Nineteen countries meet in Barbados as part of Green Overseas workshop for water management solutions

Between February 9 and 13, 2026, an international water management workshop will convene in Barbados, bringing together representatives from 19 Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) of the European Union and the United Kingdom. Organized by the Green Overseas Programme (GO), this event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange on water management challenges faced by these territories.

A joint press release shared that the workshop will feature a combination of targeted training sessions led by a specialized service provider engaged by the Green Overseas Programme and a peer-to-peer platform designed for sharing experiences, challenges, and innovative solutions. The primary focus will be on issues related to water resources—covering aspects from potable water supply to ecosystem preservation and climate change adaptation.

Water scarcity and vulnerability are pressing concerns across many island territories. Factors such as decreasing rainfall, more frequent and severe droughts, saline intrusion into groundwater sources, and rising flood risks complicate water management efforts. These issues directly affect daily living conditions, agricultural activities, economic development, and environmental sustainability, asserts the release.

Organizers state that the Barbados workshop aims to tackle these complex challenges through practical, territory-specific approaches. It encourages the exchange of operational experiences, showcasing existing initiatives and transferable solutions that can be adapted from one territory to another.

Reportedly structured to promote actionable dialogue, the event will involve territorial presentations, thematic panels, and group exercises. These formats will enable participants to compare practices and discuss their real-world challenges and solutions. The gathering will primarily include representatives from OCT governments and public administrations, along with water service managers, engineers, environmental and climate specialists, and a select few from international organizations and local elected bodies. All attendees are directly engaged in the management, planning, or governance of water resources within their respective territories.

According to the release, Barbados was chosen as the host due to shared challenges experienced across many OCTs, including limited water availability, heavy reliance on groundwater, tourism-driven demand, population growth, and observable impacts of climate change. It adds that in order to address these issues, Barbados has implemented various initiatives aimed at improving water resource management and utilization. Participants will have the opportunity to explore several local projects during site visits, which may include desalination plants, wastewater treatment facilities, flood prevention infrastructure, and wetland conservation efforts.

This workshop forms part of the Green Overseas Programme’s ongoing activities, which have previously included six workshops on energy transition and three focused on climate change resilience. Concentrating on resilient water management, the event seeks to enhance collaboration between territories, deepen operational knowledge sharing, and strengthen the network within the GO Climate Change Resilience community.

Insights gained from discussions and field visits will contribute to the creation of a best practices catalog, developed by Ramboll as part of the Green Overseas Programme.

This resource aims to document and disseminate successful solutions and innovations implemented by OCTs, fostering wider adoption and adaptation across territories facing similar water management challenges, as per the release.