Protecting rivers and defending the rights of the communities that depend on them

To Protect Rivers, Support Women!

At International Rivers, we believe in the transformative power of women’s leadership to protect the world’s most vital rivers and the communities that depend on them. Support the Women and Rivers program and the remarkable women river defenders who are shaping the future of our rivers and communities.
📣Donate now: https://intlrv.rs/SupportWomen

Our Rivers, Our Water Future

Since 1985, International Rivers has been at the heart of the global movement to ensure river-dependent communities’ voices are heard and their rights are respected.

Our Approach

Rivers are the arteries of the earth, supporting the highest rate of biodiversity compared to any other ecosystem and providing for the livelihoods of millions of local, indigenous and traditional peoples. Rivers are also under extreme threat, with less than 10% of the world’s river basins protected.

International Rivers strengthens movements of communities and civil society at the forefront of defending rivers by:

  • Undertaking investigative research to generate robust data and evidence to inform policies and campaigns.
  • Remaining independent and fearless in campaigning to expose and resist destructive projects.
  • Developing a vision that protects rivers and the communities that depend upon them. 

See how we work ›

Our Impact

0 Number of community groups, movements, and civil society organizations we have partnered with to provide campaign and advocacy support.
0 Destructive river projects delayed or stopped, resulting in millions of people retaining access to their traditional lands and livelihoods.
$ 0 B Funds (USD) channeled away from investment in destructive projects, toward sustainable and just alternatives.
Explore Our Priority Areas

Latest News

Finance in Common Summit shows reality is not meeting rhetoric when it comes to support for human rights and civic space

By: Josh Klemm, Co-Executive Director of International Rivers Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend the fourth annual Finance in Common (FIC) Summit in Cartagena, Colombia. A relatively new phenomenon, the Summit brought together over 500 public development banks from all over the world who together represent tens of billions of dollars in…

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Is the Disaster in Libya Coming Soon to an Aging Dam Near You?

Originally Published in The New York Times by Josh Klemm and Isabella Winkler Mr. Klemm and Ms. Winkler are co-directors of International Rivers, a group that advocates for healthy rivers and the rights of river communities. The collapse of two dams in Libya, unleashing torrential floodwaters that left at least 3,000 people dead and over 4,200 still missing, was both…

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