Water: Catalyst for Cooperation “The Water Problems Facing Our World Need Not Be Only a Cause of Tension; They Can Also Be a Catalyst for Cooperation

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Water: catalyst for cooperation “The water problems facing our world need not be only a cause of tension; they can also be a catalyst for cooperation. ...If we work together, a secure and sustainable water future can be ours.”

Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General, World Water Day, 22 March 2002

About GWP

The Global Water Partnership vision is for a water secure world.

Our mission is to support the sustainable development and management of water resources at all levels.

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is an international network that was created in 1996 to foster the implementation of integrated water resources management (IWRM): the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximise economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of ecosystems and the environment.

GWP was founded by the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The Network is open to all organisations which recognise the principles of integrated water resources management endorsed by the Network. It includes states, government institutions (national, regional and local), intergovernmental organisations, international and national non- governmental organisations, academic and research institutions, companies, and service providers in the public sector.

The Global Water Partnership is an intergovernmental organisation of 13 Regional Water Partnerships, 83 Country Water Partnerships and more than 2,800 Partner organisations in 167 countries.

ISBN: 978-91-85321-94-0 CONTENTS

Cooperating on water ...... 4

Creating a thirst for water management: post-quake cooperation in China ...... 6

Talking informally: a first step towards cooperation in Myanmar ...... 8

Bridging the gap to cooperation: building knowledge, trust and confidence in Sri Lanka ...... 10

Starting at grassroots: cooperation in the Caucasus ...... 12

Managing destructive water: cooperation on floods in Central and Eastern Europe ...... 14

Sharing benefits: transboundary cooperation in the Mediterranean ...... 16

A turnaround: from conflict to cooperation in the Berki River Basin, Ethiopia ...... 18

Managing liquid waste: cooperating across sectors in the Okavango Delta ...... 20

Putting water on the political agenda: cooperation in Central Africa ...... 22

Influencing the debate: involving the media in West Africa ...... 24

Making water a continental priority: cooperation on climate change in Africa ...... 26

Encouraging sustainable change: building cooperation in the Peruvian Andes ...... 28

Getting round the table on water: communities cooperate in Central America ...... 30

Generating political will: a pathway to cooperation in the Caribbean ...... 32

Linking science with policy and practice: cooperation across the globe ...... 34

Become a Partner ...... 36

GWP Network ...... 37 GWP Cooperating on water

One of the most pressing issues of our specific issue, such as pollution of a time and for the future is how we river or how to share water among manage the world’s water resources. towns. This, in time, can lead to wider cooperation on other issues related to Water does not flow according to the water, such as navigation, flood control, boundaries created by nations, regions fisheries, agriculture, hydropower and and communities. Moreover, water is a environmental protection. As cooper- finite resource; what we have now is all ation expands and more people get we’ll ever have. And for the first time in involved, community groups and agree- history, global demand is beginning to ments transform into more formal outstrip supply. organisations.

This means that water is a resource that Transforming informal cooperation into has to be shared. To do that requires formal cooperation means influencing cooperation. Cooperation can both politicians, securing funds to finance prevent and solve problems. water management, and educating water users and water managers. Advocating, The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is financing, training – all of this requires a founded on the belief that our mission – sharing of skills, knowledge and to support the sustainable development experience. and management of water resources at all levels – can only be achieved if civil Addressing challenges through society, government and the private cooperation sector partner together to solve water Getting collective action on a common challenges. Creating partnerships around resource requires trust and cooperation water is the foundation of the GWP from everyone involved. That isn’t easy. network. There is a need for ‘horizontal’ cooperation, for example between state and Panos Starting at the local level non-state actors or across sectors such Cooperation on water often starts out as agriculture or energy, and for ‘vertical’ with people getting together around a cooperation, between various levels,

4 from local, community and watershed to synergies within and outside the water district, provincial, state, national and community. All this of course is only regional levels. possible with a lot of groundwork including intensive advocacy, confidence GWP’s role as a neutral platform is building, and knowledge sharing for the important in helping negotiate partisan common good. interests and move cooperation forward at critical junctures. GWP urges all water users to engage in a process that results in water being managed in a way that maximises economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. This integrated approach to water resources management (IWRM) is key to achieving a water-secure world. It cannot succeed without cooperation. Dr Ursula Schaefer-Preuss, GWP Chair Implementing change Collectively, GWP partners and allies are promoters of change: changing the way we manage water. To do that means Panos turning non-cooperation on water into cooperation on water. GWP and its partners lay the groundwork for water users to cooperate through advocacy, facilitating dialogues, sharing technical expertise, and building the capacity of people and institutions. Getting collective action on a common resource The stories in this book, presented from requires trust and East to West, show that working cooperatively brings down transaction cooperation from costs, resolves differences and exploits everyone involved.

5 GWP CHINA Creating a thirst for water management: post-quake cooperation in China

In May 2008, an earthquake measuring Learning by doing 8.0 on the Richter scale jolted Sichuan The lack of skills to rebuild and manage and Shaanxi provinces in southwest rural water supply systems so that they China. The earthquake left 69,227 dead, would withstand future earthquakes was 374,176 injured, 18,222 missing, 4.8 a huge problem. Addressing this needed million people homeless, and cut off a two-pronged approach. First, local electricity, communications, transport officers responsible for managing and and water. One of the many relief and operating water supply systems worked rebuilding efforts brought together side-by-side with Mott MacDonald water people who could help reconstruct and engineers. The water managers inter- future-proof rural water supplies against viewed local government officers, subsequent disasters. This triggered a farmers and other water users, and desire among those involved in recon- sought their views on problems and struction to learn more about how to solutions. The local managers surveyed manage water better. and collected data and information on the damage to rural drinking water GWP China, through connections services and, with the help and advice of nurtured over a decade, catalysed a the water engineers, drew up plans to cooperative effort to rebuild rural water rehabilitate and reconstruct facilities. supply systems in four of the worst-hit areas. The partnership brought together Building knowledge and skills funds from the UK Department for The second and critical part of the International Development, the reconstruction effort was arranging engineering expertise of Mott training for local government officials, MacDonald, on-the-ground project and those responsible for water supply management officers in Sichuan and centres and village water stations. Panos Shaanxi, and non-governmental Introducing the basic principles, organisations (NGOs). methods and technical requirements for

6 operating, managing and maintaining earthquake-proof water supply facilities, water supply centres and stations to and for building skills to manage water Resources staff involved in reconstruction was a in crises. Organisations such as GWP turning point. Training courses were China are able to mobilise partners GWP China: A Decade of Impact. (2010) GWP Briefing Note. GWP. backed up with a practical handbook almost immediately, to act as skill covering engineering in rural water brokers and to create the conditions for The GWP ToolBox case studies listed below can be found supplies, common management issues, various parties to cooperate on water at www.gwptoolbox.org and operating and managing rural water management. In the aftermath of China: Eco-compensation for watershed. Case Study services. disaster, such collaboration created ‘a #422. thirst for management’, a desire for new Linking efforts ideas to tackle water issues and an China: From flood control to integrated flood The cooperative effort was not only appreciation of the value of cooperation. management. Case Study #420. valuable in bringing together the parties China Guizhou: Management of drought. Case Study who could help with reconstruction but #419. also made those affected by the earthquake – water authorities and China Fujian: Innovative water resource management mechanism in rural communities. Case Study #401. communities – realise that cooperation on water management pays off. All the China: Innovative water resource conservation measures departments responsible for providing in the North China Plain. Case Study #348. drinking water to rural areas recognised the need to cooperate more fully with NGOs and international development agencies, and to link grassroots efforts in rehabilitation with action at higher The May 2008 levels. earthquake in southwest China The work on water supplies was a small GWP China | www.gwpchina.org part of widespread relief operations after destroyed many rural the earthquake. But people in the four water supply services counties will be better prepared for and triggered a desire future disasters. Cooperation is a powerful tool for capacity development, to start managing for adapting and spreading ways to water differently.

