International Water
Law Academy

About the Academy

The International Water Law Academy (IWLA) comprises a global network of international water law experts, all working on improving opportunities for enhancing and sharing knowledge related to the peaceful management of the world’s shared freshwaters. With a global presence and experienced longstanding interactions and cooperation, Academy Affiliates offer their unique expertise to help transform the international law that governs transboundary waters in ways that improve peaceful management.

The Academy was first established as an academic center of experts in 2019 at the China Institute for Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS), Wuhan University. While it is no longer housed at CIBOS, the Academy continues to support CIBOS through teaching and supervision. 

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Global Experts

Countries & Regions

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Our Mission

With 153 countries sharing transboundary waters, which account for over 60 per cent of the world’s freshwater, cooperation is crucial. IWLA has networks and research which provide the expertise to help advance transboundary water cooperation and the sustainable management of transboundary waters.

The mission of the IWLA can be summarised as follows: Academic Excellence, Professional Relevance. The Academy through its Affiliates seeks to build on its body of world-class peer-reviewed research in ways that meaningfully contribute to the peaceful management of the world’s shared freshwaters through robust legal frameworks and innovative regulatory approaches. As one of the most essential resources on earth, water touches all aspects of life – environmental, economic, social and cultural. How this precious resource is managed, especially in the context of contemporary hard challenges – from global climate change to growing nationalism and increased competition for depleted freshwater – requires a robust and innovative approach to the law that applies. The Academy’s mission is to provide the insights needed to address the complex issues connected to the peaceful management of transboundary waters in ways that are credible and accessible.

Salween River. Photo Credit: International Rivers, downloaded from the Water Alternatives Photo Library. No changes were made to this photo.

Our Activities

Events & Initiatives

The IWLA hosts webinars, conferences and expert gatherings that foster dialogue, share cutting‑edge research and strengthen global collaboration on transboundary water governance. These events bring together practitioners, scholars and policymakers to explore emerging challenges, exchange practical insights and advance peaceful, equitable and sustainable management of the world’s shared freshwater resources.

Academic Excellence

IWLA’s research focuses on the rules and procedures of freshwater law in the governance of transboundary waters. International water law is also examined in relation to the legal framework and institutions of the international legal system based on the UN Charter and the large number of instruments and conventions developed to regulate and protect transboundary waters.

Professional Relevance

Community Building

The IWLA delivers and participates in capacity‑building programs designed to strengthen the skills of governments, stakeholders and diverse water actors. Through targeted training, practical guidance and expert-led sessions, these initiatives enhance understanding of international water law, support effective decision‑making and empower participants to collaboratively manage shared freshwater resources in equitable, peaceful and sustainable ways.

The IWLA fosters a vibrant global community dedicated to advancing cooperation on shared freshwater resources. Through networking forums, collaborative platforms and peer‑to‑peer engagement, the Academy strengthens connections among practitioners, scholars and institutions. A key pillar is the Emerging Scholars Initiative (ESI), uniting young researchers who actively contribute to the IWLA’s mission and future leadership in international water law.