What is missing to ensure good governance of shared aquifers in the Middle East?

Transcription

1 What is missing to ensure good governance of shared aquifers in the Middle East? Yusuf Al-Mooji Water and Environment Team ESCWA, Beirut Lebanon Transboundary Groundwater Resources in the Middle East World Water Week, August 2007, Stockholm, Sweden

2 How do I understand governance? Water governance is about enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the political, technical, social, economic, legal, and institutional systems related to sustainable development and management of water resources

3 What is missing to ensure good governance of shared aquifers in the Middle East? At the political system At the technical system At the social system At the economic system At the legal system At the institutional system Where do we go from here? UNESCWA s vision for good water governance for shared aquifers management

4 What is missing at the political system? The issues Commitment at the highest level not clear No regional outlook is adopted to national development No basin-wide management approach Limited delegation of authority and empowerment of relevant institutions Actions needed Place water issues high on national / regional agenda Enhance dialogue, both vertical (between decision makers and technicians) and horizontal (among national leaders) Enhance trade with other riparians (particularly on agricultural products); Reduce political tension; Adopt and build on international commitments (IWRM plans, MDGs etc.) Decentralize with allocation of adequate funds; Introduce effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism

5 What is missing at the technical system? The issues Many aquifer systems still not well understood Groundwater monitoring data still fragmented, incomprehensive or totally lacking. Most data not adequate, reliable, harmonized and/or exchanged Actions needed Address the issue of climate change and its effect on aquifers sustainability Support establishment of optimum national/regional monitoring networks / database Promote benefits of data harmonization and exchange Enhance the application of modern analytical techniques Activate the role of national/regional laboratories and scientific/research institutions

6 What is missing at the social system? The issues Awareness campaigns either non-existent or ineffective, often project-related Stakeholders, particularly those living along political boundaries, are not involved in planning and decision making processes. No effective measures are taken to avoid conflicts that arise from unsustainable development; Disputes resolution is often left for local communities to resolve. Actions needed Effective regular awareness programs targeting different stakeholders including politicians / decision makers, supported by national media Bottom up approach for effective stakeholders participation

7 What is missing at the economic system? The issues No joint investment in shared aquifers by riparians There is a growing demand by some countries to be compensated for not using their share of water Opportunity cost Cost of pollution by upstream countries is becoming a major concern and a potential source of conflicts Actions needed Establish and empower a joint cooperation mechanism Demonstrate and promote win-win scenarios Highlight success stories to attract donor s interest

8 What is missing at the legal system? The issues There is a limited knowledge on the guiding principles of international water law/conventions and how to use them wisely during negotiations Enforcement of water legislations is weak especially in transboundary water issues Involvement of legal experts from the region is very limited Actions needed Promote enforcement mechanisms through improved legal framework Develop a legal capacity building package imbedded in the water sector

9 What is missing at the institutional system? The issues No joint arrangement for developing regional water visions No mechanism for regional cooperation except for few aquifers (e.g. NSAS, NWSAS) Institutional structure of water sectors is generally weak, unstable and hardly capable of handling transboundary issues. Actions needed Promote riparian cooperation for joint management Reform / enhance capacity of institutional set up

10 Where do we go from here?

11 UNESCWA s vision for good water governance for shared aquifers management Overall objective Enhance cooperation between member states towards joint management of shared aquifers in a sustainable manner Specific objectives Secure political commitment Update database and enhance data sharing Initiate and encourage dialogue between riparians Develop a practical / sustainable regional cooperation mechanism Build capacity of MS in negotiation skills and shared water management

12 UNESCWA s vision for good water governance for shared aquifers management Strategy 1. Promote intra-regional and inter-regional cooperation and potential benefits for different riparians 2. Identify shared aquifers where some cooperation has been initiated and use lessons learned to enhance cooperation on these aquifers. 3. Use learnt lessons to initiate joint cooperation in other shared aquifers 4. Capitalize on windows of opportunities as the situation in many counties in the region can be highly unpredictable

13 UNESCWA s vision for good water governance for shared aquifers management Methodology Evaluation of existing instruments, national policies, visions etc. Regional vision development Policy framework development Implementation mechanisms

14 Vision Statement for the MEDA region A MEDA region where all shared aquifers are jointly managed to satisfy local/ national/regional water requirements to attain sustainable development, without harming neighboring countries

15 The way forward? Action to be taken by MS Regional-perspective country consultations Secure political commitment Initiate cooperation and consensus-building under a Transitory Cooperation Mechanism Arrangements for a strategic partnership with international and regional institutions and development partners Relevant institutions / parties ESCWA, ECA, ECE, CEDARE, OSS, ACSAD, etc. Regional and national UN offices, national experts, media, etc. Government bodies, national experts, scientific institutions, donors UN regional commissions, EU, GEF, SADC, etc.

16 The way forward (cont) Action to be taken by MS Legal and institutional assistance for the development of a PCM Common capacity building (requirement, scope, etc.) Mobilization of financial resources and technical assistance Permanent Cooperation Mechanism in place ( protocol, enabling environment, etc.) Relevant institutions / parties FAO-TCP, national legal experts, etc. UNESCO-IHP, ISARM, UN regional commissions, regional training institutions Government bodies, national and regional UN offices, GEF, donors Government bodies, national and regional UN offices, donors, scientific institutions, etc.

17 THANKYOU