Your search found 80 records
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050894)
(0.56 MB) (568 KB)
A new evolution in graph modeling for conflict resolution (GMCR), a robust methodology for conflict resolution, is presented in this research to incorporate the systems thinking concept into the conventional paradigm of GMCR so that the dynamic nature of water–environmental conflicts can be modeled, and better outcomes obtained. To achieve this objective, a methodology is developed in three phases: static, dynamic, and outcome-based analyses. To develop the methodology, the Tigris–Euphrates basin conflict in the Middle East over the past 30 years, as a real-life case study, is used to show the robustness and capabilities of the proposed approach. Finally, a sustainable resolution to the current conflict is proposed, and the results are discussed. The proposed methodology benefits from improving the existing and often static-based conflict resolution developments by considering the dynamic nature so that the true root causes of complex conflicts are addressed, better strategic insights achieved, and comprehensive resolution provided.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050930)
(1.72 MB) (1.72 MB)
Managing transboundary river basins requires balancing tradeoffs of sustainable water use and coping with climate uncertainty. We demonstrate an integrated approach to exploring these issues through the lens of a social-ecological system, combining remote and in-situ earth observations, hydrologic and climate models, and social surveys. Specifically, we examine how climate change and dam development could impact the Se Kong, Se San and Sre Pok rivers in the Mekong region. We find that climate change will lead to increased precipitation, necessitating a shift in dam operations, from maintaining low flows to reducing flood hazards. We also find that existing water governance systems in Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia are ill-prepared to address the problem. We conclude that the solution space for addressing these complex issues will be highly constrained unless major deficiencies in transboundary water governance, strategic planning, financial capacity, information sharing, and law enforcement are remedied in the next decades.
3 Stephan, R. M.; Aureli, A.; Dumont, A.; Lipponen, A.; Tiefenauer-Linardon, S.; Fraser, C.; Rivera, A.; Puri, S.; Burchi, S.; Eckstein, G.; Brethaut, C.; Khayat, Z.; Villholth, Karen; Witmer, L.; Martin-Nagle, R.; Milman, A.; Sindico, F.; Dalton, J. 2022. Transboundary aquifers. In UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP). The United Nations World Water Development Report 2022: groundwater: making the invisible visible. Paris, France: UNESCO. pp.171-179.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051032)
(1.08 MB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051035)
(6.45 MB) (6.45 MB)
Poor availability and accuracy of streamflow data constrains research and operational hydrology. We evaluated the status of forty streamflow stations and data quality in the Omo-Gibe basin, Ethiopia. The method included a 3-week field inspection of the stations. Inspection of stations followed common WMO guidelines for appropriate gauging sites. Feedback of observers was collected, and the streamflow data was analyzed. Most of the stations were installed on rivers at headwater catchments. Only 17% of the stations were fully operational whereas the remaining stations require major maintenance. Common problems of the time series data include short observation period, large number of missing records, and inhomogeneity. Nearly all observers expressed dissatisfaction due to lack of supervision, uncertain salary payments and lack of recognition of their contribution. The findings of this study indicate the need to investigate the institutional barriers that affected the homogeneity, completeness, and timeliness of the stream data.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051099)
(3.40 MB) (3.40 MB)
Dam development improves water, food, and energy security but often with negative impacts on human health. The transmission of dam-related diseases persists in many dammed catchments despite treatment campaigns. On the Senegal River Basin, the transmission of Schistosoma spp. parasites has been elevated since the construction of dams in the late 1980's. We use narrative analysis and qualitative content analysis of archival documents from this setting to examine health as a component of the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus and understand priorities and trade-offs between sectors across the policy-to-practice continuum. We find that health is recognized as an important component of river basin development, but that priorities articulated at the policy level are not translated into management practices. Incorporating health as a management objective is possible without imposing substantial trade-offs to FEW resources. Coordinated research and surveillance across transboundary jurisdictions will be necessary to inform decision-making on how to operate dams in ways that mitigate their negative health impacts.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy SF Record No: H051168)
(0.13 MB)
7 Masia, S.; Susnik, J.; Jewitt, G.; Kiala, Z.; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe. 2022. Transboundary WEF nexus analysis: a case study of the Songwe River Basin. In Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Senzanje, A.; Modi, A.; Jewitt, G.; Massawe, F. (Eds.). Water - energy - food nexus narratives and resource securities: a global south perspective. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. pp.91-109. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-91223-5.00003-4]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051171)
(0.63 MB)