7 GWP SOUTHEAST ASIA Talking informally: a first step towards cooperation in Myanmar

Myanmar, emerging from long isolation monsoon with hot humid summers and to embrace political change and mild winters. The catchments of the ten economic development, is rich in natural main river basins cover around 737,800 resources such as oil, gas, precious square kilometres. Surface water metals, timber and gems. In tackling amounts to about 1,082 cubic economic development, Myanmar has kilometres a year and groundwater to many challenges to overcome – 495 cubic kilometres a year. Only about earthquakes, cyclones, floods, 5 percent of this plentiful water is used, landslides, drought, water pollution, and mostly for agriculture. The potential for water-borne disease from inadequate developing water resources in Myanmar sanitation and water treatment. is huge. Wise management of water resources is, therefore, critical for Sustainable development in Myanmar sustainable development. means all sectors need to cooperate on water. Population growth and shortages Forging links of staple foods require agriculture to To forge links across sectors and expand. Developing industries require interests, GWP Myanmar, the Myanmar reliable power and water supplies. The links between water, energy and food are complex, and are made more “Water is a life system, a finite resource complicated by trade, investment and and a building block for a green climate change. Bringing parties together economy. …The Government of Myanmar is a first step in understanding the wishes to make Green Economy and issues and encouraging cooperation. Green Growth a national policy.”

Managing the huge potential of water Panos Professor Dr Khin Ni Ni Thein, President, Water resources Research and Training Centre, Myanmar, and Myanmar is endowed with abundant Green Economy and Green Growth Convening water resources. The climate is tropical Group Member

8 Irrigation Department and the Ministry of conserve, use and manage water, food Agriculture and Irrigation, brokered a production and energy with national Resources meeting in August 2012 where perspectives. Holistic and cooperative government agencies, non-governmental rather than sectoral approaches to water, Good Water Governance and IWRM: Prerequisites for Water-Energy-Food Security. K.N.N. Thein. organisations (NGOs) and journalists got guided by the principles of integrated together to discuss water, energy and water resources management, can foster United Nations Strategic Framework 2012-1015. UN food security. The dialogue, sponsored sustainable development in Myanmar. Country Team, Myanmar. by GWP Southeast Asia, was intended to From Vision to Action: A Synthesis of Experiences in sow the seeds of cooperation on water. Least-Developed Countries in Southeast Asia. The FAO- ESCAP Pilot Project on National Water Visions – Phase 2. Discussions at the meeting raised Bangkok, December 2004. (2004) L.H. Ti and T. Facon. awareness among the various parties of RAP Publication 2004/32. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for the need to encourage integrated water Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok and United Nations resources management. Participants Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific explored ways to improve understanding of water issues, reform water institutions Website of the Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture, Myanmar and put mechanisms in place to www.moai.gov.mm coordinate water management. Discussions ranged widely over ways to Website of Green Economy and Green Growth respond to climate change, how to cope www.geggmyanmar.com with disasters related to water, potential Website of the Water, Research and Training Centre, water supply and water quality Sustainable development Myanmar management systems, and how to in Myanmar means all www.wrtcmyan.org finance the development and management of water resources. sectors need to cooperate Importantly, the discussions helped on water. Population government agencies, NGOs, community growth and shortages GWP Southeast Asia | www.gwpsea.org organisations and stakeholders at grassroots recognise the need for active of staple foods require cooperation in tackling these issues. agriculture to expand. Developing industries Aligning with national perspectives Not least, the informal meeting paved require reliable power the way for aligning efforts to develop, and water supplies.

9 GWP SOUTH ASIA Bridging the gap to cooperation: building knowledge, trust and confidence in Sri Lanka

Rice farmers in the lower reaches of the Nilwala River in Sri Lanka adamantly opposed the construction of a barrier to prevent seawater penetrating up river. Afraid that their fields would become waterlogged, they baulked at proposals to build a barrier near the river mouth or further upstream. Farmers were highly suspicious of the motives of irrigation and water authorities. Water authorities on their part feared salty water would

Panos gradually replace fresh groundwater, threaten supplies of potable water and damage pumping stations. Arguments about whether or not the barrier should be built and where went back and forth for over six years. A turning point came In Sri Lanka, arguments about whether or not a barrier should be built when GWP Sri Lanka's Area Water to prevent seawater entering the Nilwala River went back and forth for Partnership in Nilwala provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss over six years. A turning point came when Nilwala Area Water water issues. Partnership stepped in.

10 Shared understanding farmland, as had happened with previous Recognising that when people have a development projects. They made it clear Resources shared understanding of a problem and that they did not trust the authorities. The its consequences they will probably farmers said they wanted to see for them- Technical Report on Issues Related to Water and agree about what to do, the Area Water selves how a barrier would work and how Agriculture in South Asia. (2012) Prepared by GWP South Asia for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network. Hayama: Partnership arranged a meeting in it would affect them. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. February 2012 between farmers and water authorities so that each side could A trip was arranged for farmers to Promoting Livelihoods and Influencing Policies through voice their concerns and what they inspect a barrier on the nearby Gin Area Water Partnerships in South Asia. Briefing Note. GWP wanted to do about them. Ganga River that was similar to the one South Asia. proposed for the Nilwala River. Reas- Meeting Water Challenges through Partnerships. Briefing Officials from the Irrigation Department sured that a barrier would not deprive Note. GWP South Asia. and the National Water Supply and them of their land and would protect Drainage Board explained that fresh- their land from salt water, the farmers Local action through Area Water Partnerships. (2006) water was already scarce. The sea level agreed in principle that it should be GWP. was rising and river beds were being built. After another trip in September Website of GWP Sri Lanka deepened by sand mining. This meant 2012 to see exactly where the barrier www.lankajalani.org that, especially in the dry season when would be located they were persuaded the river was low, sea water could work that construction was in their interests, its way upriver and affect sources of and that the best place to build it was freshwater. A further problem was that near the mouth of the river. during dry periods, if salt water travelled up river it could damage freshwater It is possible to get people with different intakes and pumping stations. Officials interests to cooperate on water if they from the University of Ruhuna showed understand why it is necessary and that farmers how saline river water can seep they will benefit. Achieving this common into groundwater and eventually make understanding can be through a simple fields infertile. The result would be that method such as sharing information. A GWP South Asia | www.gwpsouthasia.org farmers would lose valuable cropland. trusted party, such as the Nilwala Area Water Partnership in this case, can Seeing is believing create neutral spaces for parties at odds Farmers voiced their concern that a barrier to explain their differ-ences and find win- would deprive them of some of their win solutions.

