HCSS
  • News
    • BNR | De Strateeg
    • Columns
    • Draghi Report Series
    • Events
    • Podcasts
  • Publications
    • Publications
      • All Publications
    • Defence & Security
      • Behavioural Influencing in the Military Domain
      • (Nuclear) Deterrence and Arms Control
      • Hybrid Threats
      • Rethinking Fire and Manoeuvre
      • Robotic and Autonomous Systems
      • Strategic Monitor Dutch Police
      • Transnational Organised Crime
    • Geopolitics & Geo-economics
      • China in a Changing World Order
      • Europe in a Changing World Order
      • Europe in the Indo-Pacific
      • Knowledge base on Russia (RuBase)
      • PROGRESS / Strategic Monitor
      • Transatlantic Relations
    • Climate, Energy, Materials & Food
      • Climate and Security
        • International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS)
        • Water, Peace & Security (WPS)
      • Critical Minerals
      • Energy Security
        • Tank Storage in Transition
      • Food Security
    • Strategic Technologies
      • Cyber Policy & Resilience
        • Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace (GCSC)
      • Emerging Technologies
      • Global Commission on Responsible Artificial Intelligence in the Military Domain (GC REAIM)
      • Semiconductors
      • Space
  • Dashboards
    • Dashboards
      • All Dashboards
        • GINA
    • Defence & Security
      • DAMON | Disturbances and Aggression Monitor
      • GINA | Military
      • Nuclear Timeline
    • Geopolitics & Geo-economics
      • Dutch Foreign Relations Index
      • GINA | Diplomatic
      • GINA | Economic
      • GINA | Information
    • Climate, Energy, Materials & Food
      • Agrifood Monitor
      • CRM Dashboard
    • Strategic Technologies
      • Cyber Arms Watch
      • Cyber Comparator
      • Cyber Norms Observatory
      • Cyber Transparency
  • Services
    • HCSS Boardroom
    • HCSS Datalab
    • HCSS Socio-Political Instability Survey
    • Strategic Capability Gaming
    • Studio HCSS
    • Indo-Dutch Cyber Security School 2024
    • Southern Africa-Netherlands Cyber Security School 2025
  • NATO Summit
  • GC REAIM
    • GC REAIM | Members
    • GC REAIM | Conferences
    • GC REAIM | Partners, Sponsors, Supporters
  • About HCSS
    • Contact Us
    • Our People
    • Funding & Transparency
    • Partners & Clients
    • HCSS Newsletter
    • HCSS Internship Programme
    • Press & Media Inquiries
    • Working at HCSS
    • Global Futures Foundation
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu

News

IFRC and WPS sign MoU for multi-year cooperation addressing water-related conflict and instability

September 18, 2024

The International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a 5-year strategic cooperation to address water-related conflict and instability around the world. This signifies a mutual commitment to jointly address the global risk of water-induced conflicts and promote sustainable water management practices around the world. The two parties value the many potential areas of collaboration at the global, regional, national and community level.

The IFRC and WPS wish to work together to advance global peace and security by addressing challenges along the humanitarian, development and peace nexus; supporting sustainable and equitable water resource and ecosystem management; building anticipatory action; and mitigating water-related conflicts while strengthening water-based cooperation and peace.

The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) will represent the WPS partnership and as such act as the coordinator of the MoU on behalf of the WPS partnership. During the launch event at the Stockholm Water Week in September 2024, HCSS senior strategic analyst Laura Birkman stated, “HCSS is proud to coordinate this effort with the IFRC on behalf of the WPS partnership. Combining our expertise on the water-peace nexus with the world’s largest humanitarian network significantly enhances our ability to address water-induced instability in fragile regions on a meaningful scale.”