Over the past decade, the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus approach has evolved to become a focus of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) development strategies. However, a lack of empirical evidence, appropriate methods, and qualitative and quantitative tools to implement the WEF nexus approach has been highlighted. This chapter describes the application of the WEF nexus approach in the Songwe River Basin (SRB) located on the border between Malawi and Tanzania as a demonstration of how this lack of evidence and tools is starting to be addressed. The basin is currently facing rapid population growth, which is leading to a considerable increase in resource demand and environmental issues and has been identified as a priority basin for SADC. The SRB Development Programme (SRBDP) includes several projects that collectively aim to improve the environmental and socioeconomic status of the basin. The integrated approach proposed to assess the SRBDP's expected outcomes through a WEF nexus lens is based on the development and application of qualitative and quantitative tools that support decision-makers to assess feasible sustainable development pathways in the basin, and more broadly in the SADC region. This chapter focuses on the qualitative analysis of the WEF nexus system and explains the process of identifying the major sectors and subsectors involved in the SRBDP, the main interlinkages between them, and potential synergies and trade-offs assessing how decisions made in a sector may influence others. The qualitative analysis of the SRB shows that although the projects included in the SRBDP are expected to have positive impacts on the environment and the socioeconomic system of the basin, downsides that may have an impact on human and ecosystem health are also possible. Early identification of such issues can help to limit detrimental impacts in the future. In the analysis, potential Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), objectives, and indicators that may be addressed in the SRB are identified, highlighting the importance of applying the holistic approach to enhance and boost the achievement of SDGs in the basin.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051071)
(2.68 MB) (2.68 MB)
We performed a comparative analysis of eight case studies worldwide from the perspective of transboundary aquifer governance efficacy. First, we mapped variation in institutional design, applying institutional design criteria in four dimensions linked to The OECD Principles on Water Governance. We then identified explanatory factors: (1) physical variables, including aquifer size and hydrogeological characteristics; (2) watershed variables, including groundwater exploitation capacity and water transfer infrastructure; and (3) political factors, including international donor support. We found that transboundary aquifer governance efficacy is closely linked to problem structure and less attributable to institutional design in the presence of specific contextual variables.
9 Brasil, J. A. T.; de Macedo, M. B.; de Oliveira, T. R. P.; Ghiglieno, F. G.; de Souza, V. C. B.; e Silva, G. M.; Junior, M. N. G.; de Souza, F. A. A.; Mendiondo, E. M. 2022. Can we scale Digital Twins of nature-based solutions for stormwater and transboundary water security projects?. Journal of Hydroinformatics, 16p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2022.142]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051132)
(0.66 MB) (676 KB)
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are presented as an alternative and decentralized solutions with different application scales for problems addressed to urban expansion as water quality reduction and floods. The usage of control strategies and mathematical modeling techniques has shown promising results for optimizing hydraulic and water treatment processes. The Digital Twins (DT) as process integration technology are widely used in industry, and recently these technique usages in urban water systems are showing effective results in both management and planning. However, there is a lack of proper literature definition for DT applied to NbS, especially for stormwater and transboundary water security projects. Thus, this paper sought through a literature review to access the existing conceptual challenges and the DT definition as a framework, identify how the mathematical modeling reported in the literature can improve the DT development, and evaluate the potential benefits associated with the application of DT in NbS.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051144)
(8.03 MB) (8.03 MB)
Study region: Omo-Turkana Basin, trans-boundary basin between Ethiopia and Kenya (North eastern Africa).
Study focus: Significant investments in large dams have been mobilized in the Omo-Turkana basin to expand hydropower and support extensive irrigation projects. Assessing the impacts of these infrastructures, particularly on local stakeholders, constitutes a crucial foundation for socially inclusive as well as environmentally and economically sustainable development. This study showcases the potential of a participatory decision-analytic framework in investigating the impacts of alternative development pathways on competing stakeholders’ interests in the Omo-Turkana basin to support strategic planning under both current and projected hydroclimatic and socio-economic conditions. The optimal operation of the planned system expansion, including the current and future dam cascade and the irrigation projects, is investigated to provide insights into multisectoral trade-offs. Five main sectors with competing interests are considered: hydropower production, environmental protection, indigenous recession agriculture, fish yield in Lake Turkana, and large-scale commercial irrigated agriculture.