11 GWP CENTRAL ASIA AND CAUCASUS Starting at grassroots: cooperation in the Caucasus

Three countries that were once part of cleaning up pollution and, secondly to the Soviet Union – Armenia, Azerbaijan, raise awareness of the need for countries and Georgia – share part of the Kura- to work together to manage the river. Araks Basin. Although it is in the interests of these countries to cooperate GWP Central Asia and Caucasus on water, they have not signed any water concentrates on sharing information and treaties, nor have they agreed how to experiences of transboundary water share water, maintain water quality or management drawn from the global GWP care for the basin ecosystem. At bank of knowledge. Every June, on Kura- grassroots, however, water managers are Araks Protection Day, GWP Central Asia cooperating to explore how to change and Caucasus tells the ‘story’ of the basin existing water management arrange- to the public – how the river is heavily ments in ways that boost overall welfare polluted, contaminated with household, in each country. chemical, industrial, biological, agricultural and radioactive waste – and Raising awareness explains why cooperation is vital for Back in 2002, representatives of preventing pollution and why clean water environmental agencies and is vital for regional development. parliamentary committees in the three countries, non-governmental organis- Providing information and tools ations (NGOs), the European Union, GWP Armenia follows up the messages of international organisations, donor Kura-Araks Protection Day by arranging agencies and scientific institutions met roundtables where people in local and agreed to cooperate on setting up a government, NGOs and emergency legal treaty and basin management services can explore solutions. council for the Kura-Araks Basin. NGOs, Workshops arranged for land and water including GWP Central Asia and managers give them practical tools, such Caucasus, launched a two-pronged as step-by-step guidelines on how to campaign, firstly to engage the public in cooperate in setting up independent river

12 basin councils. One of these workshops, opportunities and risks, and structure in Dilijan in June 2011, began the task of agreements to share benefits. Sustained Resources setting up an independent council for support of this kind – often over many the Aghstev River, a tributary of the Kura- years or even decades – plays a huge Integrated Water Resources Management in the Amudarya Delta. (2010) E. Kurbanbaev, O. Artykov and S. Kurbanbaev. Araks that flows through Azerbaijan and part in enabling fruitful negotiations on GWP Central Asia and Caucasus. [Russian] Armenia. This task built on the basin cooperating to manage shared water. management plan for the Aghstev River Integrated Water Resources Management in Armenia - previously developed in cooperation Articles Collection. (2006) GWP Central Asia and Caucasus. [Russian] with the European Union. The Aghstev River Council will establish a legal A Network for Water Security. (2010) GWP Central Asia framework for joint water management, and Caucasus. and tackle deforestation and water Website of GWP Armenia [Armenian, Russian, English] quality. www.cwp.am

Influencing upwards The work to raise awareness and share knowledge is paying off. At grassroots, at least, there is a willingness to cooperate more closely on shared water resources. Political tensions between countries do not necessarily prevent people from getting round the table to talk. When the Aghstev River Council gets under way and shows it can bring a wide range of stakeholders together to manage water An independent council and share benefits, the readiness to for the Aghstev River, a collaborate on water may diffuse tributary of the Kura- GWP Central Asia and Caucasus | www.gwp-cacena.org upwards to higher levels of government. Araks that flows through Impartial third parties such as GWP Azerbaijan and Armenia, Central Asia and Caucasus that offer will be a legal framework knowledge, technical assistance and neutral spaces for dialogue can help for cooperating to stakeholders cooperate to weigh up manage water.

13 GWP CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE Managing destructive water: cooperation on floods in Central and Eastern Europe

Flash floods have taken lives and the Slovak Republic and Slovenia – that wreaked havoc in many communities in piloted ways to prepare for and deal with Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The flash floods. As a first step, Gorzanow risk of flash floods is growing as inhabitants helped map the extent of the countries urbanise and develop, and as 1997 flood. Fire service experts then storms and heavy rain become more marked areas where floodwaters were frequent as a result of climate change. too deep or flowed too fast to allow rescue operations. People in these areas Preventing and reducing flood damage were the first who needed to be warned involves being prepared, knowing what and shown routes they could safely use to do and how to do it, and being to escape. warned in advance, knowing what is coming and when. Recognising the value Involving and encouraging people in of combining strengths in different areas communities to put forward ideas for of expertise and at different levels, the preventing and preparing for floods were World Meteorological Organization and important. The plan eventually agreed on GWP took the opportunity offered by the in Gorzanow took into account suggest- Associated Programme on Flood Man- ions from the community and included agement (APFM) to cooperate on improving how communities in CEE prepare for flash floods. “…a multi-disciplinary and integrated approach to flood management holds Learning from experience [the potential] to confront the issues of Gorzanow, a Polish village of 1,000 flash-flood affected communities.” people that suffered a flash flood in 1997, was one of the communities in Avinash C. Tyagi, former Director of the Climate seven countries – Bulgaria, the Czech and Water Department, World Meteorological Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Organization

14 improving drains and road culverts, Translating lessons learned into installing a flood gauge, drawing up an guidelines Resources evacuation plan, setting up an early Poland took the lead in translating what warning system and running a campaign had been learned from the pilot projects Guidance on Flash Flood Management: Recent Experiences from Central and Eastern Europe. (2007) to make sure everyone knew what to do into easy-to-use guidelines. The guide- Associated Programme on Flood Management. in the event of a flood warning. GWP lines cover different kinds of early Country Water Partnerships took the warning systems and explain measures In Time for the Flood: A Methodological Guide to Local same approach to pilot projects in the to limit flood damage that can be taken Flood Warning Systems. (2005) M. Barszczynska, R. Bogdanska-Warmuz, R. Konieczny, P. Madej and other CEE countries and exchanged at household, local, national and region- M. Siudak. World Meteorological Organization and GWP. information on their experiences. al level. When floods threaten, mayors, Institute of Meteorology and Water Management Warsaw, civil defence and water services Poland. Combining strengths personnel, and individuals can do much Regional Workshop on Community Preparedness and The pilot projects gave communities to limit damage if there are rescue plans Public Participation for Flash Flood Management in opportunities to test ways of dealing with in place and everyone knows what to do Europe 29-30 October, 2007, Krakow, Poland: flash floods suited to their particular and when to do it. GWP Country Water Recommendations. World Meteorological Organization, circumstances. Complementing on-the- Partnerships have organised training GWP Central and Eastern Europe, GWP Poland and Institute of Meteorology and Water Management of spot strategies devised by communities, sessions and seminars for local flood Poland. national meteorological and hydrological managers and the general public. services have adapted their forecasting Findings and experience from pilot Website of the WMO-GWP Associated Programme on Flood technologies to allow them to both see projects were used in implementing the Management. www.apfm.info the big picture and zoom in to identify European Union Floods Management areas at particular risk. This may help Directive into national legislation in the map risks and develop appropriate seven countries. measures to mitigate risks.

