The 7th Annual Water and Peace Seminar 2025, themed "Diplomacy, Dialogue, Discourses: Exploring Potentials and Challenges for Inclusive Water Cooperation," was held on 26-27 March 2025 at Hotel Himalaya, Kupondole, Lalitpur, Kathmandu, with an online participation option. The seminar brought together experts, scholars, and youth leaders to discuss key issues in water governance, emphasizing inclusivity and cooperation.

The event began with welcome remarks by Professor Sanjay Chaturvedi and Medha Bisht from South Asian University. The Opening Panel Debate featured perspectives on inclusivity in water cooperation from experts including Ismaeel Dawood (Save the Tigris), Arun Shreshtha (ICIMOD), Sopheak Meas (Cambodia National Mekong Committee), and Shawahiq Siddiqui (Supreme Court of India). Discussions highlighted that inclusivity must be deeply integrated into governance rather than being a mere formality.

The first session explored the role of Indigenous communities and civil society in water diplomacy. Frederick Bouckaert (University of Queensland) shared the "Water Yarns" approach in Australia, emphasizing Indigenous inclusion in governance. Ismaeel Dawood discussed civil society’s role in the Mesopotamian Basin, highlighting challenges like political instability and lack of recognition. Ruchi Shree reflected on the Ganga Mukti Andolan movement, advocating for community-driven river governance. Sopheak Meas shared insights into the stakeholder engagement mechanisms of the Mekong River Commission, and Kinga Szalkai examined Indigenous contributions to the Columbia River Treaty.

The second session focused on engaging diverse actors in transboundary water governance despite challenges. Charity Watson (UNAMA) stressed the role of women in water management, while Anna Bachmann (Puget Sound Keepers) emphasized local actors in Iraq. Jim Ekene Okemini (RC-IRBM) highlighted community engagement strategies, and Susanne Schmeier (IHE Delft) discussed governance frameworks. Panelists underscored the necessity of coordination and solution-oriented approaches.

The third session examined tools for stakeholder participation. Hélène Masliah-Gilkarov (ICPDR) presented public participation mechanisms, including Danube Day initiatives. Diego Jara (IUCN) emphasized integrating traditional knowledge with modern technology in water diplomacy. Susanne Brandstetter (Austria’s Federal Ministry) discussed public awareness efforts through social media and campaigns. Jim Ekene Okemini highlighted multi-stakeholder platforms in Sub-Saharan Africa, while Ikromjon Mamadov (YGPE) detailed local community engagement in the Syr-Darya Basin.

The fourth session analyzed South Asian perspectives on international water law and the UN Global Water Conventions. Speakers, including Shawahiq Siddiqui (Supreme Court of India), Arun Shrestha (ICIMOD), and Yubaraj Das (SAU), discussed the UN Water Convention’s potential for promoting equitable benefit-sharing and regional peace. Joel Blah Kyndiah and Brinda Kashyap underscored the undeniable importance of youth, whose involvement is vital for long-term sustainability. While people may have speculated about their role, it is clear that empowering youth through access to these spaces and capacity building is. The first day concluded with a conference dinner, fostering networking and informal discussions.

Day two began with a panel debate on youth involvement in water governance. Moderated by Tova Crystal (IHE Delft), panelists including Anup Kumar Saha (IUCN Meghna River Basin Youth Leadership Initiative) and Henry Pitts (North America Youth Parliament for Water) examined whether youth participation is substantive or symbolic. Discussions underscored mentorship’s importance and the need for genuine decision-making roles for young leaders.

The next session examined power dynamics in transboundary water governance. Stew Motta (University of Amsterdam) analyzed financialization in the Red River Basin, while Rudrani Garg (SAU) called for decolonized approaches in Kashmir’s water governance. Aline Telle (University of Geneva) traced the evolution of the Mekong River Commission, and Iskandar Abdullaev (IWMI Pakistan) stressed the need for climate-adaptive policies in Central Asia.

The seminar also explored the concept of inclusivity beyond human actors. Raj Kaithwar (UNSW Canberra) highlighted how rivers shaped territorial boundaries during India's Partition. Cyrille Vallet (University of Geneva) advocated for "river personhood" to enhance governance participation. Sushmita Mandal (Stockholm Environment Institute) discussed Hilsa fish conservation in the Bengal Delta, calling for cross-border fisheries dialogue. Pema Thinley (National Land Commission of Bhutan) emphasized Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness philosophy in environmental policy.

The concluding panel debate featured Dipak Gyawali (Nepal Academy of Science and Technology), Dana Zhunissova (Kazakh-German University), Pramod Jaiswal (NIICE), and Susanne Schmeier (IHE Delft). Gyawali stressed cross-sectoral collaboration to address complex water challenges, while Zhunissova argued that inclusivity should translate into real decision-making power. Jaiswal analyzed Nepal’s geopolitical water dynamics, and Schmeier emphasized the growing reluctance of nations to share water resources.

The seminar underscored the complexities of inclusive water cooperation, emphasizing Indigenous and civil society participation, youth engagement, power dynamics in transboundary management, and the recognition of non-human entities in policy frameworks. It concluded with a call to strengthen water diplomacy through inclusive and equitable governance, ensuring diverse voices are considered in addressing global water security challenges.