Water Diplomacy at the Basin-Level What Role for River Basin - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Water Diplomacy at the Basin-Level What Role for River Basin Organizations? Dr. Susanne Schmeier Transboundary Water Management, Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) susanne.schmeier@giz.de

A Need for Water Diplomacy?

Defining „Water Diplomacy“ Reconciliation of needs/interests Architecture and Negotiations Institutions Dispute Resolution Agreements Water Diplomacy Dispute Prevention Informal Institutions Regional Cooperation Enlarging basket of benefits Generating benefits The difference between water diplomacy and water cooperation : Water as a goal in itself or water as a means for goals beyond water (stability, peace and cooperation)

The Water Diplomacy Process Conflict Conflict Regional Regional Conflict Resolution Prevention Cooperation Integration Kishen- SADC Indus EUWFD Rogun Xayaburi ISRBC ganga GERD Protocol Treaty Water Dispute Water Conflict Water Joint Water Water Disputes Resolution Prevention Cooperation Management - Joint planning - Negotiations - Legal/institutio- mechanisms/ - Diplomatic - Confidence nal architecture RBM Plans „pressure“ building - International - Joint monitoring - Mediation - Joint studies/fact water treaties - Notification of - Arbitration finding - RBOs planned - Good offices measures Declaration of Principles - Indus Commissioners Picnic Table Talks Danube RBM Plan GERD Meetings Kishenganga Arbitration Nile Track-II Diplomacy MRC Council Meetings MRC PNPCA

River Basin Organizations and Water Diplomacy ORASECOM LCBC Studies SoB State of the Basin Analyses Reports Council Data acquisition/ DRBMP Nile DSS ISRBC Meetings analysis/sharing Provision of Decision support Identification of RBM Plans decision fora systems pressures Provision of decision- Basin planning making support RBOs and Water Diplomacy Monitoring of Dispute resolution compliance Environmental Treaty compliance Notification and Fact finding Arbitration monitoring monitoring consultation PSC IWBC Danube ISRBC Technical Commssioners TNMN Notification Board Analyses processes PNPCA CICOS Report Notification

Water Diplomacy: Opportunities and Risks for RBOs Water diplomacy provides benefits to basins, countries and riparian populations and opportunities to RBOs: • Strengthening RBO‘s relevance • Linking science/analyses to policy decisions • Ensuring the basis for long-term sustainable basin development BUT: Water diplomacy engagement also comes with risks for RBOs: • Politization/securitization • Risks to impartiality • Capacity insufficiencies RBOs need to carefully assess opportunities and benefits before embarking into water diplomacy activities.