Key solutions and global lessons for basin governance

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IWRA’s latest Blue Series Policy Brief explores how stronger basin governance can help address the growing pressures facing the world’s rivers, lakes and aquifers.

Drawing on research from the Water International Special Issue “Water Management in Basins of Rivers, Lakes and Aquifers: The Challenges Ahead after 30 Years of Innovation,” the new Policy Brief sets out  key recommendations for making basin-level water management effective and operational.

Stronger governance for growing challenges

After more than 30 years of global support for integrated water resources management (IWRM), managing water at the basin level is widely recognised as essential for sustainable water management. Yet implementation remains uneven, particularly in transboundary basins where political, financial and institutional challenges can make cooperation difficult.

Basin organisations are uniquely placed to respond by bringing together sectors, governments and communities around shared water challenges.

From global experiences to practical action

The Policy Brief draws on experiences from different basins around the world to highlight both challenges and practical solutions.

Asia

• Mekong region – Navigating the complexities of transboundary cooperation when national development priorities and regional interests diverge, particularly around hydropower development

Africa

• Kenya and Uganda – Using benefit-sharing dialogues, joint working groups and regional support to build cooperation across borders
• Sub-Saharan Africa – Integrating shared aquifers into existing transboundary river basin organisations, while identifying continuing gaps in technical and institutional capacity
• Kapingazi Basin, Kenya – Demonstrating the potential for community participation in financing improvements to water quality and quantity
• Gambia River Basin, West Africa – Using integrated planning and stronger institutional capacity to attract financing and support implementation of basin management plans

Latin America & the Caribbean

• Brazil – Connecting water charges with watershed planning using decision-support tools to support sustainable long-term financing

North America

• Columbia Basin, Canada – Strengthening decision-making, regional water protection, and trust through community engagement and locally informed monitoring

Oceania

• Aotearoa, New Zealand – Building trust and cooperation through relationship-building and engagement with Ngāi Tahu and local water users

Overall, the Policy Brief highlights practical priorities for stronger basin management: better coordination, sustainable financing, stronger monitoring and data systems, and meaningful stakeholder participation. 

Moving basin management forward

The message is clear: stronger basin management requires more than good policy. Overall, the Policy Brief calls for well-resourced institutions, sustainable financing, smarter use of data and expertise, and better integration of surface water and groundwater — all underpinned by inclusive governance that builds trust and puts communities at the heart of managing shared water resources.

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