Water peace and diplomacy
Building resilience and cooperation through shared water futures
Water is a fundamental resource for life, livelihoods, and ecosystems. In many regions, water scarcity, pollution, and unequal access have become sources of tension and conflict. Yet, shared water resources also offer powerful opportunities for cooperation, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.
Tentatively scheduled for October 2026, this symposium offers a unique opportunity to showcase how constructive diplomacy, community-led ecological stewardship, and inclusive governance can serve as a model for Asian countries that share transnational rivers and water systems.
Timor-Leste, recently admitted to ASEAN, stands as a proud and independent nation with a remarkable history of resilience and diplomacy. Sharing a land border with Indonesia, Timor-Leste has successfully built productive and peaceful relations with its neighbour following 25 years of occupation. This achievement underscores the country’s capacity for reconciliation and regional leadership.
Timor-Leste’s mountainous terrain and tropical climate present seasonal challenges, particularly water shortages during the dry season that limit food production. However, Permatil’s pioneering community-led Nature-Based Solutions for catchment management have significantly improved groundwater recharge and sustained spring flows, even in dry months. These initiatives, especially along the border with Indonesia, have benefited communities in both countries and demonstrate the potential of ecological cooperation to foster peace and shared prosperity. In 2026 Permatil and its local partners, both in Oe-cusse and Bobonaro, will host PermaYouth camps in different locations. Participants will include youth from West Timor, Indonesia.
The Diplomacy Training Program (DTP), an award-winning independent Australian NGO, was co-founded in 1989 by Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta and UNSW Law Professor Garth Nettheim. DTP is committed to advancing human rights in the Asia-Pacific through quality education and training. Its capacity-building programs focus on international law, the UN system, and “people’s diplomacy,” empowering civil society leaders to engage constructively in policy and advocacy.
Timor-Leste’s recent ASEAN membership positions it to lead regional conversations on water cooperation, peace, and sustainable development.
Government representatives from Timor-Leste, ASEAN member states, and neighbouring countries are invited to attend, along with international and regional water experts, civil society organisations, community leaders and traditional elders, youth leader representatives, academics and researchers, and development partners and donors.
Objectives of the symposium
- To promote dialogue on the role of water in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and diplomacy.
- To showcase Timor-Leste’s leadership in ecological restoration and regional cooperation.
- To strengthen capacity for inclusive water governance, especially among youth, women, and Indigenous communities.
- To facilitate partnerships between governments, civil society, academia, and international organizations.
- To support ASEAN’s regional agenda for sustainable development and peaceful cooperation.
Themes
Water as a catalyst for peace
Exploring transboundary cooperation, conflict resolution, and diplomatic frameworks.
Community-led water governance
Highlighting grassroots innovations, Indigenous knowledge, and participatory approaches.
Climate resilience and water security
Addressing the impacts of climate change on water systems and vulnerable communities.
Youth, gender and inclusion in water diplomacy
Empowering underrepresented voices in decision-making and leadership.
Policy, law and human rights
Examining legal frameworks and the human right to water in national and international contexts.
Program and format
Tentative date: October 2026
The symposium will run for two days and consist of presentations and dialogues, a field visit to a water restoration site near Dili, and cultural events co-organised with the 2026 Oe-cusse and Bobonaro PermaYouth camp.
For more information on dates and the symposium program, please register to receive eNewsletters from the UNSW Global Water Institute.
Outputs and outcomes
- A Dili Declaration on Water Peace & Diplomacy
- Documentation of best practices and case studies
- Capacity-building resources and training modules
- Policy recommendations for inclusive and sustainable water governance
- Strengthened regional networks and partnerships
Contact
This page will be regularly updated to include further details on the symposium. If you have any questions, please contact the UNSW Global Water Institute.