Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), has been named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, the world’s most prestigious award for outstanding water related achievements.
The Stockholm Water Foundation and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences recognise Professor Kaveh Madani, for his groundbreaking research and global leadership that have transformed how governments manage water crises.
Advanced understanding of water issues
His work has shifted the focus of global water debates from infrastructure to governance and demonstrated how weak governance structures often lie at the heart of severe water crises. He has also advanced global understanding of transboundary water issues, developing science-based approaches to conflict resolution and sustainable management of shared river basins worldwide.
Prize citation from the Stockholm Water Prize Committee at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences:
“…based on his unique combination of groundbreaking research on water resources management with policy, diplomacy and global outreach, often under personal risk and political complexity.”
Academic positions at leading universities
As Director of UNU-INWEH, Professor Madani leads the United Nations’ primary think tank on water, guiding global research and policy on water security, climate adaptation and the water-energy-food nexus. He previously served as Deputy Head of Iran’s Department of Environment and held academic positions at several leading universities, including Imperial College London, Yale University, and the City College of New York.
More important than ever
Anette Scheibe Lorentzi, Chair of Stockholm Water Foundation, says:
“Professor Madani has significantly advanced our understanding of complex water challenges. At a time of growing climate pressures, this knowledge is more important than ever. I congratulate Professor Madani on receiving the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize.”
The Stockholm Water Prize will be formally presented to Professor Madani by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden during the royal ceremony and banquet as part of World Water Week in Stockholm in August 2026. The award includes a prize amount of 1 million SEK and a distinctive crystal sculpture.
About the Stockholm Water Prize
Established in 1991, the Stockholm Water Prize is awarded annually by the Stockholm Water Foundation in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It honours individuals and organisations whose work contributes significantly to the sustainable use and protection of the world’s water resources. Past laureates include leading scientists, policymakers, and innovators whose contributions have had global impact.
Read more at Stockholm Water Foundations webbsite
FACTS Laureate
Name: Professor Kaveh Madani
Nationality: Iranian
Lives: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Current Position: Director, United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and Research Professor, The City College of New York
Education: Ph.D. in Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Davis, U.S.A. M.Sc. in Water Resources, Lund University, Sweden. B.Sc. in Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Iran
Expertise: Water resources management, climate change adaptation, and the development of game theory* and decision analysis models for complex human-nature systems
Key Scientific Contributions & Deliverables: Pioneered the integration of game theory* and decision analysis methods into water resources management models. Developed the formal concept of “water bankruptcy”. Authored the Global Water Bankruptcy Report (2026). Author of more than 350 scientific publications. Has mentored more than 70 postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Previous Academic Roles: Tenured faculty, Imperial College London; Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida; Senior Fellow, Yale University
Read more about Kaveh Madani on his personal website
*What is game theory?
Game theory is a mathematical framework that studies how actors make strategic decisions in situations of conflict and cooperation when their outcomes depend on what others do. Kaveh Madani is known for integrating game theory into water research and developing the “water bankruptcy” concept. His mathematical models analyze strategic interactions between actors competing for limited water resources and help resolve complex water-sharing conflicts and improve the governance of water-bankrupt systems that have overspent their hydrological means for so long that their historical “normal” can no longer be restored.
Nomination for 2027 Stockholm Water Prize has now been opened.
Leave your nomination here
