International Journal of Water Governance 1 (2013) 285–306 285 DOI: 10.7564/13-IJWG16 Water Resources Management and Governance as Part of an Overall Framework for Growth and Development Cecilia Tortajadaa,* and Yugal K. Joshib aPresident, Third World Centre for Water Management and former Visiting Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore. Avenida Manantial Oriente 27, Los Clubes, Atizapán, Estado de México, 52958, Mexico. E-mail:
[email protected] bFormer Research Associate, Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore. At present, Senior Divisional Commissioner (RPF), Northern Railway, Delhi Division, Office of Sr DSC/RPF/Delhi (West), Panchkuiyan Road, New Delhi-1, India. E-mail:
[email protected] Singapore has recognized the importance of universal principles and paradigms in the man- agement of water resources whilst also acknowledging that they do not automatically lead to improvement unless there is a strong emphasis on policy and programme implementation. As a result, the city-state has developed a comprehensive, holistic vision for the overall manage- ment of its water resources, making them essential elements for overall development, economic growth and national security. This paper discusses the city-state’s long-term, comprehensive wa- ter resources strategies including their policy-making, planning, management, governance and development. It also argues that Singapore is one of the very few countries, if not the only one, that has developed its water policies as part of the overall development goals of the city-state. Keywords: Singapore, water resources, governance, management, development. 1. Introduction Water is, and has always been, a multi-dimensional resource that crosses all other social and economic sectors, with its management, policy making, development and gov- ernance, increasingly depending on policies on the other sectors.