Transboundary cooperation lays the foundation for peace, sustainable development, climate action and regional integration. The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) has, for more than three decades, promoted the sustainable use of transboundary water resources, facilitated cooperation, supported the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), contributed to peace and stability and prevented conflicts, and supported cooperative climate action. Growing from a regional to a global instrument, with five countries joining only in 2023, the Water Convention is a crucial intergovernmental platform to discuss transboundary water cooperation.
The Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention, organised every three years, is a crucial milestone for the global water community and the Water Convention as it is the largest and only international event driving the transboundary water cooperation agenda at the global level.
The tenth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention (MoP 10), taking place in Ljubljana (Slovenia) from 23 to 25 October 2024, will discuss issues such as climate resilience, intersectoral nexus cooperation; equitable and sustainable water allocation in a transboundary context; monitoring, assessment and data-sharing and the financing of transboundary water cooperation. It will also be a milestone for reviewing and accelerating progress towards achieving SDG target 6.5, discussing challenges and good practices related to transboundary water cooperation and the role of the Convention in present and future water related transboundary challenges.
The MoP 10 is organized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia, on behalf of the Government of Slovenia, in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Water Convention, hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Expected participation:
More than 500 representatives of Ministries from about 80 countries responsible for water, environment, foreign affairs and development cooperation – from both Parties and non-Parties to the Water Convention – together with representatives of joint bodies, international and non-governmental organizations, international financial Institutions and academia from all regions of the world are expected to attend.
Objectives of the meeting:
The tenth session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP 10) will begin with a high level segment on the first day entitled “Our Waters, our Future: Transboundary Water Cooperation to Power Climate Resilience” discussing how transboundary water cooperation play a crucial role for climate resilience and sustainable development in international river basins and among countries involved.
During the general segment, on the second and the third day, participants will review, discuss and exchange on progress achieved in the past three years (2022-2024) under the thematic focus of the currently ending programme of work 2022-2024 such as climate change adaptation, source-to-sea approach, transboundary water agreements development; intersectoral nexus cooperation; equitable and sustainable water allocation in a transboundary context; monitoring, assessment and data-sharing and the financing of transboundary water cooperation.
The Meeting is expected to adopt a new programme of work for the period 2025-2027 as well as numerous other decisions, review achievements, exchange best-practices, reflect on challenges and identify future priorities for the coming three years. It will provide countries with the opportunity to articulate priorities and contribute to shaping the strategic direction of the future programme of work.
Progress in implementing the Water Convention and transboundary water cooperation more broadly will also be reviewed, notably by launching the third report on the implementation of the Water Convention, and by discussing the outcomes of the third reporting exercise on SDG indicator 6.5.2.
The meeting will feature the launch of three new publications to support transboundary water cooperation:
- Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Transboundary Data-sharing,
- The third progress report on SDG 6.5.2, and
- The third progress report on the Water Convention.
The most important outcome of the meeting will be the adoption of the Convention’s programme of work for 2025-2027.
Side events:
15 side events will be organized during the meeting. More information will be made available below in due time.
Match-making back to back event on 22 October 2024:
A one-day match-making event will be organized back to back with MoP 10 on 22 October 2024. This event is aimed at accelerating the implementation of the Water Convention and transboundary water cooperation in new Parties outside the UNECE region through partnerships and support.
The event will discuss how different experienced Parties and financial and technical partners can support implementation of the Water Convention in new Parties through different approaches i.e. twinning, funding projects, technical exchanges and similar.
Participation to this event is by invitation only and is addressed both to experienced and new Parties to the Water Convention, as well as countries close to accession, River Basin Organizations, International Financial Institutions; International Organizations, and other actors engaged in supporting transboundary cooperation.
More information including the concept note, the agenda will be made available in August 2024.
Relevant information on the hosting country:
Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning | GOV.SI