Alum and Global Water Governance Leader Receives Stockholm Water Prize
Kaveh Madani, director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, or UNU-INWEH, and University of California, Davis, civil and environmental engineering alum, has been named the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize laureate. The prize is the world’s most prestigious award for outstanding achievements in water.
Established in 1991, the Stockholm Water Prize, known as the “Nobel Prize of Water,” is awarded annually by the Stockholm Water Foundation in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. It honors individuals and organizations whose work contributes significantly to the sustainable use and protection of the world’s water resources.
Madani, who earned his Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering from UC Davis in 2009, is recognized for his groundbreaking research and global leadership that have transformed how governments manage water crises.
As director of UNU-INWEH, 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. His work has advanced global understanding of transboundary water issues, developing science-based approaches to conflict resolution and sustainable management of shared river basins worldwide.
"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,” said Anette Scheibe Lorentzi, chair of the Stockholm Water Foundation.
The Stockholm Water Prize will be formally presented to 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.