A prestigious international event co-organised by the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) and the Ministry of Equipment and Water of the Kingdom of Morocco, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI , aimed at addressing the pressing water challenges of our time. Taking place in the vibrant city of Marrakech, the XIX World Water Congress will bring together a diverse global audience of experts, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, civil society leaders, and private sector representatives. Participants will contribute to advancing global efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6 and strengthen cross-sector partnerships essential for a water-secure future.
The overarching theme of the Congress focuses on addressing the dynamic interconnections linking water,
natural ecosystems, energy, agriculture and other human activities during a time of global challenges such
as climate change, humanitarian and environmental crises.
E-mail: [email protected]
Address: Hassan Benchakroun Street, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
Institution: Ministry of Equipment and Water – General Directorate of Hydraulics
Accelerating Innovation in the Water Sector from NBS to AI
Moderator:
• Kari Vigerstol, Global Director of Water Security Science & Innovation, The Nature Conservancy
Keynote Speaker:
• Diane D’Arras, Former Chair of IWA, former Suez Executive, Académie des technologies
Panelists:
• Mohamed Amine, General Manager, WATEC
• Shi Qiuchi , Former Director General of the International Economic & Technical Cooperation Exchange Centre, Ministry of Water Resources, China; Director of the IWRA Executive Board (2025–2027); Vice President of the IWRA China Chapter
• Frédéric Bretar, Head of Space for Climate Observatory, French National Center Space Studies
• Stephanie Janssen, Lead for the Water as Leverage Academy, Deltares
Global Water Governance in a Changing World: Strengthening Institutions & Multilateral Cooperation
Moderator:
• Eric Tardieu, Secretary General, International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)
Keynote Speaker:
• Retno Marsudi, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Water
Panelists:
• Nabil Ben Khatra, Executive Secretary, Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS)
• Kim Hyo-jung, Director General for Water Use Policy Bureau, Ministry of Environment, South Korea (TBC)
• Hicham Chad, Board member, TAQA Morocco
• Ousmane Hane, Secretary General, Organization for the Development of the Gambia river (OMVG)
• Meike van Ginneken, Water Envoy, Kingdom of the Netherlands (TBC)
Wrap up :
• Abou Amani, Director of the Division of Water Sciences, Secretary of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Program of UNESCO (UNESCO-IHP)
The Future of Water: Gaps, Opportunities, and Global Commitments Beyond 2030
Moderators:
• Akiça Bahri, International Expert and former Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of Tunisia
• Tanja Miškova, Ambassador-at-Large for Water Diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Slovenia
Wrap up :
• Alice Aureli-Vice President IWRA and Michel Frem, Global youth-led action for water, IWRA
Panelists:
• Mohamed Diatta, co-host of the 2026 UN Water Conference, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Senegal
• Alvaro Lario, (or Representative of UN-Water )
• Rashid Mbazira, Executive Secretary, AMCOW
• Abdelhafid Debbarh, Advisor to the President of the International University of Rabat-Management of surface water and groundwater in arid and semi-arid areas
• Sonja Koppel, Secretary of the UNECE Water Convention
• Simi Kamal, Chairperson of Hisaar Foundation, Pakistan, and co-founder of the Panjwani-Hisaar Water Institute at NED University in Karachi
Interconnectivity and Systems Thinking in Water Management: Bridging Sectors for Resilience
Moderators:
• Rabi H. Mohtar, Professor, Texas A&M University.
• Bilge Kocamemi, Senior Project Advisor, Turkish Water Institute (SUEN).
Panelists:
• Abdelaziz Zerouali, Director General of Hydraulic Engineering, Ministry of Equipment and Water.
• Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council.
• Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR.
• Ahmed Zniber, Director General, OCP Group.
• Bernd Manfred Gawlik, Portfolio Co-Leader for Climate and Water Resilience, European Commission
• Stratos Pistikopoulos, Professor, EI, TAMU
• Ismahane Remonnay, VP of Foresights & Alliance, Veolia
• Yuanyuan Li, Vice president of GIWP/ President of IWRA
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Water under fire – the role of partnerships in preventive action2
Leveraging innovative finance to strengthen South-South and Triangular water cooperation.3
Boosting performance of irrigation and supporting productive water use through co-designed digital innovations using WaPOR data layers4
Innovating for Scalable Nature-Based Solutions: Technology and Strategies for Water Management5
Disruptive Innovation of Water Management with the Digital Technologies6
Smart Water Management: Innovations, challenges, and the strategic path to digital transformation7
Towards 2030: Adapting and Innovating Transboundary Water Cooperation through SDG 6.5.2 Monitoring8
Governing Water in a Changing Climate: Integrating Resilient, Flexible Planning and Innovative Tools for Sustainable Management9
Natural – Economy- Water (NEW) Nexus: Philosophy and Practice10
Surface Water Management in Arid Regions: Integration, Restoration, and Innovation