SESRIC launched the OIC Water Report 2025: Optimizing Water Resources for Sustainable Food Security at the 5^th Session of the Islamic Conference of Ministers Responsible for Water (ICMW), held on 22–24 October 2025 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This flagship report provides a comprehensive analysis of water resources, management practices, and their critical linkages with food security across the OIC countries. It draws on the latest data and research to assess how OIC countries are addressing increasing water stress, rising demand, and the impact of climate change on agricultural production and food systems.

The report reveals that OIC countries collectively account for 13.3% of the world’s renewable water resources, but per capita availability—3,575 m³ per person annually—is nearly half the global average. With 85.6% of all freshwater withdrawals devoted to agriculture, water scarcity has become a defining constraint on food security and sustainable development.

Despite these pressures, the report highlights several encouraging trends. Access to basic drinking water in OIC countries improved from 80.2% in 2010 to 87.0% in 2022, while access to basic sanitation rose from 58.4% to 70.1%. Water use efficiency in agriculture has also increased modestly from US$0.34 to US$0.42 per cubic metre between 2015 and 2022, reflecting gradual improvements in productivity and water management.

Yet, the findings also underscore persistent vulnerabilities. Around 263 million people in OIC countries remain undernourished, accounting for 36.4% of the world’s total undernourished population. Agricultural land in OIC countries represents nearly a quarter of the global total, but water inefficiencies—particularly the dominance of surface irrigation (89.5% of irrigated area)—continue to limit sustainable productivity.

The report emphasizes that water scarcity, inefficient irrigation, and climate-induced variability are among the most pressing threats to food security. By 2050, water demand is projected to increase substantially, driven by population growth, urbanization, and expanding economic activity. The report calls for a shift toward integrated water resource management, investment in unconventional water sources such as desalination and wastewater reuse, and the adoption of modern irrigation techniques.

Encouragingly, 45 OIC countries now include community participation in water management within their legal frameworks, and several—such as Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye—have achieved high levels of implementation in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). These advances demonstrate growing awareness and institutional progress toward sustainable water governance in the OIC region.

The report concludes with a strong call for enhanced OIC cooperation to secure water and food for future generations. Strengthening policy integration between the water, agriculture, and climate sectors, supported by robust data and innovation, is identified as a key step toward achieving water security, improving resilience, and ensuring sustainable food systems across the OIC member countries.

Online Electronic Version

• OIC Water Report 2025: Optimizing Water Resources for Sustainable Food Security (English) (Arabic) (French).