International Association for Water Law (AIDA)

What International Association for Water Law (AIDA) does

The International Association for Water Law (AIDA) is a private, non-profit international organization founded on 30 May 1967 in Washington, D.C. during the Water for Peace Conference and registered under Italian law. It is governed by a volunteer Executive Council of distinguished academics and practitioners drawn from Texas A&M, the Geneva Water Hub, IHE Delft, the University of Geneva, and the University of Vigo, among others, with operations run by a lean staff of six. AIDA's purpose is to foster the evolution, study, and application of water law at national and international levels, convening lawyers and non-lawyer water professionals (hydrologists, economists, policymakers, environmental scientists) around freshwater governance.

Its core offerings are a paid membership (€22 reduced fee to €159 three-year term), the quarterly AquaForum newsletter (published since 2002), the biennial World Water Law Congress (the 2026 Oslo edition attracted nearly 200 attendees), an annual General Assembly, the inaugural AIDA Water Law Excellence Awards program (2026), webinars and capacity-building programs (often co-hosted with partner institutions), and knowledge products including journal special issues, books, and policy briefs. Technology is limited to operational infrastructure: the Wild Apricot membership platform powers the website and member data, PayPal processes membership dues and donations, and Microsoft Teams and YouTube host and distribute webinar content. There is no proprietary technology product.

The business model is membership-dues-driven and donation-supported, with additional event revenue from congresses and webinars, and in-kind contribution through volunteer governance and partner co-hosting. Distribution is global and direct via the website portal, supplemented by academic and intergovernmental partnerships with the Geneva Water Hub, University of Geneva, UN-Water, IWRA, IUCN WCEL, IHE Delft, Texas A&M, and others that drive programming and reach.

Name

International Association for Water Law (AIDA)

Legal name

International Association for Water Law

Website

https://aida-waterlaw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AIDA is a Rome-based, Italian-law-registered non-profit founded in 1967 that serves as the only international professional association dedicated to water law, convening lawyers and non-lawyer water professionals through membership, the biennial World Water Law Congress, the AquaForum newsletter, and the Water Law Excellence Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Association Services (Water Law)

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate, Environment & Natural Resource Management Aid Programs (BPADABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG)

Keywords

• Water law governance
• Freshwater legal frameworks
• Transboundary water resources
• International water policy
• Professional legal association

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington, D.C.

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: AIDA generates revenue primarily through annual membership dues. Standard membership is priced at €53 per year or €159 for three years. Reduced fee membership at €22 per year is available for students, young professionals under 35, residents of eligible countries, and those demonstrating financial need.
2. Donations: AIDA accepts donations from individuals and organizations to support its programs and activities. Donations can be general or designated for specific projects, events, or purposes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

AIDA is a membership-based international professional association that delivers water-law knowledge products and convening services to individual professionals and institutions. Its core offering is paid membership (€22–€159 per year) that grants access to the AquaForum quarterly newsletter, publishing opportunities in journal special issues and books, networking, and participation in Task Forces and Committees. Around membership, AIDA runs the biennial World Water Law Congress, the annual General Assembly, the AIDA Water Law Excellence Awards, capacity-building webinars and training, and knowledge products such as policy briefs on water law.