Meteorologists, hydrologists, mayors, Preventing and reducing GWP Central and Eastern Europe | civil defence personnel, and GWP Central and Eastern Europe through its Country flood damage involves being www.gwpceeforum.org Water Partnerships cooperated to exam- prepared, knowing what to do ine, collate and extract lessons from the and how to do it, and being pilot projects and come up with recommendations for warning and preparing warned in advance, knowing communities for flash floods. what is coming and when.

15 GWP MEDITERRANEAN Sharing benefits: transboundary cooperation in the Mediterranean

Albania, the former Yugoslav Republic of UNECE and GWP Mediterranean took the Macedonia, Greece, Kosovo and Monte- opportunity and, after wide consultation negro share the Drin River Basin in the with countries, stakeholders and inter- western Balkans. Around 1.5 million national agencies, formally launched the people rely on the water resources of the Drin Dialogue in 2009. basin for drinking water, agriculture, fisheries, industry and hydropower. Each The dialogue built on legally binding riparian state, however, has its own agreements already in place signed by priorities, interests and systems for countries sharing the transboundary managing water. Prespa, Ohrid and Skadar lakes. The consultations have been important in Throughout the Drin River Basin water bringing together ministries, sub-basin quality and biodiversity are threatened commissions and committees, and by pollution from agriculture, untreated stakeholders and have led to a shared urban wastewater and solid waste. vision for sustainable management of However, awareness is growing of the the whole basin. Water users in the value of cooperation on water. This region have a growing understanding of cooperation is now being formalised to cooperation on transboundary water explore synergies and share benefits. resources as a way to open up opportunities. Taking cooperation to a high level Under the Water Convention, the legal Moving towards formal agreement framework for transboundary water The dialogue garnered political support. management in the United Nations A memorandum of understanding for the Economic Commission for Europe management of the Drin Basin founded (UNECE) region, and the European Union on the shared vision and signed in 2011 Water Framework Directive there was an by ministers was a turning point. The opportunity to bring countries together memorandum set out the main trans- to talk about how they could cooperate. boundary issues and steps to integrate

16 management of the basin in the short, transboundary institution for the Drin medium and long term, paving the way River Basin will encourage cooperation Resources for a legally binding agreement. A basin on putting in place joint frameworks for authority, for which GWP Mediterranean the sustainable and integrated Establishing cooperative management in the Drin Basin. www.twrm-med.net/drin-river-basin provides a secretariat, is the mechanism management of the shared water for riparian states to cooperate and resources. Status Paper - Management of the Extended coordinate action to follow through on Transboundary Drin Basin. (2008) GWP Mediterranean, the memorandum. Under the Cooperating to encourage cooperation Athens. memorandum the first step is to assess International institutions can be instru- Drin Basin: A Situation Analysis. (2011) GWP Mediterranean, how water resources are managed in mental in catalysing cooperation by Athens. each country. This will set the stage for offering their respective strengths when preparing a river basin management windows of opportunity open. Several Transboundary Waters Resources Management (TWRM) in the Southeastern Europe (SEE) and Middle East & North plan for the part of the Drin River in each conventions, directives and processes Africa. www.twrm-med.net of the five riparian states and making provided a framework for UNECE, as a sure they harmonise. regional policy institution, and GWP The ToolBox case study below can be found at Mediterranean, as a knowledge sharing, www.gwptoolbox.org Translating intent into action technical and networking organisation, Transboundary: Prespa Basin National Park. Case Study #258. Agreement on a formal memorandum to cooperate in helping Drin Basin states was a significant step forward. Previous- work together to manage shared water ly, there was no coordination in resources. In a next step, UNDP, UNECE, managing shared water in the Drin GWP Mediterranean and riparian states, Basin. Political commitment and financed by the Global Environmental consultations across sectors have built Facility will, over the four years 2013- solid foundations for cooperative 2016, combine forces to establish joint solutions. Some countries, having management. emerged from political instability and conflict several decades ago, are GWP Mediterranean | www.gwpmed.org establishing market economies. In many cases, the drive for economic growth influences decisions on water and The Drin Dialogue consult- managing other natural resources. ations are opportunities to Environmental considerations are also important to countries seeking member- exchange views about co- ship of the European Union. Creating a operating on shared water.

17 GWP EASTERN AFRICA A turnaround: from conflict to cooperation in the Berki River Basin, Ethiopia

Competition for scarce water between systems are being encouraged and there farmers for irrigation, the church for holy are plans to recharge groundwater. water, water authorities for urban water services, and upstream and downstream Triggering change users in the Berki River Basin, Tigray Ethiopia has written integrated water Region in northern Ethiopia, was resources management (IWRM) sparking quarrels. In a significant principles into its water resources turnaround, water users have stopped management policy, has passed water quarrelling and begun cooperating. laws, and has a strategy and workplan to Open discussions on how to allocate turn policy into practice. However, scarce water equitably have led to a better funds and skills, and poor coordination understanding of how the way each user and involvement of stakeholders, manages water affects other users, and hamper progress. to less conflict. The trigger for change in the Berki River Through interlinked neighbourhood, Basin was a two-year pilot project 2006- district, catchment and regional water 2008 run by GWP Eastern Africa and forums, water users have already GWP Ethiopia. The project set up a resolved disputes without any need for framework for IWRM. legal or administrative action. Downstream water users in the Berki Cooperating to bring about change River catchment who had previously Changes in the way water is managed in destroyed a weir upstream that diverted the Berki River Basin would not have water for irrigation, now contribute to happened without the cooperation of conservation measures upstream. An many different parties on many fronts.

Panos upstream district has revisited a plan to install 100 water pumps that would have GWP Ethiopia, district authorities and cut the amount of water available non-governmental organisations (NGOs) downstream. Water efficient drip raised awareness of the need for action

