Welcome messages
Mr. Nizar Baraka
Minister of Equipment and Water,
Kingdom of Morocco
It is a great honor for me to welcome IWRA’s XIX World Water Congress to Marrakech, a historical crossroads of cultures and exchanges. On behalf of the Ministry of Equipment and Water of the Kingdom of Morocco, co-host of this prestigious event, I extend my warmest greetings to the experts, researchers, policymakers, and professionals from around the world who will gather to share their experiences and advancements on the pressing challenges related to water–particularly under uncertainties brought about by climate change and beyond.
Water is intrinsically connected to many essential systems, including energy, land, food, health, and ecosystems. Solving water-related challenges requires a comprehensive approach that considers these interconnections. As climate change accelerates and water resources come under increasing pressure, the 19th edition of the World Water Congress, under the theme “Water in a Changing World: Innovation and Adaptation,” provides an excellent platform for collaboration, the establishment of strategic partnerships, and the advancement of sustainable development–aligned with key international objectives related to water and climate. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in dynamic discussions, gain valuable insights from leading experts, and actively contribute to global initiatives aimed at achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Morocco boasts a rich hydraulic heritage and a long-standing tradition of water resource management, shaped by centuries of ingenuity and adaptation to climatic challenges. Since ancient times, civilizations that thrived on Moroccan soil have developed sophisticated infrastructures to efficiently capture, store, and distribute water.
Among these ancestral structures, the khettaras, described as a Persian invention dating back more than 2,500 years to the Almoravid era, stand as a testament to the remarkable expertise of local communities in harnessing groundwater, particularly in arid regions. The khettara system played a crucial role in sustaining agriculture and supplying oases, ensuring the resilience of populations in the face of climatic variability.
Likewise, the historic Agdal and Menara gardens in Marrakech exemplify the ingenuity of ancient Moroccans in hydraulic engineering and water management. Building on this millennia-old tradition, the Kingdom, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has modernized its water policy while drawing inspiration from its heritage, developing a network of large dams, water transfer infrastructures, and efficient irrigation systems; mobilizing non-conventional water resources such as desalination and wastewater reuse; and improving water demand management, thereby strengthening its expertise in integrated water resources management, especially at the basin level.
We cordially invite you to join us in the Red City of Marrakech from December 1st to 5th, 2025, to engage in insightful discussions, share best practices, and work together towards a future where water remains a driver of prosperity for our planet.
I look forward to welcoming you to Marrakech!
Prof. Yuanyuan Li
President of the International Water
Resources Association (IWRA)
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), I am delighted to invite you to IWRA’s XIX World Water Congress, taking place in Marrakech, Morocco, December 1-5, 2025.
IWRA is a professional international network of multi-disciplinary and multi-sectorial experts committed to advancing research, building capacity, and promoting science-based policy solutions and practices for the sustainable management of water resources. For over five decades, IWRA has been bridging the gap between science, policy, practice, driving innovation, and shaping water and sustainable development agendas, while advocating for meaningful progress. While IWRA has accomplished remarkable achievements over the past five decades, we acknowledge that considerable work remains to address future water resource challenges. We will continue to build on and expand our activities to adhere to the needs and possibilities of the future, including thematic congresses, master classes, webinars, policy briefs, geographic chapters, and task forces, as well as collaboration with key partners. Most importantly, we will continue to promote the World Water Congress as a key activity.
The World Water Congress, IWRA’s flagship event since 1973, is one of the most prestigious platforms for sharing groundbreaking research, building partnerships, and influencing water governance from local to global scales. In its 19th edition, the Congress will focus on the theme: “Water in a Changing World: Innovation and Adaptation”. This theme reflects the growing need for innovative solutions and adaptive strategies to manage water resources in the face of climate change, environmental degradation, and increasing societal and economic as well as ecological demands. Together with the Moroccan government, we are proud to convene policymakers, researchers, practitioners, the private sector, and industry leaders from around the world. This Congress will provide an opportunity to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations, and co-create actionable solutions for the complex challenges of global water governance, security, and sustainability.
Building on the success of the XVIII World Water Congress in Beijing and aligning with major events like the UN Water Conference and the 10th World Water Forum, the XIX World Water Congress aims to foster collaboration, dialogue, and innovative solutions in addressing todays and tomorrow’s pressing water issues.
As President of IWRA, I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your support and participation. I look forward to welcoming you in Marrakech in 2025 to engage in this crucial conversation and collectively shape the future of water resource management!
Mr. Abdelaziz Zerouali
General Director of Hydraulics,
Ministry of Equipment and Water
Kingdom of Morocco.
Prof. Rabi Mohtar
Vice-President of International Water Resources Association,Professor,
Texas A&M University
USA/Lebanon
It is our sincere pleasure to invite you to participate in the XIXth World Water Congress, “Water in a Changing World: Innovation and Adaptation,” happening in Marrakech on December 1–5, 2025.
The XIXth Congress will explore innovative approaches to water solutions in an increasingly changing world. It will provide a platform for experts, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, members of civil society, and the private sector to exchange knowledge, make groundbreaking, innovative research outcomes, build partnerships, and provide actionable solutions that address the complex challenges of global water governance, security, and sustainability.
Globally, the water system is highly complex: it is interconnected with other systems and subsystems, including land, energy, food, health, ecosystems, and more–making a systems perspective very critical. Moreover, water is a key driver of socio-economic development.
The Congress will align with broader, international sustainable development goals and objectives, helping to inform many upcoming global water events. Its outcomes will influence numerous existing water initiatives. By bringing together experts from diverse sectors to collaborate and engage on issues of water resource governance, policy, and practice, the Congress will facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and visions for water systems and their roles in sustainable development, including matters of food security, energy security, health, and climate change.
The Congress will also provide an opportunity to celebrate Morocco’s extensive experience in integrated water resources management, as well as that of many other arid countries, particularly in relation to scarcity, desalination, and the development of other unconventional water resources.
The Congress will serve as a platform for addressing various aspects related to water management at scientific, technical or managerial levels. Outcomes will be shared across multiple platforms, creating a legacy for all participants to bring these knowledge products to the international community.
We look forward to welcoming you in Morocco and to shaping the future of water resources together.
Thank you.