Product overview

The International Association for Water Law (AIDA) is a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of publications, events, awards, and educational programs centered on advancing water law and governance. The core offering is membership (€22–159/year), which provides access to the AquaForum newsletter (quarterly publication since 2002), networking opportunities, and committee/task force participation. Major events include the AIDA World Water Law Congress (international conference, 2026 Oslo with ~200 attendees) and the annual General Assembly. The AIDA Water Law Excellence Awards recognize outstanding contributions to water law globally. Capacity building is delivered through webinars and training courses, often in partnership with organizations like the Geneva Water Hub and University of Geneva. Knowledge products include journal special issues, books, and policy briefs on water law topics. The organization uses Wild Apricot for membership management and PayPal for payment processing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AIDA Membership Annual or multi-year membership providing access to publications including the AquaForum newsletter, opportunities to publish in AIDA-organized special journal issues and books, representation and liaison roles to international organizations, Task Force and Committee participation, and global networking with water law professionals. Dues range from €22 (reduced fee) to €159 (three-year).
• AquaForum Newsletter A quarterly newsletter providing water law news, developments, and AIDA updates to AIDA members.
• AIDA World Water Law Congress A biennial international congress bringing together professionals from law, economics, and hydrology to share knowledge and discuss water law developments through keynotes, plenary sessions, oral presentations, special sessions, and poster presentations.
• AIDA General Assembly Annual gathering of AIDA members who collectively steer the Association's direction, reviewing progress, endorsing projects, discussing finances, and considering amendments to the Articles of Association. Conducted online with recordings available.
• AIDA Water Law Excellence Awards The first and only international awards program dedicated exclusively to recognizing outstanding contributions to water law at all governance levels, comprising the Global Water Law Excellence Award and the Early-Career Water Law Excellence Award.
• Capacity Building Programs Webinars, conference panels, symposia, and training courses providing skill development and information to academics, practitioners, and policymakers on cutting-edge water law issues, often co-hosted with partner organizations such as the Geneva Water Hub and University of Geneva.
• Knowledge Products Publishing activities including journal special issues, books, and policy briefs on water law topics, produced to foster knowledge generation and awareness of water law developments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 200 attendees at the 2026 World Water Law Congress
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of OslocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Host and co-organizer of the AIDA World Water Law Congress 2026 in Oslo, Norway. The congress was held at the University of Oslo Faculty of Law, demonstrating AIDA's collaboration with leading academic institutions in water law research and education.
• Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Co-organizer of the AIDA World Water Law Congress 2026, contributing academic expertise in life sciences and environmental research relevant to water governance.
• Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026Co-organizer of the AIDA World Water Law Congress 2026, providing research expertise in water science and policy to the congress programming.
• Geneva Water HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDA collaborates with the Geneva Water Hub on webinars and capacity building programs including the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Water Governance. Mara Tignino serves as Scientific Director of the Geneva Water Hub while also serving as Projects Chair on the AIDA Executive Council.
• University of GenevacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer with Geneva Water Hub of the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Water Governance: Frameworks and Negotiations program. AIDA promotes this capacity building initiative to its members and network.
• IHE DelftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSusanne Schmeier, AIDA's Partnerships and Affiliations Chair, is Associate Professor and Head of Water Governance department at IHE Delft. AIDA co-hosted a webinar with IHE Delft on Cooperating Over Shared Freshwater Resources.
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - World Commission on Environmental LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDA co-organized a webinar on 'Towards Freshwater Rule of Law: A Manifesto of Fundamental Principles' with IUCN WCEL. AIDA members participate in WCEL specialist groups including Water and Wetlands.
• UN-WatercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDA organized a webinar 'The Role of Water Law for Fostering Water for Peace' in collaboration with UN-Water for World Water Day 2024. AIDA has a representative (Mariana Nogales Paez as alternate) to UN-Water.
• International Water Resources Association (IWRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBetween 2011-2025, AIDA collaborated with IWRA six times to organize water law tracks within IWRA World Water Congress program. AIDA has Renee Martin-Nagle as representative to IWRA.
• Geneva Water HubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted a webinar on 'India's Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: Underlying Causes and Consequences for Pakistan' on July 10, 2025. Mara Tignino is affiliated with both organizations.
• Permanent Forum for Binational Waters (PFBW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDA and PFBW issued a joint Policy Brief on 'Emerging Policy Themes for Interconnected Waters' addressing the disconnection between regulatory frameworks for surface water and groundwater. They co-organized a webinar series on Hydrologic Realities and Delusions.
• UNESCO-IHPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized a special session on Groundwater Governance at the XIX IWRA World Water Congress in Beijing with UNESCO-IHP and other partners.
• International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized special session on Groundwater Governance at the XIX IWRA World Water Congress in Beijing.
• The Groundwater ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized special session on Groundwater Governance at the XIX IWRA World Water Congress in Beijing.
• Texas A&M University School of LawcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Texas A&M University School of Law for webinar on 'Cooperating Over Shared Freshwater Resources Using International Law.' Gabriel Eckstein is a professor at Texas A&M.
• Florida International University Steven J. Green School of International & Public AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with FIU for webinar on 'Cooperating Over Shared Freshwater Resources Using International Law.'
• World Scientific PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with World Scientific Publishing for webinar related to their forthcoming book on 'Cooperating Over Shared Freshwater Resources Using International Law.'
• Human Right 2 WaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted a webinar on 'Water Policies to Support Investment in Human Rights & Nature' with African Development Bank and Water Research Commission.
• African Development BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted a webinar on 'Water Policies to Support Investment in Human Rights & Nature' with Human Right 2 Water and Water Research Commission.
• Water Research CommissionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-hosted a webinar on 'Water Policies to Support Investment in Human Rights & Nature' with Human Right 2 Water and African Development Bank.
• World Bank Global Forum on Law, Justice and Development - Water Law Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIDA has Kishor Uprety as representative to the Water Law Working Group. Joint webinars organized including one on transboundary groundwater frameworks.
• Best Best & Krieger LLPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of AIDA Congress Scholarship Awards providing financial support for scholarship recipients to attend the 2026 World Water Law Congress.
• Faculty of Law for Commerce and Judiciary in Novi Sad, SerbiaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of AIDA Congress Scholarship Awards providing financial support for scholarship recipients to attend the 2026 World Water Law Congress.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• World Water Council: An international multi-stakeholder platform focused on water policy and governance. Operates in the same global water-governance space as AIDA, convening policymakers, practitioners, and researchers, though with a broader (not specifically legal) mandate.
• Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI): An independent policy institute generating knowledge and convening leaders on water governance. Comparable to AIDA as a Stockholm-based international water-governance organization hosting major events and producing applied water-policy research.
• International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH): A global scientific and professional association for hydrogeologists. AIDA has co-organized groundwater-governance sessions with IAH, making it a closely adjacent international professional association in the water-resources domain.
• International Water Resources Association (IWRA): Global professional association dedicated to water resources. AIDA has collaborated with IWRA six times between 2011-2025 to organize water law tracks within IWRA's World Water Congress, making it the closest analog as another international water-focused professional membership body.
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI): A CGIAR research organization working on sustainable water management. Operates in the same global water-governance and research space as AIDA, producing knowledge products and engaging international institutions.
• Permanent Forum for Binational Waters (PFBW): A binational waters governance forum that has co-produced policy briefs and joint webinar series with AIDA on transboundary water issues. Operates in the same niche of cross-border water governance and legal frameworks as AIDA.
• Geneva Water Hub: A Geneva-based centre of excellence on water governance and hydrodiplomacy. A direct partner of AIDA on the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Water Governance and multiple webinars, with overlapping leadership (Mara Tignino serves in both).
• International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID): An international scientific and technical body on irrigation, drainage, and flood management. Comparable to AIDA as a long-standing international professional organization serving specialists within the broader water-resources domain.
• IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL): The leading international commission on environmental law within IUCN. AIDA co-organizes webinars with WCEL and AIDA members participate in WCEL specialist groups, making it a directly comparable international environmental-law knowledge network.
• IUCN Academy of Environmental Law: A global network of environmental law universities and scholars convened under IUCN. Comparable to AIDA as an international environmental-law education and research network with member institutions and conferences.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Intl_Assoc_for_Water_Law
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-association-for-water-law

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Association for Water Law (AIDA)