18 on water in their constituencies – water users a better understanding of identifying, contacting, involving and how their use of water affects other Resources educating stakeholders, and winning users. They began to open up, discuss political support. GWP Ethiopia provided how to allocate water equitably and work Linking Participation to Results in Water Resources Management. A Case study of Ethiopia IWRM backup on policy issues. District agri- towards ‘joined up’ water management. Implementation Pilot Project. Policy Brief. GWP Eastern cultural development agents channelled Cooperating is now seen as a way to Africa and Ethiopia Country Water Partnership. feedback from communities. resolve water issues, and manage water and land resources of the whole catch- Enough water for all: How to manage demand. Lessons from Ethiopia IWRM Implementation Pilot Project. Policy Stakeholders themselves set up region- ment sustainably. Brief. GWP Eastern Africa and GWP Ethiopia. al, watershed, district and neighbourhood forums where they could interact. In water scarce environments, compe- Transmitting tensions down the river: How to resolve Neighbourhoods built on traditional tition for water is likely to intensify. This them. A Case study of Ethiopia IWRM Implementation Pilot Project. Policy Brief. GWP Eastern Africa and GWP yewuha abat (father of water) practices means water users, like those in the Ethiopia. to quickly create their own water forums. Berki River Basin, need to cooperate and Forums evolved from existing systems find ‘win-win’ solutions that make all The ToolBox case study below can be found at such as this address the practicalities of parties better off. www.gwptoolbox.org water management at grassroots. Ethiopia: IWRM process in Berki River Basin – from conflicts to joint planning. Case Study #365. A team of experts from state government, NGOs, Mekelle University and the Agricultural Research Institute generated information on water resources and socioeconomic issues to help stakeholders understand problems, identify solutions and prioritise actions. Harnessing water resources for sustainable development GWP Eastern Africa | Involving water users in planning in Ethiopia means coop- Over the two years of the pilot project, www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/Eastern-Africa/ water users worked together, first to get erating. Only half the consensus on the problems, then to population has access to develop a plan setting out how demand clean, safe water and only for water would be managed and the roles of the various partnerships. 6 percent of suitable The cooperative effort on the plan gave land is irrigated.

19 GWP SOUTHERN AFRICA Managing liquid waste: cooperating across sectors in the Okavango Delta

Untreated sewage and other liquid waste was needed to prevent pollution from threaten the Okavango Delta, an inter- liquid waste was to bring water users nationally important wetland and the together to reach a common under- heart of Botswana’s tourist industry. standing of the problems, and discuss Protecting the delta from pollution safe- possible solutions and ways forward. guards the tourist industry, reduces the risk of water-borne diseases, and GWP Botswana grasped the window of ensures clean water for wildlife, comm- opportunity offered by the Integrated unities and farming. Water Resource Management Water Efficiency Project sponsored by the Wastewater treatment facilities in Global Environment Fund and the United sensitive environments such as the Nations Development Programme to Okavango must not only be efficient and foster the cooperation needed to solve cost effective but also need to consider the liquid waste problem. The first step both the environment and public was to identify the various stakeholders perceptions. After wide consultation and their interests. With an under- across sectors on guidelines for manag- standing of who was involved and their ing liquid waste in the Okavango, pilot concerns, the next step was to bring the waste treatment projects are underway. stakeholders together. The intention is to push for the guidelines to be written into laws regulating Forging consensus tourism, land use, building and the Open and inclusive discussions arranged environment. by GWP Botswana involved government departments, the private sector, non- Grasping opportunity governmental organisations, quasi- Many of the problems affecting wetlands Panos government organisations, and regional stem from the failure of users to environment and Okavango projects. cooperate. In the Okavango Delta, what Companies transporting hazardous

20 waste, tourist camps, conservation trusts Okavango River. The Department of and the Botswana Meat Commission, for Waste Management and Pollution Resources example, were invited. Control is already using the guidelines throughout the country and pushing for Changing Africa's Water Landscape. (2010) Briefing Note. GWP. Consensus emerged on the need for a them to be written into laws such as the set of guidelines on managing liquid Environmental Impact Assessment Act, Managing the Other Side of the Water Cycle: Making waste. An approach to the Department of Tourism Licensing Act, Land Board Act Wastewater an Asset. (2009) A. Bahri. Background Paper Waste Management and Pollution and Buildings Control Act. The guidelines No. 13. GWP. Control led to further consultations. will also feed into work by the Southern ToolBox case studies listed below can be found at Other parties who could contribute Africa Regional Environmental Pro- www.gwptoolbox.org began to cooperate, bringing in a wide gramme to improve transboundary range of complementary expertise. cooperation. Southern Africa: Innovative Methods in Water Management Decentralisation. Case Study #387.

The end result was a set of guidelines for Transboundary: IWRM implementation at Pungwe River environmentally acceptable liquid waste Basin in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Case Study #333. management for different habitats, land uses and amounts of wastewater. GWP Botswana made sure that all technical aspects of the guidelines were in order. Because those with a stake in the well being of the Okavango worked together to complete the guidelines they have an Cooperating to protect incentive to abide by them and encourage others to do so. GWP Botswana, the Okavango Delta from through its networks, will help share pollution will safeguard experiences of how the guidelines work the tourist industry, in practice. GWP Southern Africa | reduce the risk of water- www.gwp.org/gwp-in-action/Southern-Africa/ Linking local to national and borne diseases, and transboundary cooperation ensure clean water for Managing liquid waste is not only important in the Okavango Delta but wildlife, communities throughout Botswana and for the entire and farming.

21 GWP CENTRAL AFRICA Putting water on the political agenda: cooperation in Central Africa

Member states of the Economic important to harmonise water Community of Central African States management across the region. (ECCAS) work together to lessen poverty, boost food security, and develop socially ECCAS member states started by drawing and economically. One of three priorities up a common vision for water. Once this ECCAS has set for 2015 is to cooperate was launched, countries began to to manage water resources across the translate the regional vision into national region. integrated water resources management (IWRM) policies. Countries worked with Water resources in Central Africa are programmes promoting IWRM, such as unevenly distributed. In the Sahel water the United Nations Environment is scarce, whereas countries to the south Programme (UNEP) IWRM 2005 Target have water in abundance. The region has programme, and programmes of the not yet harnessed the potential of water European Union, the United Nations for hydroelectricity or agriculture, and Economic Commission for Africa and many citizens lack safe drinking water GWP Central Africa. and sanitation. Agreement on a regional water policy by the ten ECCAS member Setting up a formal mechanism states in 2009 was a milestone in Open discussions at regional level were cooperation on water. important in resolving political issues, maintaining a flow of information on Launching a regional vision policy proposals and exploring technical The agreement on a regional water policy issues. GWP Central Africa played a part is the culmination of a process that here, arranging regional dialogues and, began at the turn of the millennium. through the GWP network, for experts to Following the 2000 World Water Confer- Panos advise on technicalities. GWP Central ence, Central African countries realised Africa also made sure regional and that, for their common good, it was national politicians, technical experts

22 and administrators were kept in the represented by the UNEP Collaborating loop. Centre on Water and Environment and Resources GWP Central Africa, made up a third An important meeting took place in group that found funding and offered The ToolBox case studies listed below can be found at www.gwptoolbox.org Brazzaville in 2006. Ministers decided technical backstopping. that they needed to set up a formal Transboundary: Lake Chad Commission wants to save the mechanism for coordinating policies on Realising potential lake and mitigate conflicts. Case Study #371. water resources management across The regional water policy is a great Cameroon: Local initiative to protect Lake Ossa. countries. Ministers agreed that the first opportunity for countries in Central Africa Case Study #363. step was for ECCAS to lead on develop- to cooperate in putting IWRM into ing a regional water policy. practice to boost realisation of the region’s potential. The policy adopts Bringing politicians, technical experts IWRM as the path to sustainable develop- and administrators together ment of water, from community to To get agreement on a regional policy a national and subregional levels. wide range of parties – political, technical and administrative – needed to work together at various levels and on various issues. In the first instance, ECCAS brought together three groups to put forward proposals for a water policy.

