensure sustainability.

This opening panel introduces a transformative vision for water and climate resilience through systems-based approaches. It sets the stage by emphasizing water’s dual role in climate mitigation and adaptation and the need for cross-sectoral, inclusive collaboration. Different experts will highlight innovative solutions – from digital water tools to community partnerships – that break down silos. The session will underscore how integrated strategies, informed by science and date (including citizen and open science, AI,) and the role of bottom-up and inclusive approached such as Youth and Indigenous perspectives, are critical to building resilience in the face of growing climate risks. This opening panel will introduce the concept of systems approaches strengthening and its critical role in building resilience to water and climate-related challenges. It aims to establish a shared framework for understanding the complexities of water and climate resilience, focusing on breaking down barriers between sectors and stakeholders. By drawing on expertise from diverse fields, this session will emphasize the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration, the integration of science and data (including citizen and open science and AI), and the role of bottom-up approaches in strengthening water systems in the face of increasing climate risks.