Principles For Effective Joint Bodies For Transboundary Water Cooperation

The Principles for Effective Joint Bodies for Transboundary Water Cooperation, presented in this publication, distil valuable lessons from the experiences of joint bodies worldwide, Parties to the Water Convention and other States, as well as other stakeholders. These experiences were gathered through an extensive consultation process under the Water Convention. At its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015) the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention formally adopted the principles and encouraged countries to use them. The principles seek to facilitate the establishment and work of joint bodies and ultimately to contribute to reaching a high level of cooperation between riparian States. The principles are highly relevant in the light of the opening of the Water Convention to all United Nations Member States and can assist countries in implementing one of its main obligations.

This publication presents the Principles for Effective Joint Bodies for Transboundary Water Cooperation that were formally adopted by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015). Countries sharing transboundary waters worldwide are encouraged to make use of them when establishing new joint bodies or strengthening existing ones. The principles seek to synthesize valuable lessons from the collective experience of joint bodies for transboundary water cooperation, Parties to the Water Convention and other States, as well as other stakeholders. The principles are classified in two main categories. The first category presents principles related with the establishment of joint bodies, their structure and functions, including issues such as their tasks, their competence and mandate. The second category describes principles related with the operational aspects of joint bodies such as procedural considerations, financial and human resources.

This publication presents the Principles for Effective Joint Bodies for Transboundary Water Cooperation that were formally adopted by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015). Countries sharing transboundary waters worldwide are encouraged to make use of them when establishing new joint bodies or strengthening existing ones. The principles seek to synthesize valuable lessons from the collective experience of joint bodies for transboundary water cooperation, Parties to the Water Convention and other States, as well as other stakeholders. The principles are classified in two main categories. The first category presents principles related with the establishment of joint bodies, their structure and functions, including issues such as their tasks, their competence and mandate. The second category describes principles related with the operational aspects of joint bodies such as procedural considerations, financial and human resources.

The publication presents and analyses the findings of the first pilot reporting exercise under the Water Convention, which was carried out in 2017. Progress made in the implementation of the Convention is reviewed and summarised, together with the identification of significant trends, success, challenges and opportunities concerning transboundary water cooperation. The reporting mechanism under the Convention was formally adopted (decision VII/2) by the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention at its seventh session (Budapest, 17-19 November 2015).

The management of water resources across boundaries, whether sub-national or international, is one of the most difficult challenges facing water managers today. The upstream exploitation or diversion of groundwater or rivers can have devastating consequences for those living downstream, and transboundary rivers can provide a source of conflict between nations or states, particularly where water resources are scarce. Similarly, water based-pollution can spread across borders and create disputes and a need for sound governance.This book is the first to bring together in a concise and accessible way all of the main topics to be considered when managing transboundary waters. It will raise the awareness of practitioners of the various issues needed to be taken into account when making water management decisions and provide a practically-based overview for advanced students. The authors show clearly how vital it is to cooperate effectively over the management of shared waters to unlock their contribution to regional sustainable development. The book is largely based on a long-running and tested international training programme, run by the Stockholm International Water Institute and Ramboll Natura, and supported by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), where the respective authors have presented modules on the programmes. It addresses issues not only of conflict, but also of managing power asymmetries, benefit-sharing, stakeholder participation, international water law, environmental water requirements and regional development. It will be particularly useful for those with a background in hydrology or engineering who wish to broaden their management skills.

This book establishes a framework for defining transboundary water cooperation and a methodology for evaluating its effectiveness, which will contribute to more effective and therefore successful cooperation processes. With the increasing focus on transboundary cooperation as a part of the Sustainable Development Goal Framework, there is global recognition of transboundary water cooperation as a tool for improved governance and management of transboundary surface and groundwaters. However, there is not an agreed upon definition of transboundary water cooperation in the literature or in practice. This book develops the Four Frames of Transboundary Water Cooperation, which is a neutral modular framework for developing context-specific explanatory definitions of transboundary water cooperation in basins and aquifers. The Four Frames of Cooperation are legal, institutional, relational, and outcome. However, we need to move beyond defining cooperation to understand better measures of the quality and effectiveness of cooperative processes. The Weighted Model of Effective Cooperation presents a first step in qualitatively evaluating the effectiveness of transboundary water cooperation. This model defines effective transboundary water cooperation and operationalizes a method to evaluate the effectiveness of cooperative processes over internationally shared waters. Effective cooperation emphasizes the relational and outcome frames of cooperation while working towards equitability and sustainability. Together, the Four Frames of Cooperation and the Weighted Model of Effective Cooperation will improve the understanding of cooperation and encourage a detailed evaluation of the quality, success, and effectiveness of cooperative processes. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of water resource management, water governance, and environmental politics. It will also appeal to policymakers and professionals working in the fields of water conflict, water diplomacy, and international cooperation.

The UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes provides invaluable insights into the contribution of this international agreement towards transboundary water cooperation via its legal provisions, accompanying institutional arrangements and subsidiary policy mechanisms.