A group from ECCAS took the political lead. A second group included ministers in charge of water, members of the A regional water policy is a African Ministers’ Council on Water great opportunity for Technical Committee for Central Africa GWP Central Africa | www.gwp.org/GWP-Central-Africa and national water managers. The countries in Central Africa to people in the second group were those cooperate in putting who would be responsible, politically integrated water resources and administratively, for translating regional policy into action in each management into practice to country. Development partners, mainly realise the region’s potential.

23 GWP WEST AFRICA Influencing the debate: involving the media in West Africa

Shared basins can be spaces for cooperation or for confrontation. The Mono River for example, shared between Benin and Togo, faces huge environmental and socioeconomic problems.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), GWP, the World Wildlife Fund and the non-governmental organisation Green Cross waged a concerted campaign to involve the media in explaining the problems of shared water and what could be done about them. Politicians took notice of what the media covered. Benin and Togo are now on the brink of agreeing to set up a formal basin organisation for the shared stretch of the Mono River under the auspices of ECOWAS Water Re- sources Coordination Centre (WRCC).

Transforming challenges to opportunities

Panos GWP West Africa and ECOWAS WRCC saw an opening under the West African Re- gional Water Policy for cooperating to set

24 up a management authority for the Mono explained steps needed to address the River. ECOWAS offered its unique policy problems, such as setting up a joint Resources skills in assessing issues in a management organisation for the shared transnational context. GWP West Africa water. ToolBox case studies listed below can be found at www.gwptoolbox.org offered complementary technical and convening skills. GWP agreed to review Influencing movers and shakers West Africa: Roadmaps of Water Management in West and comment on technical issues. In Building alliances with journalists Africa. Case Study #396. parallel, GWP is encouraging Country encourages in-depth coverage of water Transboundary: Water management through multi-level Water Partnerships in West Africa to issues, rather than coverage only when participatory governance and community projects in Volta prepare to engage with a technical there are floods, droughts or disasters. River Basin. Case Study #430. committee which will advise the Movers and shakers at all levels – from proposed Mono River authority. mayors to presidents – take note of what Transboundary organisation in the Niger River Basin. Case Study #46. the media says. Cooperating with the Encouraging the media to cooperate media plays an important role in raising Transboundary: Establishing a transboundary The partners secured funding to go awareness of the stakes and influencing organisation for IWRM in the Senegal River basin. ahead with a feasibility study for a Mono the decisions that have to be made. Case Study #45. River management authority from the European Commission under the African Caribbean and Pacific European Union Water Facility. But partners realised that the media would be influential in getting political support. GWP Regional and Country Water Partnerships organised workshops for journalists to explain the issues and arrange for them to meet those affected by problems with shared West Africans in Benin water. The workshops spawned a stream GWP West Africa | www.gwpao.org of articles putting a human face to the and Togo will benefit issues – describing villagers who could from a legal framework no longer fish, farmers whose lands were for cooperation on a inundated by releases from upstream dams and mayors beset with water shared stretch of the supply problems. Journalists also Mono River.

25 GWP Making water a continental priority: cooperation on climate change in Africa

Governments in Africa recognise the planning processes, and building value of cooperating to foster regional climate resilience and security. and Pan-African development, build peace, prevent conflict and tackle Bringing together complementary changes in climate. Water links all these strengths issues and needs to move to the top of By 2011, GWP Regional and Country the development agenda. The African Water Partnerships, development Ministers' Council on Water (AMCOW), agencies and banks, donors and set up in 2002, encourages member knowledge networks were cooperating in states of the African Union to cooperate WACDEP. AMCOW advises on policy and in managing the continent’s water integrates efforts across Africa. Countries, resources. regional economic communities and river basin organisations carry out the prog- In July 2008, heads of African Union ramme. GWP oversees day-to-day states and governments adopted the programme management. Sharm El Sheikh Declaration. This

Panos declaration committed states to work Seeking efficiencies through cooperation together to make the continent more The continent-wide programme links resilient to drought, floods and climate national, local and transboundary efforts change. In November 2010, AMCOW in managing water for sustainable recommended that GWP and partners national and regional development and Cooperation locally, regionally and should cooperate to operationalise part adapting to climate change. By cooper- globally to make water a top policy of AMCOW’s work programme, the Water, ating in WACDEP, partners link their Climate and Development Programme efforts, and coordinate and use support priority will build resilience to the (WACDEP). WACDEP supports the im- for development efficiently. droughts and floods resulting from plementation of climate change climate change. commitments in the Sharm El Sheikh The cooperative effort will strengthen the Declaration by integrating water security knowledge base on the impacts of and climate resilience in development climate change, vulnerabilities and water

26 security in basins. The knowledge plans. The neutral platform provided by generated will help in designing climate- GWP allows concerns to be voiced, Resources resilient investments. Cooperation will challenges to be articulated and also enhance collaboration between solutions to be explored. Working side- Water Security for Development: Insights from African Partnerships in Action Report. (2010) GWP. regional climate change centres and river by-side with governments, helping with basin organisations, and establish technical issues, providing information Strategic Framework: Water Security and Climate Resilient mechanisms for the use and uptake of and arranging consultations between Development. GWP. climate information. Not least, this national governments, regional eco- Technical Background Document: Water Security and cooperation will promote peace and nomic communities and basin Climate Resilient Development. GWP. regional integration by supporting Pan- organisations, GWP has built trust and African and subregional institutions fostered confidence in IWRM as the Website of the Water, Climate and Development responsible for regional development, foundation for climate-resilient develop- Programme with more material. http://www.gwp.org/en/wacdep/resources managing shared water, reducing ment. disaster risks, and providing climate and hydrological services. WACDEP is already underway in eight countries – Burkina Faso, Burundi, One important aspect of the cooperation Cameroon, Ghana, Mozambique, in WACDEP is helping countries develop Rwanda, Tunisia and Zimbabwe – four investment and financing strategies for transboundary river basins – Limpopo, water – viable infrastructure projects Kagera, Lake Chad and Volta – and the that will not be affected by the un- northwest Sahara aquifer system. certainty around how the climate will Participating countries take the lessons change and that will be attractive to they learn to regional and global public and private investors. Another is discussions and take away state of the putting in place policies that will allow art global analyses of water issues and new ways of managing land, water and processes to manage water. As water is green growth to be tested. central to Africa’s development, all WACDEP website | www.gwp.org/wacdep parties involved in the programme Building on the principles of integrated cooperate locally, regionally and globally water resources management to make water a top policy priority. WACDEP builds on the work done by GWP in Africa, started in 2005, helping 13 countries develop national integrated water resources management (IWRM)

