
Equitably and cooperatively, manage the development of, and balance interdependencies between river basins that cross the political boundaries of two or more countries. (Aka Shared waters; TWM)
Equitably and cooperatively, manage the development of, and balance interdependencies between river basins that cross the political boundaries of two or more countries. (Aka Shared waters; TWM)
In many aspects water is among the most shared resources on Earth. Close to 50 per cent of the Earth’s land surface area is comprised of shared river and lake basins. Some 276 river basins cross the political boundaries of two or more countries, and about 40 per cent of the world’s population lives in river and lake basins that cross international borders. Globally, about 2 billion people depend on groundwater, which includes well over 300 transboundary aquifer systems.
Cooperation over shared water resources is essential for climate change adaptation, regional stability and economic growth. It can open new opportunities for riparian states to sustainably develop their common water resources and assist decision-makers and practitioners to reduce conflict, and increase economic development.
Even so, about two-thirds of the world’s transboundary rivers do not have any cooperative management framework.
Support the effective and equitable allocation and development of water resources, and harmonization of water governance systems by supporting the application of integrated water resources and cooperative river basin management principles to shared (transboundary) water resources.
Some 276 river basins cross the political boundaries of two or more countries, and about 40 per cent of the world’s population lives in river and lake basins that cross international borders. Globally, about 2 billion people depend on groundwater, which includes well over 300 transboundary aquifer systems. These facts represent the basic premise of the transboundary water management challenge facing the international community.
Even though there is no blueprint for how transboundary water cooperation should be done, it is important that:
While there are some many international water cooperation agreements in place, disagreements and disputes also still occur. It is therefore important that societies set in place domestic, bi- and multilateral mechanisms to support peaceful and effective mediation.
Cooperation over transboundary waters often results in benefits reaching well beyond the water sector.
Regional cooperation on transboundary waters benefits all parties and can open new opportunities for riparian states to sustainably develop water resources.
Goals to provide for sustainable development and improved livelihoods; water, food and energy security; flood and drought prevention; healthy ecosystems and cooperation are also common to most country development agendas and can increase benefits to basin countries.
Cooperation is especially critical in water-scarce regions where the upstream and downstream impacts of consumption and pollution are magnified.
Effective and sustainable global, regional and basin-level legal and institutional frameworks, and effective can also be conducive to stable and reliable cooperation, increasing security for competing uses and preventing conflicts.
SIWI advances equitable and cooperative development in Transboundary Water Management (TWM), both in individual basins and globally, through:
Programme Manager
kerry.schneider@siwi.org
Phone: +46 8 121 360 88