Policy dialogues on transboundary waters increasingly stress concepts of shared waters and sustainable development of transboundary basins based on benefit sharing. Yet, in many regions, sovereignty remains the paramount concern of national governments' agendas for international waters, in spite of legal tools (eg. the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention) and strong technical tools. This clash in paradigms - between the sovereignty objections of Ministries of Foreign Affairs and sharing objectives of water technocrats - is shaping the balance between stalemate and progress. Understanding this balance will help identify strategies needed in different contexts to overcome constraints and build cooperation.

This seminar will feature regional showcases of water diplomacy to contrast how the agenda on international waters is being shaped in different regions. Discussion of experience of the UN Watercourses Convention will be complemented by cases demonstrating cooperation built from the level of transboundary communities upwards. Based on lessons learned from different approaches, participants will identify priority actions for strengthening water diplomacy and enabling cooperation in management and development of transboundary basins.

Programme