From February 9 to 13, 2026, Barbados will serve as the host for a pivotal international workshop addressing water management crises. The event, orchestrated by the Green Overseas Programme (GO), will assemble delegates from 19 European Union and United Kingdom Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) to confront escalating hydrological challenges.
The workshop architecture combines specialized training modules with a collaborative peer-to-peer exchange platform. This dual approach is designed to tackle the full spectrum of water resource issues, from ensuring potable water access and preserving fragile ecosystems to implementing climate adaptation strategies.
Island territories globally are experiencing intensified water vulnerability due to a convergence of threats. Declining precipitation patterns, prolonged droughts, saltwater contamination of aquifers, and increased flooding frequency are creating complex management dilemmas that impact civilian welfare, agricultural productivity, and economic stability.
The Barbados convening emphasizes practical, region-specific methodologies. Through territorial presentations, expert panels, and interactive exercises, participants will share operational experiences and transferable solutions. Attendees include government officials, public administrators, water service managers, engineers, and climate specialists directly involved in water governance.
Barbados was selected as the host nation due to its emblematic struggles with water scarcity, groundwater dependency, tourism pressure, demographic expansion, and climate disruption. The island has consequently launched numerous initiatives to bolster water security. Workshop participants will conduct field visits to examine local projects potentially including desalination facilities, advanced wastewater treatment plants, flood mitigation infrastructure, and wetland preservation sites.
This gathering represents the latest in a series of Green Overseas Programme initiatives, following six previous workshops on energy transition and three on climate resilience. Focused on building durable water management systems, the event aims to amplify inter-territorial cooperation, enhance knowledge dissemination, and fortify the GO Climate Change Resilience network.
Outcomes from the workshop and technical visits will be synthesized by Ramboll into a comprehensive best practices catalogue. This document will catalog successful innovations and solutions pioneered by OCTs, facilitating their adoption and adaptation across territories grappling with analogous water security challenges.