In an era of accelerating climate change, water scarcity, and growing socio-economic challenges, the world faces an urgent call to strengthen water resilience. Increasing pressures on water resources are forcing us to rethink how we value this strategic resource.

The 5th Istanbul International Water Forum (IIWF), organized under the theme “Strengthening Water Resilience: Innovation to Action”, will address the pressing global water challenges and explore ways to transform knowledge and innovation into practical solutions, focusing on dialogue, technology, finance, agriculture, health, and the interlinkages across sectors.

The Forum, jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, will serve as a high-level platform to share experiences, best practices, and innovative approaches towards achieving water resilience and water efficiency.

The Forum highlights four key sub-themes shaping today’s global water agenda.

· Water Dialogue for Resilience

· Finance Mobilization and Innovation for Climate-Resilient Water Management

· One Water, One Health: Integrated Management of Risks

· Beyond Trade-offs: Advancing the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus

Chairs:

• Prof. Dr. Lütfi AKCA - President, Turkish Water Institute (SUEN)

• Mehmet Akif BALTA - Director General, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

Members:

• Dr. Tuğba Evrim MADEN - Policy Development Coordinator, Turkish Water Institute (SUEN)

• Mustafa S. SARIKAYA - Capacity Development and Publications Coordinator, Turkish Water Institute (SUEN)

• Tuncay KURT - Administrative and Financial Affairs Coordinator, Turkish Water Institute (SUEN)

• Cengiz Han KILIÇASLAN - Deputy Director General, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Göktuğ İLTER – Deputy Director General, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Dr. Özlem İRİTAŞ - Head of Foreign Relations Department, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Ömer BÜYÜKYILMAZ - Head of Machinery, Manufacture and Supply Department, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Erdoğan AY - Head of Support Services Department, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Dr. Celaleddin Ensar ŞENGÜL - Regional Director, 14th Region, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Dr. Özlem ŞENOL - Deputy Head of Foreign Relations Department, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Dr. Muhammed İmran KULAT - Deputy Head of Foreign Relations Department, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Dr. Ahmet ŞEREN - Chief of International Organizations Branch, State Hydraulic Works (DSI)

• Satuk Buğra FINDIK - Deputy Director General, General Directorate of Water Management (SYGM)

• Fatih TÜRKMENDAĞ - Head of Water Law and Policy Department, General Directorate of Water Management (SYGM)

• Huriye İNCECİK CEYLAN - Section Manager, Water Policy Branch, Water Law and Policy Department, General Directorate of Water Management (SYGM)

• Tolgahan BAHTİYAR - Head of International Organizations Department, Directorate General for EU and Foreign Relations

• Umay Gökçe ÖZKAN - European Union Expert/Coordinator of International Organizations Department, Directorate General for EU and Foreign Relations

• Tarkan BİÇER - New Media Unit Coordinator, Training and Publications Department

• Şule GÜREL - Head of Transboundary Waters Department, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)

• Simla Yasemin ÖZKAYA - Advisor, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs

· Bernd Manfred GAWLIK

· Dr. Dinara ZIGANSHINA

· Dr. Marwan Al-RAGGAD

· Ignacio DEREGIBUS

· Patrick LAVARDE

· Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete SAATÇI

· Prof. Dr. Ayşegül KİBAROĞLU

· Prof. Dr. Bedir TEKİNERDOĞAN

· Prof. Dr. Bilge ALPASLAN KOCAMEMİ

· Prof. Dr. Eddy MOORS

· Prof. Dr. Elif ÇOLAKOĞLU

· Prof. Dr. Gökşen ÇAPAR

· Prof. Dr. Halil HASAR

· Prof. Dr. İsmail KOYUNCU

· Prof. Dr. İsmail YÜCEL

· Prof. Dr. M. Levent KAVVAS

· Prof. Dr. M. Levent KURNAZ

· Prof. Dr. Mehmet KİTİŞ

· Prof. Dr. Mustafa Hakkı AYDOĞDU

· Prof. Dr. Mutawakil OBEIDAT

· Prof. Dr. Olcay ÜNVER

· Prof. Dr. Rabi MOHTAR

· Prof. Dr. Seval SÖZEN

· Prof. Dr. Yeşim AHİ

· Prof. Dr. Zekai ŞEN

Overall Forum Concept Note

Session Concept Notes:

High Level Interactive Panel on Paradigm Shift in a Changing World Water and the Bridging Power of Istanbul

High Level Panel on Water Efficiency

High Level Panel on One Water One Health

S 1.1 Water Cooperation for Resilience Dialogue in Action on the Path to the UN 2026 Water Conference

S 1.2 Inclusive Water Dialogue and Partnerships

S 1.3 Strengthening Capacities for a Water-Resilient World

S 2.1 Sustainable Financing for Water Infrastructure and Beyond Tailor-made Models

S 2.2 Achieving Water Efficiency: Innovative Technology-Focused Approaches and Digital Solutions in Water Management

S 2.3 From Wastewater to Resource: Circular Approaches in Water Management

S 3.1 Wastewater Surveillance: A One Health Perspective

S 3.2 Adapting WASH Services to Climate Challenges

S 3.3 Integrated Frameworks for Disaster Risk Management

S 4.1 From Silos to Synergy: Accelerating the WEFE Nexus

S 4.2 Transforming Agriculture : Systematic Solutions in the WEFE Context

S 4.3 Water Wise Cities Sustainable Solutions