The Geneva Water Hub, together with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Pôle Eau Dakar, will hold the International Conference ‘Water: A Driver of Peace in the Sahel,’ at Dakar, Senegal, on 22-24 September, 2025. The Sahel region is affected by multiple crises, including climatic, security, social and economic ones. In addition to the lack of water supply infrastructure, there is the problem of its protection from armed attack. Groundwater is a key resource for climate resilience, but remains poorly known and undervalued. However, as a vital and irreplaceable resource, water is also a powerful tool for cooperation at local, cross-sectoral and transboundary levels. The conference will explore the role of water as a vector for social cohesion and peacebuilding in the Sahel. The conference will bring together researchers, practitioners and decisionmakers to discuss best practices, legal frameworks and policies for the inclusive and peaceful management of water resources in the Sahel and West Africa regions. The call for papers is available here.
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