As part of Cairo Water Week 2026, the National Water Research Center (NWRC), through its UNESCO Chair on Transboundary Water Management and Governance, organized a high-level session entitled “Science-Based Cooperation for Shared Waters.”
The session was honored by the participation of H.E. Prof. Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, alongside the Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation of Senegal, the Chair of the African Ministers’ Council on Water (AMCOW), the Ministers responsible for water resources from Uzbekistan and Jordan, and distinguished international experts and representatives of regional and international organizations.
The session was opened by Dr. Nihal Adel, Assistant to the NWRC President for Strategic Planning and International Cooperation. Prof. Dr. Sherif Mohamady, NWRC President and UNESCO Chairholder, delivered the opening address, highlighting the Chair’s vision and role in advancing transboundary water governance, scientific partnerships, and capacity building.
The session also featured Mr. Paul Koster, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cairo Office, and was moderated by Dr. Venkataraman Lakshmi of Johns Hopkins University, USA.
In his remarks, H.E. Prof. Dr. Hani Sewilam emphasized the importance of cooperation over shared water resources, guided by international law, equitable and reasonable utilization, mutual respect, and information exchange.
Discussions focused on science-driven decision-making, digital modeling, water diplomacy, legal frameworks, and institutional cooperation to strengthen water security and regional stability.
The session also marked the launch of the international webinar series “Water Diplomacy 2.0: Integrating Hydrological Science, Capacity Building, and Digital Modeling for Transboundary Waters in Africa.”
This initiative reinforces NWRC’s commitment to scientific cooperation, sustainable transboundary water management, and regional water security.
