Agadir Hosts International Conference on Water, Climate and Health Policies, with the Support of SRM Souss-Massa

The National School of Applied Sciences in Agadir, part of Ibn Zohr University, will host an international conference on public water policies on November 11 and 12, 2026. The event is being organized by the Moroccan African International Forum of Women Leaders, with the support and assistance of the Souss-Massa Regional Multiservice Company (SRM).

The conference will be held under the theme “Public Water Policies: Addressing the Challenges of Climate Change, Gender and Health.” It is expected to bring together institutional stakeholders, university professors, researchers and national and international experts, alongside representatives of civil society and the social and economic sectors.

According to a press release issued by the organizer, the conference proceedings will be held both in person and online, in Arabic and French, to broaden participation and promote the exchange of expertise on water resource governance, as well as to examine the links between climate change, gender equality and community health.

The Moroccan African International Forum of Women Leaders is providing the initiative’s strategic direction, scientific design and overall coordination. Through the event, it seeks to strengthen women’s participation in governance and decision-making, highlight their contribution to the preservation and management of natural resources, and discuss ways to involve them in the development and implementation of public water policies.

In its statement, the Forum welcomed the support and assistance provided by SRM Souss-Massa, as well as the contributions of Ibn Zohr University in Agadir, Mohammed V University in Rabat and Abdelmalek Essaâdi University, through its Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy.

According to the same source, the event is being held in partnership with the UNESCO Chair in Education and Health and the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Education and Health. It is also receiving support from the international organization “YAKU,” as well as contributions from local and regional authorities, public institutions, partner organizations and social and economic stakeholders involved in its preparation.

The scientific program will focus on six themes. The first concerns governance and water security, examining integrated resource management and possible responses to climate-related constraints. The second addresses the institutionalization of a gender approach in water policies, particularly through gender-responsive budgeting.

The third theme is devoted to women’s leadership and their participation in governance and decision-making bodies, while the fourth examines the relationship between water, community health, living conditions and social justice.

The fifth theme focuses on innovation, territorial resilience and adaptation strategies in response to water-related vulnerability. The sixth addresses behavioral sciences, civic responsibility and incentives that promote the responsible and sustainable use of water resources.

The discussions will pay particular attention to the Souss-Massa region, which organizers have placed at the center of reflection on adapting to water constraints, improving resource management and strengthening the resilience of territories.

The Forum is seeking to bring together scientific expertise, institutional action and field experience in order to identify best practices and formulate recommendations capable of strengthening public policies and territorial strategies. It also aims to examine ways of moving beyond isolated sectoral interventions in favor of coordinated action that brings together the environmental, health and social dimensions, while ensuring women’s effective participation at every stage of decision-making.

According to the statement, the initiative aims to broaden the debate from managing water scarcity to strengthening the ability of populations and territories to anticipate risks and adapt to climate change. Access to water is viewed as a prerequisite for health, dignity, social equity and development.