Water Diplomacy and Governance in key Transboundary Hot Spot
With growing water scarcity, collaboration in the management of transboundary waters becomes a building block of international security, regional stability and economic growth. Implemented in four synergistic partial actions, this programme contributes to an equitable, sustainable and inclusive management and governance of transboundary lakes, rivers and aquifers in Africa, Asia, Meso- and Southern America.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Africa Global |
Water nothemedefined
Water diplomacy and security
Water resources conservation Water sector policy |
01.01.2016
- 30.04.2019 |
CHF 10’576’680
|
- Basin organisations and/or regional economic commissions,
- National government institutions and agencies,
- Municipal and provincial level governments,
- Local communities and people living in the concerned basins.
- At least five countries outside United Nations Economic Commission for Europe are taking steps to accede the Water Convention
- Institutional and policy frameworks strengthened in twelve transboundary basins, of which in seven through specific water governance agreements, and in two through formation of river basin organisations
- Management of transboundary aquifers becomes part of international hydro-diplomacy discourse
- At least seven political cooperation processes supported by analysing the benefits of cooperation or assessing the water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus
- Formation of at least nine inclusive water user associations
- Open-access databases with watershed and socio-economic date established in Ethiopia and Kenya
- Payment for watershed services scheme developed for Blue Nile
- International Union for the Conservation of Nature
- Other UN Organisation
- Foreign private sector North
- Schweizerische UNESCO-Kommiss
- Unversität Bern
- University of Berne: Center for Development and Environment of the University of Berne (CDE) for the Water and Land Resources Centers project; International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for the Building River Dialogue and Governance project; United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for the Governance in Transboundary Aquifers project; United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) for the 1992 Water Convention.
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Water sector policy and administrative management
Water sector policy and administrative management
Water resources conservation (including data collection)
Cross-cutting topics Specific project on gender equality.
The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
Aid Type Core contribution
Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F07810
Background |
Transboundary water bodies create hydrological, social and economic interdependencies between societies. While incorporating a potential for competition and conflict, they also provide opportunities for cooperation. Sound operational and legal frameworks and reliable data are essential for stable and reliable cooperation. |
Objectives |
To enhance water governance and management in targeted basins (in Asia, Africa and America) in order to ensure that their users – especially the most vulnerable populations – have an equitable and sustainable access to the water resource, favoring social, economic and ecological development. |
Target groups |
|
Medium-term outcomes |
Water Diplomacy: Global commitments, concepts and platforms on water & security lead to more cooperation and less conflicts over water resources, Water Governance: Transboundary water management frameworks and cooperation are in place in hot spot regions, Strategic projects: Data, information and knowledge management is effectual and backs evidence-based dialogue and decision-making in water resources management. |
Results |
Expected results: Water diplomacy: Water governance: Strategic projects:
Results from previous phases: Water governance change processes were conducted in nine transboundary river basins and three aquifers. These processes delivered short term benefits, enabled regional dialogue and cleared a pathway to formal transboundary water management and governance mechanisms. Among many more examples, the riparian countries of Lake Malawi agreed to new cooperative steps that should eventually lead to the establishment of a tripartite commission. In Ethiopia and Kenya rich and online accessible data and information repositories were established and serve as knowledge platforms for cross-scale policy dialogue and water user associations were strengthened. Transboundary water cooperation is a complex and lengthy process. Standardised approaches are useful toolboxes, but need to be adapted to local conditions. The spill-over from technical to political water cooperation is not automatic but involves communication, advocacy, trust building and capacity development on technical and political levels. Targeted knowledge products for evidence-based dialogue and decision-making are essential to inform the policy processes. |
Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
Credit area |
Development cooperation |
Project partners |
Contract partner Other International Organization Private sector Swiss Academic and Research Institution United Nations Organization (UNO) Other partners RECs: IGAD, EAC, SADC, ECOWAS, ASEAN |
Coordination with other projects and actors |
UN-Water; FAO/WB, ADB, GEF; UNEP, UNDP, GWP, INBO; SDC Regional Cooperation, Geneva Water Hub. |
Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 10’576’680 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 10’377’887 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF 28’096’650 |
Project phases |
Phase 4
01.01.2019
- 31.12.2022
(Completed)
Phase 3 01.01.2016 - 30.04.2019 (Completed) Phase 2 01.04.2013 - 30.06.2016 (Completed) Phase 1 01.02.2011 - 30.04.2013 (Completed) |