New hydrological insights for the region: Results show that the planned infrastructure can negatively impact local stakeholders, particularly in terms of fish yields in Lake Turkana. Still, a potential exists for negotiating operational compromises that are both efficient and socially inclusive. Moreover, even though the performance of the planned infrastructure is expected to decline in the future under changing climate and irrigation demands, this can be mitigated by timely implementing robust solutions triggered by the alterations of streamflows in the northern part of the basin.
11 Mirumachi, N.; Hurlbert, M. 2022. Reflecting on twenty years of international agreements concerning water governance: insights and key learning. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 22(2):317-332. (Special issue: Lessons Learnt from International Environmental Agreements: Celebrating 20 years of International Environmental Agreements (INEA)) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-022-09564-9]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051178)
(0.68 MB) (692 KB)
The purpose of this article is to examine the research advanced in the journal, International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics that represents key insights into international agreements on water and their political, legal, economic and cross-disciplinary dimensions for water governance. The article analyses evidence and lessons learnt over the last twenty years to inform policy through a review of theoretical advances, innovations in principles and policy instruments, outcomes of problem-solving and knowledge gained regarding water agreements and associated institutions. Important international agreement principles of no significant harm and economic frames of water as a ‘commons’ advance equity and community of interest in relation to water. The studies on water, sanitation and hygiene point to the ways the role of the state can be advanced in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and in complex contexts of water scarcity and public private partnerships. Cross-disciplinary learnings substantiate the existence and utility of multiple water frames in legal arrangements and use of multiple policy instruments. Cross-disciplinary insights are significant in addressing equity, whether through the nascent development of water indicators or in advancing social learning. Water governance frameworks increasingly focus on adaptation by incorporating multiple stakeholders. These findings that advance equity and inclusivity are tempered by crucial lessons in our understanding of the very contested, power-laden nature of water governance that impact agency at multiple scales and policy coordination across sectors of water, food and energy.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051194)
(3.14 MB) (3.14 MB)
Understanding the factors that contribute to transboundary water conflict and cooperation is critical to improve governance and protect water resources. State interactions are shaped by multiple pressures and multi-scalar actors. This research assesses how local stakeholders influence the state through an analysis of power, water quality-related vulnerability and risk. Based on the findings, local stakeholders directly and indirectly support high-intensity cooperation over transboundary lakes and can foster low-intensity conflict to enable a greater representation of needs. Local actors also mutually influence state and international processes causing a multi-scalar impact and response to the states’ transboundary water quality interactions.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051228)
(3.51 MB)
Rapid climate change is causing weather extremes in every region of the world. The global water cycle is now experiencing a structural change not seen since the last Ice Age, leaving human systems struggling to adapt and respond. Some events will have noticeable consequences in the short term, such as increased flooding from changing precipitation patterns. Others will be more long term, such as the desertification of cropland. All will have major implications for future human security.
We can view climate security as climatic stressors that amplify existing risks in society and influence the security of humans, ecosystems, economies, infrastructure and societies. In that sense, climate security is directly connected to water security defined as the ability of a population to safeguard sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051211)
(1.54 MB) (1.54 MB)
Until recently, most transboundary water agreements largely focused on utilization, frequently leading to environmental impacts. We examine under which circumstances are environmental considerations included in transboundary water agreements, how are they included and whether they address environmental effects of previous agreements. We analyse 75 treaties, many of which occur within (sub)basins with previously established water agreements. Human water stress, upstream large dams, OECD membership and previous water treaties (particularly those concerning utilization) are the most prevalent conditions where environmental degradation is considered. Our results also suggest that aridity incentivizes negotiating relationships to develop, thereby facilitating environmental water cooperation.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051252)
(5.63 MB)
The rolling out of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in the Pangani Basin, Tanzania, faces several implementation and participation challenges. Building on experiences from GIZ–NatuReS stewardship partnerships, we argue that meaningfully engaging stakeholders and involving the private sector can help overcome these challenges and improve water security. We analyse data collected through interviews with partners and beneficiaries, and data stemming from partnership documents. Our analyses show that stakeholders are in support of creating an enabling environment based on IWRM by including tangible, results-based private–public–civil society partnerships which offer alternative and innovative solutions to address risks facing people, economies and ecosystems.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051301)
(5.52 MB)
Concerns over hydropower development in the Mekong River Basin and elsewhere include not only the overall impacts of dams on basin ecology and economy but also more site-specific impacts on affected communities. While hydropower development is impacting the livelihoods of local communities living along the river, the latter’s views and concerns are often sidelined by top-down hydropower planning. Nonetheless, local communities create and shape their political spaces of engagements in relation to hydropower decision making across scales, albeit through various means and with different results. Taking the planned Pak Beng hydropower dam as a case study and building on the concept of institutional bricolage, we look at: 1) local communities’ responses in Thailand and Laos, including how these are influenced by social movements; 2) how these responses are translated into collective action (or the lack thereof), including in relation to local communities’ (in)ability to negotiate better compensation for their to be impacted livelihoods; and 3) how local communities strategies are embedded in the wider political context and different manifestations of state-citizens relations. We argue that while affected farm households can pursue their interests to secure proper compensation through individual means, this leads to sub-optimal outcomes for affected communities collectively.
