Factsheet #14

Platform for information sharing and learning across basins within a state / between countries

Instrument Type

informal

Governance Level

local
regional/basin
national
international

Governance Mode

hierarchical
network
hybrid

Water management topics addressed

Drought & water scarcity
Water abstraction for irrigation and other economic activities
Water quality issues due to nutrient pollution
Water quality issues: Other reasons

Implementation requirements

Financial capacity

high

Human capacity

high

Political buy-in

low

Timeframe for implementation

short

#14: Platform for information sharing and learning across basins within a state / between countries

Description

Platforms and databases providing support to responsible authorities for the implementation of their water-related obligations (compliance with legislation, water planning, etc.).

Function

In particular when implementing water legislation which involves paradigm shifts or changes (e.g. ecological approach, new water charges' system), implementation will be fraught with conceptual and legal difficulties. A platform of this type between authorities involved in can help provide legal certainty about implementation, as well as facilitate the integration of water management requirements into other policy areas. These decentralised activities can be complemented by bilateral dialogues between e.g. the national level and the river basin authorities, so as to identify areas where the latter need to concentrate resources.

Example: The Technical Committee Nile (TEC-Nonile)

The Technical Committee Nile (TEC-NONILE) is an information-sharing platform for the Nile basin countries. Its mission is to enhance the capacity of its members to process information, to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS) and promote cooperation in the form of information-sharing. The platform provides a useful common direction for the development of the different national master plans which are expected to progressively converge towards a more comprehensive Nile Plan. The ambition of the program is to achieve a sufficient collection of information to collectively develop a system for the equitable allocation of the river’s water resources.

Source

Scheumann W., Neubert S. (2006). Transboundary Water Management in Africa. Challenges for Development Cooperation (p. 207). https://www.landschaftsoekonomie.tu-berlin.de/fileadmin/a0731/uploads/publikationen/edocuments/2006_DIE_STUDY_21.pdf Retrieved on 22 September 2020.

OECD (2015) Water Resources Governance in Brazil. OECD Studies on Water (Cf. Boxes 2.14 and 2.19.) https://www.oecd.org/gov/water-resources-governance-in-brazil-9789264238121-en.htm Retrieved on 24 September 2020.

Already have an account? Login!