Water diplomacy has brought increased attention to both water governance and water-related challenges and risks. Women’s leadership in water governance remains a salient issue as the field strives to bridge the gender gap. In this month’s top post, Marisa O. Ensor finds that while the field remains male-dominated, recent events and related publications contribute to bridging this persistent gender gap.

Water-related stories continued in this month’s top posts. Elizabeth A. Yaari & Martina Klimes write about digital water diplomacy and the digital platforms that have transformed water-related decision-making since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our fifth top post is a part of ECSP and Circle of Blue’s WASH Within Reach series in which Keith Schneider reports on the global status of progress made towards universal access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) and the rare inflection point the WASH sector is currently experiencing.

Climate change drives conflict in two distinct ways, writes Jeremiah Asaka in this month’s second top post. One is a simple, indirect relationship, and the other a complex, cyclical relationship. Asaka delves into the nexus between climate change and terrorism and provides an analysis of the literature.

And finally, the development of the tourism sector following armed conflicts can support peacebuilding and environmental conservation by providing livelihoods, if planned with the well-being of the community and environment kept in mind. Elizabeth B. Hessami explores the role ecotourism could play in fostering durable peace in a post-war Afghanistan in this month’s third top post.

1. No Peace Without Water, No Water Without Peace, and Neither Without Women’s Empowerment by Marisa O. Ensor
2. Climate Change and Terrorism by Jeremiah Asaka
3. A Land Like No Other: Afghanistan’s Post-Conflict Ecotourism Potential by Elizabeth B. Hessami
4. Digital Water Diplomacy: Keeping Water Dialogues Afloat by Elizabeth A. Yaari & Martina Klimes
5. Pandemic Brings WASH to Rare Inflection Point: Despite Fears of Collapse, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Draw Closer to Epic Goal by Keith Schneider