Maria Pinzon, IFRC Global Head of Water Systems Strengthening, explained IFRC’s motivation for the collaboration: “Our National Societies have been identifying tensions in communities around water. Joining efforts with The WPS Consortium will enable communities to learn, understand, and take action.” WPS pioneers innovative tools and services that empower stakeholders to identify, understand, and address water-related security risks at an early stage and creating opportunities for water-based cooperation and peace. This process is built on a foundation of global data collection and validation, and a deep understanding of how water scarcity or floods can manifest as social consequences in local contexts.

In the short term, IFRC and WPS aim to reduce water-related tensions at the community level. Long-term goals include enhancing community resilience by building capacity for equitable and sustainable water cooperation, ultimately reducing water-related instability and migration. The initial focus of the partnership will be on supporting the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in the MENA region, starting in September with an inception workshop taking place in Amman, Jordan.

HCSS senior strategic analyst Laura Birkman officially announced the cooperation during World Water Week in Stockholm.

About the IFRC: 

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian network of 191 National Red Cross Red Crescent Societies and over 17 million volunteers, delivering assistance to vulnerable communities worldwide, before, during and after disasters and health emergencies to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people without discrimination as to nationality, race, religion, beliefs, class or political opinions.

About the WPS Partnership:
The Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership, funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mitigates water-induced conflict through cooperation on water resource management. The WPS consortium was established in 2018 with a clear mission: to facilitate timely, informed, and inclusive action in regions susceptible to water-related conflicts, thereby placing a crucial role in global peace and security.

For more information, contact: Nicola Chadwick, Mobile +31 621405472, Email: n.chadwick@un-ihe.org / info@waterpeacesecurity.org Coordinator of WPS communications.

Laura Birkman (HCSS/WPS) and Maria Pinzon (IFRC) cut the ribbon to mark the start of the IFRC-WPS cooperation
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail

Experts

Laura Birkman

Related News

Related Content

Looking back at the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) Regional Training in Jordan
Water, Peace and Security (WPS) and the World Water Week 2024
Laura Birkman and Irina Patrahau | Looking back at the UN 2023 Water Conference

Office Address

  • The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
  • Lange Voorhout 1
  • 2514 EA The Hague
  • The Netherlands

Contact Us

  • Telephone: +31(70) 318 48 40
  • E-mail: info@hcss.nl
  • IBAN NL10INGB0666328730
  • BIC INGBNL2A
  • VAT NL.8101.32.436.B01
  • Contact

Legal & Privacy

  • Disclaimer & Privacy
  • Algemene Voorwaarden (NL) 
  • Terms & Conditions (ENG) 
  • Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure
  • Ethical Standards
  • Manual for Responsible Use of AI

Follow us

© The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
    Link to: Gerben Bakker | Brazilië zet X op zwart, is dat een zegen of een vloek voor het vrije woord? Link to: Gerben Bakker | Brazilië zet X op zwart, is dat een zegen of een vloek voor het vrije woord? Gerben Bakker | Brazilië zet X op zwart, is dat een zegen of een vloek voor... Link to: Guest Paper | A Latin American perspective on the key drivers of future international security trends Link to: Guest Paper | A Latin American perspective on the key drivers of future international security trends Guest Paper | A Latin American perspective on the key drivers of future international...
    Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top

    GDPR Consent

    Your privacy is important to us. Here you can set which consent you are allowing us with regards to the collection of general information, the placing of cookies of the collection of personal information. You can click 'Forget my settings' at the bottom of this form to revoke all given consents.

    Privacy policy | Close
    Settings

    GDPR Consent Settings

    Your privacy is important to us. Here you can set which consent you are allowing us with regards to the collection of general information, the placing of cookies of the collection of personal information. You can click 'Forget my settings' at the bottom of this form to revoke all given consents.

    Website statistics collect anonymized information about how the site is used. This information is used to optimize the website and to ensure an optimal user experience.

    View details

    Functional cookies are used to ensure the website works properly and are neccessary to make the site function. These cookies do not collect any personal data.  

    View details
    Forget my settings Deleted!