Throughout 2024, the Turkish Water Institute (SUEN) actively represented Türkiye in various global water policy platforms, scientific collaborations, and water diplomacy initiatives. With a wide scope of international activities, from water diplomacy and scientific partnerships to youth workshops and capacity-building programmes, SUEN not only shared Türkiye’s water vision with the world but also supported collective efforts to develop shared solutions.
On 17-18 February, World Water Council’s 86th Board of Governors meeting was held in Istanbul with the support of SUEN. As part of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding for the cooperation on water between our Ministry and the World Water Council was signed by Minister Yumaklı and the President of the World Water Council, Loic Fauchon.
On March 13-14, SUEN President Prof. Dr. Lütfi Akca participated in the Baku Water Week, which brought together key regional and global stakeholders in the water sector. He presented Türkiye’s strategies and policies on water and exchanged views with Azerbaijani counterparts. SUEN also took part in the opening meeting of the Global Consortium for Wastewater and Environmental Surveillance for Public Health (GLOWACON), held in Brussels on March 19-20. This meeting marked the launch of a global initiative, involving over 300 partners, aiming to establish an international monitoring system for the early detection, prevention, and real-time tracking of pandemics.
April featured several important events for regional cooperation and water diplomacy. At the EU Water Diplomacy in the South Caucasus Project Workshop held in Tbilisi, Georgia, on April 4-5, discussions focused on the development of a project that addresses pressures on water resources including climate change within the Aras-Kura Basin in the South Caucasus.
On April 27-29, Prof. Dr. Akca attended the 4th Baghdad International Water Conference on behalf of Türkiye and the World Water Council. This visit was particularly significant within the context of ongoing technical cooperation between Türkiye and Iraq in 2024. During the event, he met with Iraq’s Minister of Water Resources, Aun Thiyab Abdullah, to exchange perspectives and hopes for future cooperation in the water sector.
The 10th World Water Forum, which is the world’s largest water-related event, was held in Bali, Indonesia, on May 19-24, under the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity." The Forum gathered approximately 20,000 participants from 160 countries to discuss global solutions for sustainable water use. Türkiye was represented by a delegation led by Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ebubekir Gizligider, and including experts from SUEN, the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works, the General Directorate of Water Management, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. SUEN made significant contributions under the themes “Water for People and Nature,” “Governance, Cooperation, and Hydrodiplomacy,” and “Knowledge and Innovation.” SUEN also led the thematic group on “Water Quality and Health,” coordinating global efforts to enhance water quality and prevent water-related diseases. Through events on water diplomacy and capacity development, SUEN shared experiences in collaboration with prominent international organizations.
SUEN was a supporting partner in the OSCE-led and Swiss-funded "Drops of the Future" Youth Workshop Series on the Water-Food-Energy Nexus. The workshops, held across Central Asia, aimed to inform and empower especially young female professionals working or studying in the water, food, and energy sectors affected by climate change. The goal was to promote cross-sectoral cooperation, pass on priorities to youth through a water lens, and foster a shared vision for sustainable water management. In 2024, four workshops were held in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
In June 3-5, SUEN participated in the second Water4All Stakeholder Consultation Workshop in Lisbon, which focused on the theme of “digitalization.” The event brought together 30 experts from the EU and neighboring countries. On June 7-9, SUEN joined a regional scenario workshop on the Euphrates-Tigris Basin held in Italy, where participants brainstormed possible scenarios for 2025.
One of June’s key multilateral events was the 3rd Dushanbe Water Conference, held in Tajikistan from June 10–13, as part of the “International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development (2018–2028)”. Prof. Dr. Akca led the Turkish delegation. The conference evaluated progress since the 2023 UN Water Conference and the current status of the Decade’s implementation.
On July 9-10, SUEN attended the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) meeting in Beirut on preserving water quality and biodiversity for improved water management. SUEN shared Türkiye’s policies to protect its water resources.
During the World Water Week, held in Stockholm from August 25 to 29, SUEN showcased Türkiye’s cooperation initiatives and sustainability policies in the Middle East.
On October 8-9, SUEN took part in the INWRDAM General Assembly and the “Building Regional Bridges: Blue Peace Middle East Initiative” session in Amman, Jordan. The event focused on the regional water agenda, in line with SUEN’s membership in the initiative.
November saw climate issues take centre stage globally. The 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) was held in Baku from November 11-22. On November 19, SUEN hosted a session at the Türkiye Pavilion on “Strengthening Global and Regional Water Cooperation Under Climate Change Pressure,” moderated by SUEN’s Policy Development Coordinator Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden, with opening remarks by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Ahmet Bağcı. Prof. Dr. Akca also delivered a speech during the session.
In November 25-27, SUEN participated in the Water4All Governing Board Meeting in Paris, where discussions focused on project management and scientific governance. Later that month, SUEN moderated the session titled “Enhancing Transboundary Water Cooperation” during the 6th Arab Water Conference in Jordan, held under the Blue Peace Middle East framework. At the same time, Prof. Dr. Akca and Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden, as committee members, actively contributed to the initiative’s Policy Advisory Committee and Managing Committee meetings, helping shape its strategic roadmap.
The year concluded with the GLOWACON Regional Conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on December 9-10, where SUEN supported efforts to develop regional monitoring systems against global pandemic threats.
In addition to participation in high-level international meetings, SUEN also contributed to global cooperation through training programs on water and wastewater and by sharing its expertise in sustainable water management. In 2024, SUEN organized a range of training programs for professionals from countries including Azerbaijan, China, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. These activities boosted the international visibility of Türkiye’s and SUEN’s water policies and enhanced their contribution to global water governance.
SUEN will continue our efforts in 2025 by closely following international developments and strengthening strategic partnerships to reinforce Türkiye’s leadership role in sustainable water management.