Water Diplomacy and Governance in key Transboundary Hot Spot

Transboundary water bodies create hydrological, social and economic interdependencies between societies. While incorporating a potential for competition and conflict, they also provide opportunities for cooperation. Sound operational and legal frameworks and reliable data are essential for stable and reliable cooperation.

To enhance water governance and management in targeted basins (in Asia, Africa and America) in order to ensure that their users – especially the most vulnerable populations – have an equitable and sustainable access to the water resource, favoring social, economic and ecological development.

• Basin organisations and/or regional economic commissions,
• National government institutions and agencies,
• Municipal and provincial level governments,
• Local communities and people living in the concerned basins.

Water Diplomacy: Global commitments, concepts and platforms on water & security lead to more cooperation and less conflicts over water resources,

Water Governance: Transboundary water management frameworks and cooperation are in place in hot spot regions,

Strategic projects: Data, information and knowledge management is effectual and backs evidence-based dialogue and decision-making in water resources management.

Risultati principali attesi:  

Water diplomacy:

• At least five countries outside United Nations Economic Commission for Europe are taking steps to accede the Water Convention
• Institutional and policy frameworks strengthened in twelve transboundary basins, of which in seven through specific water governance agreements, and in two through formation of river basin organisations
• Management of transboundary aquifers becomes part of international hydro-diplomacy discourse

Water governance: 

• At least seven political cooperation processes supported by analysing the benefits of cooperation or assessing the water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus
• Formation of at least nine inclusive water user associations

Strategic projects: 

• Open-access databases with watershed and socio-economic date established in Ethiopia and Kenya
• Payment for watershed services scheme developed for Blue Nile

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

Water governance change processes were conducted in nine transboundary river basins and three aquifers. These processes delivered short term benefits, enabled regional dialogue and cleared a pathway to formal transboundary water management and governance mechanisms. Among many more examples, the riparian countries of Lake Malawi agreed to new cooperative steps that should eventually lead to the establishment of a tripartite commission. In Ethiopia and Kenya rich and online accessible data and information repositories were established and serve as knowledge platforms for cross-scale policy dialogue and water user associations were strengthened.

Transboundary water cooperation is a complex and lengthy process. Standardised approaches are useful toolboxes, but need to be adapted to local conditions. The spill-over from technical to political water cooperation is not automatic but involves communication, advocacy, trust building and capacity development on technical and political levels. Targeted knowledge products for evidence-based dialogue and decision-making are essential to inform the policy processes.

RECs: IGAD, EAC, SADC, ECOWAS, ASEAN
Basin organisations, national and local level government institutions and authorities, universities, research centers and networks, NGOs, local water users.

UN-Water; FAO/WB, ADB, GEF; UNEP, UNDP, GWP, INBO; SDC Regional Cooperation, Geneva Water Hub.

Fase 3 01.01.2016 - 30.04.2019   (Completed)