The Emirates News Agency reported that TRENDS Research & Advisory from the UAE collaborated with the Geneva Water Hub and Pôle Eau Dakar on the document released at the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the United Nations. The policy brief titled “Flowing Towards Peace – Recommendations ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference” outlines steps for leveraging water governance and diplomacy to advance peace and resilience. H.E. Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered welcoming remarks at the gathering. The event took place on the margins of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and received support from the Permanent Missions of Switzerland and Slovenia to the UN.
According to the Geneva Water Hub, the side event convened member states, UN system representatives, research institutions and other partners to examine water cooperation across borders. The brief seeks to contribute recommendations that can inform deliberations at the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference, the second global conference dedicated to water issues. Organizers positioned the discussion as an opportunity to reassess advancements in using water as an instrument for peacebuilding and sustainable development. The partners emphasized the need for integrated approaches that link water management with broader stability goals.
UN-Water data shows that cooperative arrangements over shared water resources have historically outnumbered conflicts, with the organization stating that water can create peace or spark tensions depending on access and management. This perspective aligns with the policy brief’s focus on strengthening diplomatic tools to prevent disputes in water-scarce regions. The High-Level Political Forum context provided a platform for participants to connect water challenges to multiple sustainable development objectives. Such forums have previously highlighted the intersection of resource governance and international security.
TRENDS Research & Advisory has engaged in various global policy discussions, and its involvement in the launch reflects growing UAE attention to sustainability and peace initiatives at the United Nations. The policy paper builds on prior work by institutions examining water’s role in conflict prevention, though specific prior figures on water-related incidents were not detailed in the event summary. Participants explored how improved governance could enhance resilience amid climate pressures that affect availability in many areas. The gathering lasted from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. local time.
A separate policy paper issued in May 2026 by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security similarly called for gender-inclusive strategies in water security ahead of the 2026 conference, according to the institute’s publications. That document drew from an earlier high-level event co-hosted with several international partners and stressed women’s leadership in preventing conflict linked to resource stress. The July 14 brief complements these efforts by concentrating on diplomatic and cooperative frameworks without duplicating prior recommendations. Both contributions aim to shape the agenda for next year’s UN gathering.
The 2023 UN Water Conference produced more than 700 commitments from governments and organizations, setting a baseline for measuring progress toward the 2026 meeting, according to UN summaries. Event organizers at the UAE mission noted that the new brief would help translate such pledges into actionable diplomacy focused on peace outcomes. Discussions also touched on the importance of cross-sector collaboration among research bodies, governments and UN agencies. No additional launches or follow-up events were announced during the session.
