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

2023 Annual Report Cover

2023 Annual Report

With immense gratitude, International Rivers is proud to share our 2023 Annual Report and celebrate what supporters like you made possible.

From defending the free-flowing Salween River to leading the call for permanent river protections in Brazil and globally to accelerating women’s leadership roles in water governance, and more, this work is made possible because of the support of our incredible donors, partners, and allies around the world.

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.

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

Asia Pacific Feminist Forum Event | Asserting rights to rivers, territories and life in the face of authoritarian crack-downs: lessons from cross-border organizing

Asia Pacific Feminist Forum Event | Asserting rights to rivers, territories and life in the face of authoritarian crack-downs: lessons from cross-border organizing

Date: Thursday, September 12th Time: 11am Location: Asia Pacific Feminist Forum, Chiang Mai, Thailand Hydropower continues to be promoted as part of the energy transition, backed by vested interests across the region, including energy, construction and consultancy companies, bankrolled increasingly in the context of ‘climate finance’ schemes. However, damming our rivers creates sacrifice zones, causing…

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Biocultural Community Protocols, a powerful tool to affirm and protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights 

Biocultural Community Protocols, a powerful tool to affirm and protect Indigenous Peoples’ rights 

by Sherelee Odayar, Senior Programme Officer, Standing with Communities, Natural Justice The Process of developing the Biocultural Community Protocol of the OvaHerero of the Kaokoland in Namibia and Angola For centuries, Indigenous peoples have depended on the natural environment to sustain their livelihoods. Knowledge of plants and animals, as well as the performance of certain…

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