French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development AND TRANSBOUNDARY WATERS

FACT SHEET

W ater is, by nature, a local public good and a resource that crosses . This is a source of significant tension in some regions, namely Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia. For this reason, France promotes international conventions that foster dialogue and support transboundary water cooperation initiatives.

What is the issue? Over 40% of the world’s population lives in The Convention on the Protection and transboundary river basins, which account for Use of Transboundary Watercourses and almost 60% of global freshwater resources. International Lakes (1992) of the United 263 Nations Economic Commission for Europe Moreover, nearly one country in six depends TRANSBOUNDARY (UNECE), known as the Helsinki Convention, on upstream countries for over half of its wa- BASINS to which there are 40 Parties, provides a ter supply. Any dam or irrigation project, which These basins account for nearly framework for the rational use of transboundary 60% of global freshwater resources. may be essential for a country’s security, can watercourses and management of their turn into a divisive issue between neighbours. pollution, and encourages cooperation to Shared waters can thus be a source of ten- prevent conflicts. Its success at the regional level sion, for example the basin, which is sha- convinced the Parties to open the Convention red by 10 countries, and the basin, in 2003 to all United Nations Member States, which is shared by , , , turning it into a global framework. and . The Convention on the Law of the Non- Navigational Uses of International Water- Water holds the courses (1997), known as the New York The international Convention, aims to stimulate regional dia- key to sustainable community’s commitments logue and improve governance of water re- development In order to prevent conflicts, there are ne- sources through the signing of agreements gotiated solutions, based on international for joint management of shared water- conventions, fostering regional coopera- courses. The Convention entered into force Ban Ki-moon at the opening of the tion. The River Protection Conven- on 17 August 2014, following the required Budapest Water Summit (), tion, for example, brings together 15 states, accession of 35 states. 8 October 2013. the Organization for the Development of In addition, in view of the need for interna- the Senegal River gathers four (see box on tional cooperation on transboundary aqui- next page), and the Niger Basin Authority fers, the UN Commission gathers nine. The aim is to implement the worked on draft articles that were annexed principles of equitable and reasonable water to a resolution adopted by the United Na- use, the obligation to not cause significant tions General Assembly in 2008. These ar- impacts, and the regular exchange of data. ticles encourage states to take appropriate 50% International law on shared management of steps at the bilateral or regional level. A dis- The proportion of the global transboundary waters reached a milestone cussion on the legal form that these articles population that will be living in a with the entry into force of two global should take has been scheduled for 2016. situation of water stress by 2025. conventions. France’s strategy tion, to which it acceded in 2011. France also With its Water Act of 1964, France was a plays an active role in the European water pioneer of integrated water resource mana- diplomacy initiative launched in July 2013 at 80% gement (IWRM) at the basin level. Its public the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. The proportion of surface stakeholders (water boards, French National waters in Africa that are transboundary waters. Agency for Water and Aquatic Environments Achievements (ONEMA), local authorities, etc.) and private Although progress in diplomacy and coop- stakeholders (research consultancies, car- eration was slow to begin with, it has gathered tography and modelling tool providers, etc.) momentum in recent years, particularly since have today a wealth of experience. This ex- the 6th World Water Forum and the efforts ORGANIZATION FOR perience, which is internationally recognized, made to highlight the issue of “water and THE DEVELOPMENT underpins French diplomacy in this area. security”. Since 2012, an additional 11 states OF THE SENEGAL RIVER These water resource management principles have ratified the New York Convention, ena- are promoted during all negotiations or bling its entry into force. The Helsinki Conven- (OMVS) events related to water or, more generally, tion was officially opened to non-members of The Senegal River passes through , , Mauritania and the environment or sustainable development, the UNECE on 6 February 2013. Furthermore, Senegal. In 1972, when the Sahel including the 7th World Water Forum (April a growing number of states are no longer was suffering from drought and 2015, Daegu & Gyeongbuk), the Rio+20 UN opposed to the principles underlined in these famine, these countries decided to Conference on Sustainable Development conventions. Nevertheless, there is still a long set up OMVS in order to manage (June 2012, Rio de Janeiro) and the post- way to go as only 40% of basins are managed the river basin together and further 2015 development agenda negotiations (July through an agreement between the countries the development of the region. 2014, New York). This diplomatic strategy is that share them. The construction of dams enabled supported by the work of the French Global irrigated agriculture and hydroelectric Environment Facility (FFEM) and the Agence power generation. AFD is currently française de développement (AFD, French Future challenges Formalizing the synergies between the helping OMVS to implement its agency for development). On average, AFD two conventions : further discussions will development plan, which was provides funding of €700 million per year for need to be held on addressing the issues drawn up using a participatory the water and sanitation sector. linked to transboundary aquifer systems, the approach, strengthen its monitoring Adaptation to climate change, which is already expansion of the 1992 Helsinki Convention of the environment, and collect data. having a clear impact on water resources, is and, at the same time, the entry into force of OMVS is also implementing a health also a major focus of French diplomacy. the 1997 New York Convention. monitoring plan with a sanitation and Increasing coordination between actors drinking water access programme to France’s areas of focus in this sector, such as states (France, the combat bilharzia. This disease, which France supports regional cooperation initia- United States of America, , etc.) and is caused by a freshwater parasite, tives on shared waters, particularly in Africa donors (World Bank), to foster the formaliza- kills an estimated 200,000 people in (Niger Basin Authority, Lake Chad Basin tion of mechanisms for transboundary water Africa each year. Commission, Volta Basin Authority, Sahara sharing and cooperation. and Sahel Observatory, etc.) and Asia (Me- Ensuring this issue is addressed during kong River Commission, support for water the two major events of 2015, namely the data collection in Central Asia, etc.). post-2015 development agenda negotiations To further encourage international coopera- and the 21st session of the Conference of 40% tion, France supports the Helsinki Convention the Parties to the United Nations Framework The percentage of shared waters by participating in the work of its governing Convention on Climate Change (COP21). managed through an agreement body and promotes the New York Conven- between the countries concerned.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION UNECE Water Convention website French Water Partnership (FWP) www.unece.org/env/water.html www.partenariat-francais-eau.fr/en/ UN Watercourses Convention Online User’s Guide Towards a Joint Management of Transboundary Aquifer www.unwatercoursesconvention.org Systems - Methodological Guidebook (À Savoir collection, French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) No. 3, December 2011) www.afd.fr/webdav/shared/PUBLICATIONS/RECHERCHE/Scientifiques/A- www.ffem.fr/lang/en/accueil-FFEM savoir/03-VA-A-Savoir.pdf Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) The Handbook for Integrated Water Resources Management www.oss-online.org/en/water-program in Transboundary Basins of Rivers, Lakes and Aquifers International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) (March 2012) www.riob.org/spip.php?sommaire&lang=en www.inbo-news.org/IMG/pdf/MGIREB-UK-2012-2.pdf

© MAEDI 2015 Directorate-General of Global Affairs, Development and Partnerships Development and Global Public Goods Directorate Environment and Climate Department Production: Press and Communication Directorate Contact : [email protected] diplomatie.gouv.fr/en Photo : Murchison Falls on the Nile, . © Didier Paugy/IRD