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This was the theme of FAO 2023 on World Food Day on October 16th.
The theme aims to highlight the critical role of water for life on earth and water as the foundation of food.

The link between rapid population growth, urbanisation, economic development, and climate change has serious consequences for the planet's water resources. Over the past few decades, freshwater resources per person have plummeted by 20%, setting off challenges. Non-responsive management, overexploitation of groundwater, pollution, and the pervasive impact of climate change are rapidly degrading water availability and quality. The consequence is walking toward stretching this precious resource to a point of no return. Approximately 600 million individuals are reliant at least partially on aquatic food systems for their livelihoods, exposed to pollution, ecosystem degradation, unsustainable livelihood practices, and the consistent threat of climate change. This is a time to consider wise water management.

In navigating the complexities of water scarcity, innovation, knowledge, and science must lead the charge. Novel solutions, rooted in scientific advancements and traditional knowledge, are essential. Moreover, social dimensions like partnerships, cooperation, and community development stand as linchpins in guaranteeing access to safe water and, by extension, food security. In a collective effort, everyone plays a role, recognising that water serves as more than a resource; it connects us through shared history, defines our present, and shapes the vision of our future.

The interconnection of water, food, and society calls for social work action with theories and practice. There is no time to doubt interventions through local knowledge and benefit from them. In the current landscape, 2.4 billion people find themselves in countries tackling water scarcity, a dilemma that disproportionately affects vulnerable groups. Among these are smallholder farmers who already have problems with providing basic needs. Women, Indigenous Peoples, migrants, and refugees bear the brunt of this crisis.

The water issue is closely linked to the social justice issues of safe and clean water for everybody鈥檚 survival, and the social work code of ethics commits itself to ecological issues. To ensure that social workers鈥� actions are informative and effective, they need to know about the water issue and social policy practices.

The water insecurity issue makes an excellent case for social policy action by social workers along with many communities. Pawar (2013), in their article about water security, designed a framework for social workers' action across social policy dimensions of the water issue.

Based on this concept, social workers play a critical role in raising awareness and initiating sociopolitical action in the field of water conservation and distribution. They educate communities about water shortages, promote water conservation practices, advocate for the adoption of innovative technology, and emphasise government incentives, focusing on the conservation policy dimension. They also address pollution sources, develop regulations, and promote equitable water allocation among home, agricultural, industrial, and ecological sectors.

Moreover, Social workers investigate the complicated dynamics of water distribution, looking for disparities among winners and losers. They work for the empowerment of marginalised populations and ecosystems and increase awareness about the human right to water. They hope to secure a fair representation of the poor and ecosystems in water resource management by analysing market incentives and profit objectives.

Social workers then enact change by establishing connections with stakeholders like leaders, agencies, and communities committed to water-related causes. They mobilise collective action, focusing on issues like pollution prevention, policy revision, and fair water redistribution. Employing innovative strategies, they seek support from sympathetic agencies and individuals while exposing vested interests that exploit marginalised people or neglected environmental concerns.

Finally, ethical considerations guide social workers to orchestrate peaceful pressure tactics, including public demonstrations and signature campaigns, to ensure recognition of water-related issues and viable solutions. In cases where water releases or buy-backs impact individuals or families, social workers advocate for financial compensation and comprehensive rehabilitation provisions encompassing information, education, counselling, alternative education, and reskilling.