International watercourses: the World Bank looks toward a more comprehensive approach to management1

Abstract

This paper examines transboundary water resources management challenges currently being faced across the globe. Lessons learned from Europe, Africa, Asia and North America are outlined on the need for more integrated, ecosystem-based management of these international watercourses and on institutional arrangements for improving management. The World Bank's new Water Resources Management Policy is presented with an emphasis on elements related to a more comprehensive approach that considers integrated land-water management, proper pricing for water service delivery, nonpoint pollution abatement, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and institution building. Also described is a key international funding mechanism for more comprehensively managing international watercourses known as the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Restructed and replenished in 1994, GEF can play a catalytic role in building institutions for better water resources management and in fostering cooperative actions among nations in a basin toward the ultimate goal of making development more environmentally sustainable.

Governing International Watercourses - Perspectives from Different Disciplines: A Comprehensive Literature Review

“…The role of actors external to the river basin, most often in the form of development partners, has been explored as well (refer to Olem/Duda 1995, Duda/La Roche 1997, Jorgenson 1997, Kirmani/LeMoigne 1997, Krishna 1998, Nakayama 1998, Pitman 1998, Alaerts 1999, Mostert 2003b, Gerlak 2004, Hartje 2007, Zawahri 2009). It is argued that the involvement of development partners and organizations has been decisive for the establishment of institutionalized cooperation mechanisms in many river basins in the developing world.…”

“…The World Bank's contribution to international water management has been elaborated as well, both from an academic (e.g. Nakayama 1998, Hartje 2007) and, in particular, an intra--institutional perspective, with authors from within the World Bank assessing how the institution has been and should be involved in international water resources governance negotiations (Olem/Duda 1995, Kirmani/LeMoigne 1997, Krishna 1998, Pitman 1998, Alaerts 1999. The different UN institutions have, however, received less attention (see, for some of the few studies, Nakayama 1998 and Zawahri 2009).…”

Free Markets — A Stimulus or Impediment for Integrated Water Resources Management?

“…All relevant stakeholders should be involved in the decision-making process. (Olem and Duda, 1995;Fort, 1998;Bandaragoda, 2000;Kakebeeke et al, 2000;Lubell, 2000;Planning, 2000;World Commission on Dams, 2000;Gooch et al, 2002) These stakeholders should include governmental and non-governmental organizations as well as private stakeholders. (Fort, 1998;German, 1998;Barlow and Clarke, 2002) Water management restricted to a private transaction between a willing buyer and seller essentially precludes this characteristic from the governance structure.…”