The program, which runs from October 8 to 22, 2026, will bring together community representatives, policymakers, development partners, researchers, businesses, innovators, investors, creatives, and young people from Nigeria, Denmark, and the international community. The event, hosted by the UNFPA Nordic Representation Office, aims to examine the links between water, climate change, communities, and economic resilience. It will feature community storytelling, creative works, public dialogues, and engagement activities focused on the challenges facing water systems and their social and economic consequences.
According to the organizers, the program seeks to examine the impact of fragile water systems on people, communities, and economies. Water challenges should not be viewed solely in terms of access to drinking water, as water systems also influence agriculture, food security, health, household incomes, ecosystems, energy, cities, and economic activity. The program will explore the relationship between water and broader development issues through community experiences, policy discussions, art, and international knowledge exchange.
A major theme of the program is Nigeria's "water paradox," which refers to the coexistence of significant freshwater resources with unequal access to safe and reliable water. Polly Alakija, Trustee and CEO, described Nigeria as a "water paradise" while also experiencing severe water stress. The challenge extends beyond the availability of water to issues surrounding management, financing, connectivity, and sustainability of water systems.
The program will highlight stories from communities dealing with environmental changes, including women and girls affected by the burden of water collection, farmers and fishers facing uncertain environmental conditions, and young people growing up amid climate-related changes. One of the featured stories comes from Damaturu, Yobe State, where 600 children were invited to respond creatively to questions about their environment. Their drawings offer a perspective on environmental change and the experiences of younger generations.
Women and water governance will also feature prominently in the program, with discussions examining the relationship between water access, health, caregiving, economic opportunities, and the wellbeing of women and children. The program will further explore the connection between climate change and water, particularly through experiences of changing rainfall patterns, flooding, drought, degraded wetlands, declining water sources, and changing agricultural conditions.
The program will examine the implications of water risks for businesses and investments, including sectors such as data centers, mining, and pharmaceuticals, which can have significant water requirements. Discussions will consider how government, communities, development finance institutions, philanthropic organizations, and private investors can contribute to financing sustainable water infrastructure. The initiative advocates for community participation in designing interventions, testing and measuring solutions, and building evidence around what works.
The program aims to create a Nigerian-led, community-driven platform connecting local water experiences with policymakers, technical experts, investors, and organizations involved in developing and delivering solutions. The Copenhagen exhibition will be part of a longer-term effort to ensure that community experiences inform policy, investment, and practical interventions beyond the event. Key points include:
Key points
- The program "Stories of a Broken Water Cycle" will run from October 8 to 22, 2026, at UN City Copenhagen.
- The event aims to examine the links between water, climate change, communities, and economic resilience.
- The program will feature community storytelling, creative works, public dialogues, and engagement activities focused on the challenges facing water systems.
