Outcome Report: Management of Urban Water Bodies

Urban water bodies are critical components of city ecosystems, yet their effective assessment and management remain a persistent challenge across South and Southeast Asia. To address this, a two-day technical workshop on the Management of Urban Water Bodies was organised on 17–18 November 2022 in New Delhi, with the primary objective of building understanding and enabling practical application of the Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool.

The workshop brought together participants from River Cities Alliance member cities and member nations of the UNESCO New Delhi office — spanning Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka — providing a valuable platform for cross-national dialogue and collaborative learning. The workshop pursued three core objectives: fostering in-depth deliberation on the effective assessment and holistic management of urban water bodies; building participants' capacity in the knowledge and application of the Urban Water Body Diagnostic Tool; and exploring the potential for integrating nature-based solutions into urban water body management strategies.

Over the course of two days, participants were equipped with a scientific and technical methodology for evaluating the status of water bodies within their respective cities — an essential foundation for evidence-based planning and informed decision-making. This Outcome Report documents the proceedings, key discussions, and learnings emerging from the workshop, and serves as a reference for cities seeking to strengthen their approach to urban water body management.