At the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64), WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro contributed to the launch of the Turquoise Nexus Initiative, calling for farmers to be recognised as primary managers of water resources and for climate finance to reach those working on the ground.

At the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB64), the World Farmers’ Organisation (WFO) participated in the launch of the Turquoise Nexus Initiative (TNI), introduced by FAO FAST Partnership and the Türkiye COP31 Presidency to strengthen the links between water management, food security and climate action. WFO Secretary General Andrea Porro delivered WFO’s contribution, drawing on the Organisation’s recently adopted Position on Sustainable Water Management.

“Water, food and climate cannot be treated as separate policy and implementation domains. They are but one everyday for every farmer on the planet,” said Porro. “Farmers are not simply users of water; they are its primary managers at landscape level.”

Linking Water Governance, Food Security and Climate Action

The intervention comes shortly after the adoption of WFO’s Position on Sustainable Water Management, which sets out the Organisation’s policy priorities ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. The Position recognises water as a strategic resource underpinning food production, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation and the prosperity of rural communities, while reaffirming the role of farmers as principal managers of natural resources and frontline custodians of water systems.

In line with the Position, WFO stressed that effective water governance must be built with farmers and their organisations, rather than imposed through top-down approaches. The Organisation advocates for stronger farmer participation in decision-making processes and for policies that reflect local realities while safeguarding food security and rural livelihoods.

Ensuring Water and Climate Finance Reaches Farmers

A central message of WFO’s contribution was the need to close the persistent investment gap affecting water management in agriculture. WFO called on the Turquoise Nexus Initiative to ensure that implementation mechanisms channel resources directly to farmers, cooperatives and Farmers’ Organisations, rather than relying solely on government programmes or infrastructure projects that fail to reach those managing water resources on the ground.

This reflects one of the key priorities outlined in WFO’s Position, which calls for climate and water financing mechanisms to be simplified and made directly accessible to farmers and their organisations, particularly in developing countries where administrative barriers often limit access to international funding opportunities.

©IISD/ENB – Maja Schmidt-Thomé

Bringing Farmers’ Perspectives into COP31, NDCs and NAPs

WFO also emphasised that the convergence between the Turquoise Nexus Initiative and farmer-led climate action should be reflected in NDC 3.0 submissions. Also national adaptation plans (NAPs) should explicitly include on-farm water efficiency measures – designed with farmers, not for farmers – as measurable and bankable contributions to both food security and climate resilience.

The Organisation welcomed the decision of the Türkiye COP31 Presidency to connect the FAST Partnership with a dedicated water-centred initiative, recognising the potential of this approach to bridge the gap between policy discussions and implementation on the ground. Farmers are not only beneficiaries of climate and water policies; they are implementing agents whose knowledge and experience are essential to delivering tangible results.

WFO further encouraged the COP31 Presidency to engage meaningfully with the Farmers’ Constituency, the recognised voice of farmers within the UNFCCC process, ensuring that farmers’ perspectives are reflected in future discussions on water, climate and food systems.

As preparations continue for COP31 and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, WFO stands ready to contribute the perspective of farmers worldwide and support the implementation of the Turquoise Nexus Initiative.

WFO’s Position Paper on Sustainable Water Management is available HERE

Cover photo: ©IISD/ENB – Maja Schmidt-Thomé