A SESRIC delegation led by H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK will participate in the 5^th Istanbul International Water Forum under the theme “Strengthening Water Resilience: From Innovation to Action”. The Forum is organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change of the Republic of Türkiye on 6 May 2026 in Istanbul.

The Forum will bring together ministers, senior government officials, representatives of international organisations, researchers, and development partners to address the pressing global water challenges and explore ways to translate knowledge and innovation into practical solutions, focusing on exchange of ideas, technology, finance, agriculture, health, and the interlinkages across sectors.

H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK will join the High-Level Panel on Water Efficiency as a speaker alongside distinguished participants from relevant national and international institutions. The panel will discuss practical pathways to improve water efficiency and strengthen resilience against the growing impacts of climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation. It will also underline the vital role of water efficiency in ensuring food security, energy sustainability, public health, economic competitiveness, and ecosystem protection.

During the Forum, SESRIC will also act as a speaker in the panel titled “Strengthening Capacities for a Water-Resilient World”. SESRIC’s interventions will cover the main issues faced in harmonizing water-related information and capacity needs across the OIC member countries as well as proposed solutions to ensure more effective regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.

The Forum is expected to contribute to water-related global processes by generating forward-looking insights and practical recommendations, particularly for the UN 2026 Water Conference, the 11^th World Water Forum in 2027, and the IWRA XX World Water Congress to be hosted in Istanbul in 2027. The outcomes of the Forum will also be communicated to the UNFCCC COP31 to be held in Antalya in 2026.

For more information, please visit: https://iusf.org.tr/en/about