Nairobi Conference

Achieving water security is one of the major challenges faced by society at both global and local levels, since it is essential to promote economic and social development as well as resource sustainability. Recent global agreements such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction relate substantially to questions of water security.

The necessity of a platform for academics and practitioners from various sectors to discuss the diverse facets of water security in dynamic environments and its relation to climate variability and change was highlighted during the WSCC 2016 conference at the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, which forms the rationale behind the WSCC 2017.

The WSCC 2017 at TH Cologne aimed to build a bridge between disciplines, sectors and different groups of stakeholders. The conference served as a platform for discussions towards water secure societies by providing a stimulating environment in which to yield innovative ideas and offer feasible means of implementing options.

The WSCC 2018 at Kenyatta University takes up the “bridge-building” aspect of WCSS 2017 and will provide continuity in serving as a platform for discussions towards water secure societies. The conference will be a stimulus for discussing new and innovative ideas with special attention to SDGs dealing with “Zero Hunger and Food Security”, “Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation”, “Clean Water and Sanitation”, “Sustainable Cities and Communities”, and “Combating climate change and its impacts”.

In all aspects, water security is the main focus, as reflected in the conference sessions and dialogue forums. Space is given to meet the new dimensions and perspectives in the current discourse on water security and related SDGs. Against this background researchers, professionals, practitioners, politicians, industry, NGOs and other thematically involved societal groups are invited to enter the interactive, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary conference space.