On May 20, 2024, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), expressed his gratitude as the organization received the King Hassan II of Morocco Great World Water Prize at the 10th World Water Forum in Bali. The award, themed "Securing water resources for food sovereignty and shared prosperity," acknowledges the FAO's exemplary efforts in protecting, preserving, and sustainably managing water resources.
The King Hassan II Great World Water Prize, awarded triennially, celebrates initiatives that advance water resource protection, sustainable management, and wastewater reuse, while raising public awareness on water issues. This recognition underscores FAO's contributions to global water security, reinforcing its commitment to addressing water-related challenges.
Water resource management is central to FAO's Strategic Framework 2022-31, emphasizing its importance within the organization's thematic strategies on Climate Change, Science and Innovation. Water was highlighted for the first time in the history of FAO at the 43rd Session of the FAO Ministerial Conference, which endorsed water management as a priority for the 2024-25 biennium. This theme has since been integrated into the agendas of all FAO Governing Bodies and technical committees, fostering discussions aimed at mobilizing knowledge and resources for advancing FAO's water initiatives.
In 2023, water also took center stage during World Food Day, marked by the theme "Water is Life, Water is Food. Leaving no one behind," celebrated as part of the World Food Forum. Additionally, the FAO Council approved the Conceptual Framework for Integrated Land and Water Resources Management, guiding FAO's approach to managing land, soil, and water.
FAO's internal mechanisms, such as the annual Rome Water Dialogue and the High-Level Dialogue on the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG), play crucial roles in sharing knowledge, mobilizing leadership and resources, and developing sustainable solutions for water and food security. These initiatives represent significant milestones in FAO's ongoing commitment to water resource management, launched with the Rome Water Dialogue in 2022.
Externally, FAO supports member countries in sustainable agricultural development and water management. This includes aiding the development of National Water Roadmaps for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, addressing irrigation needs, flood impact assessments, and risk management. The FAO Water Productivity Open-access portal (WaPOR) technology enhances water data and information, facilitates water tenure dialogues, and supports initiatives on water scarcity and drought management.
At the UN 2023 Water Conference, FAO actively participated and submitted eight commitments to the Global Water Actions, making substantial progress on all fronts.
As a core member of the UN system's strategy on water and sanitation, FAO continues to play a crucial role in promoting integrated water-food solutions, addressing food insecurity, water crises, and climate change through fieldwork, policy guidance, and dedicated engagement processes.