27 GWP SOUTH AMERICA Encouraging sustainable change: building cooperation in the Peruvian Andes

Water rights in the Ocoña River Basin in partner, sought advice from GWP Peru the southern Peruvian Andes are passed and the Pontifical Catholic University of down from generation to generation. As Peru, also a partner of GWP, on a strat- a result, there are a few large users and egy to encourage IWRM. many small users. The Local Water Administration of the National Authority Providing information and a space to talk is in charge of water distribution, but the The strategy adopted was, firstly, to basin faces major challenges – glaciers provide impartial information on the that feed the basin have shrunk by state of basin resources and, secondly, 37 percent in the last 35 years, high to set up neutral spaces where all stake- Andean wetlands where the rivers have holders could discuss roles and their headwaters are dwindling and responsibilities in water management. mining operations that jeopardise water At first, only boards of water users were quality are spreading. Threats to water involved in discussions. Later on, care resources place Peru third on a global was taken to bring in associations of index of climate-related hazards. agrarian producers, peasant communities, shrimp fishermen, artisanal The impetus for changing the way water miners, municipalities and mining was managed sprang from two non- companies. governmental organisations (NGOs), the Asociación Especializada para el Grassroots groups began to take action. Desarrollo Sostenible (AEDES) and Llama farmers, for example, cooperated Centro de Estudios y Promoción de to manage a queñuales forest and Desarrollo (DESCO). These NGOs helped wetlands ecosystem in the Nevado communities organise themselves Coropuna foothills. These private con- around water issues and introduced the servation areas managed by the local idea of integrated water resources communities are now recognised by the management (IWRM). AEDES, a GWP Peruvian Government.

28 Nurturing participation Ministry of the Environment, the In 2003, building on the momentum at Regional Environmental Authority and Resources grassroots, AEDES and DESCO arranged the Regional Institute of Water Manage- meetings with boards of water users in ment and Technology of the Government IWRM Principles: Basis for the Development of National Plans. (2008) GWP. [Spanish]. the Ocoña River Basin. In 2004, water of Arequipa, regional counsellors of the users agreed to meet regularly to discuss Ayacucho Regional Government, the Program: Building the Institutional and Operative Basis how to manage water more effectively. Geological Mining Metallurgical Institute, for the Integrated Water Management of Zaña River Basin. Between 2005 and 2006 these discus- San Agustin de Arequipa National (2008) GWP. [Spanish]. sions led to the creation of a water user University, the Research Center of ToolBox case studies listed below can be found at platform and an agreement on its Applied Geography, the Institute for the www.gwptoolbox.org statutes and workplan. In 2007, an Development and Management of Water, Interregional Coordination Board was and Bartolomée de las Casas Study Peru: Treated waters: communal participatory management and its impact on human development and formed, which officially established the Center. ecosystems. Case Study #436. need for IWRM in provinces in the Arequipa and Ayacucho regions. Sustaining the momentum in cooper- Venezuela: Participatory management of water resources ation between the two regions on basin in Tovar municipality. Case Study #410. In 2010 work began on developing an management entails aligning local, Transboundary: Groundwater management issues for IWRM plan for the Ocoña River Basin regional and national action. The new Guarani aquifer. Case Study # 368. and, at this stage, state agencies, the basin council, and the IWRM plan for the National Water Authority and regional Ocoña River Basin soon to be put into governments became actively involved. action, are clear examples of how The Ocoña River Basin Council is cooperation between water users, expected to come into being in 2014 academics, NGOs and authorities can under the 2009 Water Resources Law, produce sustainable change. and to start translating the IWRM plan into action in 2015. GWP South America | http://www.gwp.org/en/gwp-in-action/South-America/ Aligning cooperation Cooperation between water The breadth of cooperation in the Ocoña users, academics, NGOs and River Basin is wide, involving the Nation- authorities can find ways to al Water Authority of the Ministry of Agriculture through the Local Water cope with threats to water Administration of Ocoña-Pausa, the resources.

29 GWP CENTRAL AMERICA Getting round the table on water: communities cooperate in Central America

In Guatemala each local government must manage water for itself because there is no national water law. Most Guatemalan municipalities though just do not have the administrative, technical and human resources to tackle this task. This explains in part why only 60 percent of the rural population has access to safe drinking water and 58 percent to basic sanitation.

In the volcanic mountains of western Guatemala, deforestation, soil erosion and the proliferation of mini-irrigation pollute springs, wells and rivers, particularly affecting the health of women and children under five. Competition for water is escalating. Communities and municipalities in the upper Naranjo River Basin are realising that they can and Panos must work together to deal with these issues.

30 Building alliances Coordinating action Eight municipal governments in the Through MANCUERNA, authorities and Resources upper Naranjo River Basin started the citizen groups cooperated to set up ball rolling in 2003 by setting up the information systems to collect data, map The ToolBox case studies listed below can be found at www.gwptoolbox.org Association of Municipalities of the social and environmental indicators, and Naranjo River Basin, known by its connect new municipal water manage- Transboundary: Tacana watersheds Guatemala and Spanish acronym MANCUERNA. This ment units. Aligning municipal water Mexico. Case Study #424. association brought together basin policies with national land and water Transboundary: Opportunities and challenges for the groups set up by non-governmental policies, and training in finance were shared management of watersheds; the Trifinio Plan for organisations (NGOs) – Comunidades instrumental in leveraging funds for the Upper Lempa. Case Study #394. Asociadas por el Agua, Medio Ambiente, water projects. Four wastewater treat- Desarrollo Integral e Infraestructura – ment plants were built, a service to El Salvador: Development of community participation in the microbasin La Poza. Case Study #343. and municipalities. The alliance of collect solid waste was set up, agri- political and grassroots organisations cultural extension workers were trained Guatemala: Partnership for IWRM in the Naranjo River encouraged communication and forged to address water use issues and Basin. Case Study #327. consensus on water issues. Citizens and degraded water catchments were re- Guatemala: IWRM successful experiences, San Jeronimo authorities actively cooperated to design forested. Coordinating activities and Basin, Baja Verapaz. Case Study #321. policies and plans, and find resources to involving water users throughout has carry out the plans. improved water management. Already MANCUERNA digital library this cooperative effort has made a www.mancuerna.org | [email protected] Talking round the table visible impact on living conditions in the At roundtables, representatives of public eight municipalities. authorities and citizen groups discussed ways forward in water resources management. Guided by GWP Central America they drew up integrated water resources management (IWRM) strateg- Models for cooperating to GWP Central America | www.gwpcentroamerica.org ies and plans for the basin. Practical manage water resources action was underpinned by cooperating can be adapted, and with journalists to raise awareness of environmental issues affecting water adopted in a variety of more widely. circumstances.

31 GWP CARIBBEAN Generating political will: a pathway to cooperation in the Caribbean

When ministers in the Caribbean came together to cooperate on water they showed they were serious about tackling water issues. Alone, the small states struggled to grapple with water issues. By getting together they tapped into a wider pool of experiences, expertise and support.

