Water is no longer just a natural resource; it is a strategic, economic, political, and social asset. Across Africa and particularly in the Horn of Africa, water has become central to questions of development, peace, regional cooperation, and sustainability. Rapid population growth, climate change, urbanization, expanding agricultural demands, and rising energy needs are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. These challenges do not stop at national borders. Rivers, lakes, and aquifers are shared, making cooperation not a choice but a necessity.
In this context, hydro-diplomacy—the use of diplomatic, technical, and political tools to manage shared water resources peacefully and equitably—has emerged as a critical field of practice and research. Ethiopia, as the source of several major transboundary river basins and a key actor in regional water and energy dynamics, occupies a pivotal position in shaping the future of cooperative water governance in Eastern Africa and beyond.
It is against this backdrop that the Sululta Water and Hydro-Diplomacy Conference invites scholars, researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and development partners to contribute original research and critical reflections on Hydro-Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Water and Energy Development and Management.
This Call for Papers aims to foster rigorous academic debate, share practical experiences, and generate policy-relevant knowledge that supports sustainable, inclusive, and cooperative water governance at national, regional, and transboundary levels.
Purpose and Objectives of the Conference
The Sululta Water and Hydro-Diplomacy Conference is designed as a multidisciplinary platform bringing together experts from water resources management, international relations, economics, gender studies, environmental science, engineering, energy policy, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The main objectives of the conference are to:
- Promote dialogue on integrated and cooperative approaches to water and energy management
- Strengthen understanding of hydro-diplomacy as a tool for conflict prevention and regional integration
- Share lessons learned from Ethiopia and other regions on transboundary water cooperation
- Explore innovative solutions, including digital and AI-based tools, for water governance
- Bridge the gap between research, policy, and practice
- Support evidence-based decision-making in water and energy development
Conference Theme
Hydro-Diplomacy and Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Water and Energy Development and Management
The central theme recognizes that water and energy systems are deeply interconnected and that sustainable development cannot be achieved without regional cooperation. Hydro-diplomacy provides the institutional and political mechanisms through which shared water resources can be transformed from potential sources of conflict into platforms for collaboration, trust-building, and shared prosperity.
Sub-Themes and Areas of Interest
1. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is a globally recognized approach that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources. In Ethiopia, IWRM has been adopted as a guiding framework in national water policies and strategies. However, translating IWRM principles into practice remains a complex and evolving process.
This sub-theme invites papers that critically examine the conceptual foundations, implementation experiences, successes, and limitations of IWRM, particularly in the Ethiopian and regional context.
Key Topics Include (but are not limited to):
Trends in the Implementation of IWRM in Ethiopia
Authors are encouraged to analyze how IWRM has been operationalized at national, basin, and local levels. This may include institutional reforms, policy alignment, basin planning processes, stakeholder participation mechanisms, and capacity-building efforts.
Challenges of IWRM Implementation
Despite strong policy commitments, several challenges persist. These may include institutional fragmentation, limited technical capacity, financial constraints, data gaps, weak coordination among sectors, and tensions between development priorities and environmental sustainability. Papers may offer empirical evidence, comparative analysis, or policy critiques.
2. Hydro-Diplomacy in Regional Cooperation
Hydro-diplomacy lies at the intersection of water governance and international relations. In regions where rivers cross multiple national borders, diplomatic engagement is essential to balance competing interests and promote cooperation.
This sub-theme focuses on the political, social, economic, and institutional dimensions of hydro-diplomacy, with particular attention to Africa’s shared water systems.
Key Topics Include:
The Role of Hydro-Diplomacy in Resolving Water-Related Conflicts
Water scarcity, infrastructure development, and competing national interests can generate tensions. Papers may explore how diplomacy, negotiations, treaties, and confidence-building measures have been used to prevent, manage, or resolve water disputes.
