Framework Themes

1. Water for Growth and Development >>
2. Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) >>
3. Water Supply and Sanitation for All >>
4. Water Management for Food and the Environment >>
5. Risk Management >>

2. Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

It is well understood and accepted that water is a finite resource, essential for all of humanity’s endeavors –and indeed its survival– and vital for sustaining life on Earth. This situation frequently implies constant trade-offs and conflicts among users, uses, development and environmental goals. This has driven the quest for solutions such as integrated, comprehensive and sustainable management of water resources.

IWRM is a conceptual framework that involves an implementation process, which seeks to enable the coordinated and cost-effective management of water and other related natural resources with the overall objective of pursuing sustainable development.

Governments present at the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD-2002) adopted a target to develop IWRM plans and strategies by the year 2005. An assessment of this process should start by reflecting on how countries should approach the implementation of IWRM to fit their own needs.

At this point, it seems important to examine the conditions (when, where and how) under which IWRM brings benefits to local, regional and national sustainable development; to consider what actions are needed to measure progress towards its implementation and to define what steps –at a national and local level– can be taken to facilitate reaching this WSSD target.

Primary Discussion Aspects

Inputs sought for local actions –already underway or planned– comprising the following aspects:

• The identification and understanding of the conditions (political, social, economic, financial, cultural and technological) where IWRM is relevant to addressing water management challenges through local transitions.
• The identification and facilitation of cross-cutting issues and synergies between water issues and other policy sectors, including the integration of macro-economic concerns in water policy making.
• The advancement of mechanisms for effective and efficient water allocation among competing water uses.
• Approaches for coordinated actions and water policy development, including institutions and processes for inter-policy coordination and multi-stakeholder input.
• Examining the success and failure in the application of instruments and mechanisms for conflict resolution, avoiding opportunistic behavior, transboundary water management, joint surface and groundwater management, fresh and coastal waters management, basin-wide water quality management, etc.
• New institutional designs and political process for public participation and public deliberation in IWRM.