Several Caribbean states are ‘water scarce’, depending on often limited surface water, rainwater harvesting, groundwater and, in some cases, desalination for freshwater. Upland watersheds are degraded, and waste and agricultural chemicals pollute water sources. Tourism, a major industry in the Caribbean, puts increasing demands on water resources on most islands. Many of the problems stem from inadequate management and insufficient resources, both human and financial.

Encouraging high-level interaction In 2005, GWP Caribbean and the

32 Caribbean Water and Wastewater change in regional and national Association set up the first high-level development. Resources meeting on water to encourage cooperation at the highest levels of Sharing knowledge High Level Session Ministerial Forum on Water www.gwp.org/en/GWP-Caribbean/GWP-C-IN-ACTION/High- government. Every year since then the Ministers are keen to craft solutions that Level-Session-Ministerial-Forum-on-Water-/ meeting has brought together heavy- support social and economic develop- weight regional and international ment but protect the health of citizens, The IWRM Planning Process: The Bahamas Experience. stakeholders – the Inter-American water resources and water supply (2011) Briefing Paper. GWP Caribbean. Development Bank, the United Nations services. They see sharing knowledge The ToolBox case study below can be found at Environment Programme, the European with peers, adopting integrated www.gwptoolbox.org. Union Water Facility, the Global approaches, combining resources, Environment Facility, the Caribbean undertaking joint studies and examining The Bahamas: The experience of IWRM planning process in Bahamas. Case Study #414. Community Secretariat, the Caribbean common challenges as the way forward. Development Bank, the Economic Such cooperation avoids duplication, Commission for Latin America and the pools national, regional and international Caribbean, the Alliance of Small Island expertise, and encourages equitable States and the Organisation of Eastern sharing of benefits across borders. Caribbean States – and Caribbean ministers responsible for water. These Lip service to integrated water resources annual meetings give ministers the management is common. Political buy-in opportunity to engage directly with water is rare but, as the Caribbean shows, is technocrats, water service providers, and achievable. Respectful and reliable development and donor agencies. conveners such as GWP Caribbean can, Ministers are able to share their over the years, foster cooperation among perspectives as decision-makers, those influential in water issues. explore policy options and seek advice on tech-nical issues. GWP Caribbean | www.gwp-caribbean.org

Moving forward When ministers in the In 2012, the forum approved the Caribbean came together to develop-ment of a major new cooperate on water they programme on water, climate and development. This will address issues of showed they were serious water security and resilience to climate about tackling water issues.

33 GWP Linking science with policy and practice: cooperation across the globe

One of the cornerstones of the existence date information for a global audience. of GWP is to be a knowledge sharing The GWP IWRM ToolBox – a free, online network. This was pioneered by the GWP database of local, national, regional and Technical Committee, a group of inter- global case studies and references – is nationally recognised professionals and particularly important in capturing, scientists who are at the forefront of organising and sharing knowledge from proposing actions that will promote partners big and small around the world. sustainable water resources manage- All visitors to the website can learn how ment. Partners in the GWP network have, water issues have been tackled in their collectively, a vast array of information communities, countries and regions, and knowledge on water management. read about lessons learned. Some They put this information and knowledge programmes, such as the joint GWP- to work by sharing it, with each other World Meteorological Organization and with policy-makers, private sector Associated Programme on Flood Man- investors, financial institutions, regional agement and soon to be launched bodies and international organisations. Integrated Drought Management This cooperative effort to share, apply Programme, take GWP technical know- and generate knowledge by a broad ledge and use it to provide practical range of stakeholders across the globe solutions. Cooperating to share know- both draws on and strengthens ledge advances a common cause – individual efforts and, at the same time, integrated water resources management. fortifies the collective effort to change the way we manage water for the better. Cooperating to apply knowledge Knowledge is only useful if it is ex- Cooperating to share knowledge ploited. Through GWP, partners GWP shares knowledge widely, through cooperate to transfer knowledge so that publications, websites, workshops, it can be applied. This cooperation training courses, meetings and informal avoids duplication, allows others to exchanges. Publications discuss up-to- learn from experiences elsewhere and

34 paves the way for cross-fertilisation example, draw on current thinking in between groups that address similar science, technology, policy and practice. Resources issues or complement each other. By bringing experts together to work cooperatively, GWP generates a range of IWRM in Practice: Better Water Management for Development. (2009) R. Lenton and M. Müller (editors). Workshops are just one way of knowledge products for different GWP and Earthscan. transferring information and knowledge. audiences. Workshops organised by GWP at many The Handbook for Integrated Water Resources levels cover topics ranging from particip- Managing, leveraging and using Management in Transboundary Basins of Rivers, Lakes and Aquifers. (2012) GWP-INBO. [English, French, Spanish] atory approaches and gender awareness knowledge to financing and flood management. Progress stems from managing and GWP Technical Committee Background Paper No 17: Between 2007 and 2011, for example, leveraging experience, know-how and International Law – Facilitating Transboundary Water the European Union Water Initiative knowledge. This is why cooperating to Cooperation (2013) P. Wouters. GWP. Finance Working Group and GWP acquire, share and use knowledge is so Integrated Water Resources Management resources organised workshops across the world important. Cooperating adds value to www.gwp.org/en/The-Challenge/IWRM-Resources/ on ways to finance water and sanitation partners’ collective intellectual and services. A practical guide Financing for knowledge investment. Collecting, Website of the GWP IWRM ToolBox www.gwptoolbox.org Water and Sanitation – a Primer for organising and transmitting knowledge Practitioners and Students in Developing cooperatively benefit everyone. Inform- Countries captures what was covered in ation, knowledge and communication the workshops so that the information are at the core of human progress. can be used by anyone, anywhere. In Cooperating to generate new knowledge addition, GWP has developed a Strategic and make it useful, accessible and Framework on Water Security and meaningful is essential for changing the Climate Resilient Development to help way water is managed. governments develop ‘no/low’ regrets investments and financing strategies. Global Water Partnership | www.gwp.org Co-generating new knowledge Water experts from organisations around the world brought together through GWP, Advancing integrated water analyse complex water problems and resources management explore solutions. Cross-sectoral analyses and solutions, in water means cooperating to governance or water efficiency for share knowledge.

35 Become a Partner

Becoming a GWP Partner is an opportunity to find guidance and support on integrated water resources management (IWRM) from expert sources, and to interact with local stakeholders as well as with the international agenda.

Applications are open to all institutions and organisations that have an interest in improving the way water resources are managed, and support the Dublin-Rio Principles. There is no fee. Just bring your vision, dedication, passion and commitment.

To find out more about being a GWP Partner, go to: http://www.gwp.org/en/Get- involved/Become-a-Partner

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GWP Network

Writing, editing and design by Scriptoria Sustainable Development Communications. Printed by Åtta.45 Cover photos: Panos Photos: GWP photo library if not otherwise credited. The United Nations International Global Water Partnership (GWP) Secretariat Year of Water Cooperation highlights Drottninggatan 33 successful cooperation on water. SE-111 51 Stockholm, SWEDEN The stories in this book are a few E-mail: [email protected] examples showing that water is a www.gwp.org catalyst for cooperation. www.gwptoolbox.org