WASAG – The Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture

Making agriculture resilient for climate change: Water scarcity, an opportunity for action and collaboration

Praia, Cabo Verde, West Africa, 7-10 February 2023

Background

Following its launch during the UNFCCC’s COP 21 in Marrakech Morocco in November 2016, the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) has steadily received recognition and mandate to support countries in finding solutions to cope with climate change in agriculture in the face of climate change.

In April 2017, a meeting of Partners agreed to establish a WASAG partnership to be hosted by FAO to advance the mandate of the Framework.

Emerging from its foundational years, WASAG held its first international forum with the theme Leaving no one behind from 19 to 22 March 2019 in Praia, Cabo Verde, where the partners – under the leadership of the six WASAG working groups – developed and adopted the Praia Commitments.

With the contribution of its 70 partners, WASAG has since developed its strategy for 2021-2024. WASAG is set to further play a greater role in developing collaborative actions as solutions to the increasing challenges posed by climate change and the resulting water scarcity, in order to make agriculture more resilient. The second WASAG international forum, which is again hosted by the Government of Cabo Verde provides the setting for this step.

Objectives of the forum:

To mobilize political commitment to accelerate strategic actions, including policies and investments for addressing water scarcity in agriculture

To formulate messages that will raise the profile of water scarcity in agriculture in the climate change dialogues at the forthcoming at the UN Water Conference in March 2023 and UNFCCC COP 28 in November 2023

To discuss ways of making the partnership more effective and impactful for the implementation of the new WASAG Strategy 2021-2024 and involving all Partners

To share relevant knowledge and information on key issues and to network and to foster collaboration among partners

To showcase latest technologies, practices and products in agriculture (through the fair)

Desired outcomes from the forum

The forum will aim to promote and position agriculture at the core of climate change discussions in view of the forthcoming events and beyond:

UN Water conference (New York, 22-24 March 2023) – Comprehensive mid-term review of the implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, ‘Water for Sustainable Development’, 2018-2028.

UNFCCC COP 28 (United Arab Emirates, 6-17 November 2023) – Climate Change

The forum will also aim to define the actions and review the modus operandi of WASAG in order to accelerate the delivery of the Framework and its Partnership on its mandate.

Programme and venue:

The House of Parliament has been again confirmed, like for the first forum, as the venue of the forum with provision for up to five parallel sessions. The final allocation of sessions will depend on the submissions selected by the technical committee follow the call for submissions.

The following sessions are planned:

1. The Plenary Sessions, including:

A session by Cabo Verde on progress made in the country since the first forum Day 1

A High Level Segment on Day 1

A session with updates from FAO on Day 2

A closing session on Day 3

2. Technical Sessions by WASAG working groups:

Water and Nutrition

Saline Agriculture

Sustainable Agricultural Water Use

Drought Preparedness

Water and Migration

Financing Mechanisms

3. Additional technical sessions

Nature-Based Solutions for Water Scarcity in Agriculture

Innovation, Technology, Data and Science for water scarcity in agriculture

Capacity building for smallholders on climate resilient practices

Farmer-led Irrigation Development

Dryland Agriculture

4. A closed session for WASAG Partners on Day 3

This session will be dedicated on how to accelerate the implementation of the WASAG Strategy, including the need for a business model and the implication of all partners. It will be preceded by inputs from Partners through a survey.

5. A field trip

A field trip is planned on the fourth day after the forum closes.

Share this page

Source: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations