HCSS is pleased to invite you to join the Water Peace and Security (WPS) 4D Mini-Symposium – From Fragility to Resilience: Engaging Defence and Security Actors in Water Security on 5 November 2025.
Event details:
- Date: 5 November 2025
- Time: 13:30 – 17:30 CET
- Location: HCSS, Lange Voorhout 1, 2514 EA The Hague, The Netherlands
The Water, Peace, and Security (WPS) Partnership invites you to join a focused dialogue on the role of defence and security actors in tackling water-related security challenges. Around the world, security actors are increasingly called upon to respond to climate change–induced disasters and stabilise regions where water risks threaten peace. Yet, integration into broader cross-sectoral efforts remains limited.
The Symposium will:
• Explore ways to enhance the comprehensive 4D-approach, synergising defence, diplomacy, development, and disaster relief.
• Highlight field experiences from Iraq, Ethiopia, Kenya and Mali, that can inform more coordinated, anticipatory, and integrated global responses.
• Share lessons learned from defence and security engagement in addressing water security risks.
Programme:
13:00 – 13:30 | Registration and Coffee
13:30 – 14:00 | Opening Remarks and Fireside Chat
- Opening Remarks: Laura Birkman, Director of the Climate, Water, and Food Security Programme at HCSS and Lead WPS engagement in Iraq
- Fireside chat between Johanna Sumuvuori (Director of the European CoE for Civilian Crisis Management) and Kees Matthijssen (Lt. Gen, former Force Commander MINUSMA)
14:00 – 15:10 | Session 1 – Lessons from the Field: Defence and Security Actors in Fragile Settings
Panel discussion moderated by Abigail Robinson (Director, Continua) between:
- Lt. Gen. Nico Tak (Strategic Advisor Defence and Security at HCSS, Former Head of the Comprehensive Crisis and Operations Management Centre, NATO)
- Dr. Esther van ‘t Veen (Assistant Professor Civil Military Relations, Netherlands Defence Academy)
- Salman Khairalla (Co-Founder Humat Dijlah/Save the Tigris Foundation, Iraq)
15:10 – 15:30 | Coffee Break
15:30 – 16:40 | Session 2 – Operationalising the 4D Approach in Fragile Contexts and Beyond
Panel discussion moderated by Audrey Legat (Senior Advisor on Water governance and international water cooperation, Deltares) between:
- Gen. Tom Middendorp (Chairman International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS), Former Chief of Defence of the Dutch Armed Forces, WPS Advisory Board Member)
- Sophie Volmer (Coordinating Policy Officer Integrated Water Resource Management, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
- Esther Marijnen (Associate Professor Sociology of Development and Change, Wageningen University)
16:40 – 17:20 | Session 3 – Interactive Dialogue: Reflections, Takeaways & Future Pathways
17:20 – 17:30 | Closing Remarks & Next Steps
17:30 | Networking Reception
We kindly ask you to save the date and register your attendance via the Eventbrite website. Your voice and expertise are vital to shaping the conversation on how defence and security actors can help address water-related security challenges. We look forward to your active participation in this important dialogue.
This symposium is informed by our recent Policy Brief | Addressing Water-related Security Challenges in Fragile Settings: Opportunities and Limitations for Defence and Security Actors
For more information on the WPS Partnership, please visit our website: Water, Peace and Security. We hope to welcome you to the Mini-Symposium.
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