Gender and Hydro-Diplomacy
Water governance and diplomacy have traditionally been male-dominated fields. This topic invites gender-sensitive analyses that examine women’s roles, representation, and contributions in hydro-diplomacy processes, as well as the gendered impacts of water policies and agreements.
Cooperative Infrastructure Development and Benefit-Sharing Approaches (Energy Trade)
Shared infrastructure projects—such as dams, hydropower plants, and transmission lines—offer opportunities for regional integration and mutual benefit. Papers may analyze models of benefit-sharing, energy trade, and cooperative investment frameworks.
Trust and Confidence-Building and Dialogue Among Riparian States
Trust is a cornerstone of effective cooperation. Authors may examine formal and informal mechanisms that foster dialogue, transparency, data sharing, and long-term collaboration among riparian countries.
Financing Regional and Transboundary Water Initiatives
Sustainable financing remains a major challenge. This topic invites analyses of funding models, donor engagement, public-private partnerships, and innovative financing mechanisms for transboundary water and energy projects.
3. Transboundary Water Resources
Transboundary waters are at the heart of hydro-diplomacy. Rivers such as the Nile, Awash, Omo, and others connect Ethiopia to its neighbors, creating both shared opportunities and shared responsibilities.
This sub-theme emphasizes institutional experiences, legal frameworks, technological innovations, and future pathways for cooperative transboundary water management.
Key Topics Include:
Case Studies and Lessons Learned from Shared River Basin Organizations
Papers may present detailed case studies of river basin organizations, commissions, or initiatives, highlighting governance structures, successes, failures, and lessons applicable to other contexts.
Trends in Cooperation over the Utilization of Transboundary Waters
Authors may analyze historical and contemporary trends in cooperation, including treaty evolution, joint projects, and changing political dynamics.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Transboundary Water Cooperation
Emerging technologies such as AI, remote sensing, and big data analytics are transforming water management. This topic invites innovative research on how AI can support data sharing, forecasting, decision-making, and trust-building among riparian states.
Submission Guidelines and Criteria
To ensure high academic and professional standards, contributors are requested to adhere strictly to the following submission requirements:
- Abstract Length: Abstracts should not exceed 300 words
- Theme Identification: The specific sub-theme to which the abstract belongs must be clearly indicated
- Full Paper Length: Full papers should be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, including references
- Originality: Submissions must be original and not under review or published elsewhere
- Format: Manuscripts must be submitted in Microsoft Word or PDF format
- Author Information: Full name, institutional affiliation, email address, phone number, and institution of all authors must be clearly stated
Review Process
All submitted papers will undergo a rigorous review process conducted by experts in relevant fields. Papers will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance to the conference theme and sub-themes
- Originality and contribution to knowledge
- Methodological rigor and consistency
- Clarity of analysis and argumentation
- Practical, policy, or development relevance
Authors may be requested to revise their papers based on reviewer feedback.
Presentation and Publication Opportunities
Accepted papers will be:
- Presented during the Sululta Water and Hydro-Diplomacy Conference, providing authors with an opportunity to engage with scholars, policymakers, and practitioners
- Published in the official conference proceedings, ensuring wider dissemination and academic visibility
Submission Address and Contact Information
All abstracts and full papers should be submitted to the following contacts:
W/ro Belyou Tekola
📧 [email protected]
📞 +251 911 734 600
📧 [email protected]
Ato Tewodros Tefera
📧 [email protected]
📞 +251 946 740 663
📧 [email protected]
Conclusion: An Invitation to Shape the Future of Water Cooperation
The Sululta Water and Hydro-Diplomacy Conference represents more than an academic gathering—it is a call to action. By bringing together diverse perspectives and disciplines, the conference seeks to contribute meaningfully to sustainable water and energy development, peaceful regional relations, and resilient governance systems.
Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and emerging scholars are warmly invited to submit their work and be part of this important dialogue. In a world where water increasingly defines development pathways and geopolitical relations, thoughtful research and constructive engagement are essential.
Your ideas, evidence, and insights can help turn shared waters into shared opportunities.
