The present water crisis has many components: excessive and inadequate use, contamination and increasing demand. To cope with these problems, there is an increasing need for better management, based in research and innovation. In order to bridge water research, innovation and management in all continents a global water network, based on the Science Academies of the world and on International Training Centers, is being proposed by IAP. This network will develop a programme focused on research and capacity building for water management, thus contributing to the improvement of management practices, promoting integrated and predictive approaches, with optimization of multiple uses of water. This initiative will have an ecological, economical and social impact.