17 Troell, J.; Keene, S. 2022. Legal recognition of customary water tenure in Sub-Saharan Africa: unpacking the land-water nexus. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 33p. (IWMI Research Report 182) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2022.215]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H051374)
(1.11 MB)
Despite the progress made in conceptualizing and advocating for secure community-based land and forest tenure rights, there is a critical lacuna in advocacy and policymaking processes pertaining to community-based freshwater tenure rights. Moreover, water tenure as a concept has only recently gained significant traction in global policy circles. This report analyzes national and international legal pathways for recognizing customary forms of community-based freshwater tenure rights held by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in sub-Saharan Africa. It employs a methodological framework and builds on an analysis of community-based water tenure systems that was developed and applied by the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) and the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) in the publication Whose Water? A Comparative Analysis of National Laws and Regulations Recognizing Indigenous Peoples’, Afro-Descendants’, and Local Communities’ Water Tenure. Based on the key findings of this analysis, in particular the frequent dependence of IPLCs’ legally recognized customary water tenure rights on their legally recognized land and/or forest rights, this report further analyzes national constitutions, national legislation governing water, land, forests, environmental protection and other related matters, international and national case law, and international and regional human rights laws, to explore how legal frameworks are recognizing and protecting customary water tenure rights across sub-Saharan Africa. The findings and recommendations provide a basis for analyzing the comparative effectiveness and potential drawbacks of these legal pathways for the recognition and protection of customary water tenure and ultimately for future work refining and improving legislation and assessing progress in its implementation and enforcement.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051360)
(7.86 MB)
The existing water accounts for large-scale, semi-arid and transboundary river basins are usually lack of sufficient spatial-temporal elements of water use, a prerequisite for identifying potential water savings and for sustainable management of scarce water resources. This study aims to demonstrate value of water footprint (WF) accounting framework for such river basins with the case study of the Upper Euphrates River basin which is not only used as major food and energy production resource in Turkey but also a focal point for international conflict, diplomacy and dialogue in Middle East. The methodology is based on Water Footprint Assessment Manual which is published by Water Footprint Network. The study maps spatial-temporal variations of sectoral water use in the study area for the agriculture, domestic water supply and industry for the period of 2008–2019. The water footprint of the Upper Euphrates River basin is calculated as 27.4 Gm3, most of which is related to the agricultural activities. The downstream and lower plains of the study area exhibited a considerably high blue and grey agricultural WF, reaching 2397 and 349 mm, respectively. Several crops have substantially large WFs in the region such as cotton, wheat, pistachio, and barley. The analysis given in this study revealed importance of spatial-temporal disaggregated information in water accounting for sustainable management of water resources. These accounts can provide insights that were not available to the decision makers before, such as water saving opportunities, potential water efficiency and productivity benchmarks, strategic planning for various climatic conditions etc. These are the major values that water footprint accounting can introduce in water management in a large scale, semi-arid transboundary river basins.
19 Uhlenbrook, Stefan; Ringler, C.; Lautze, Jonathan; McCartney, Matthew; Hafeez, Mohsin. 2022. On the role of water resources management to transform water, energy, food and ecosystem (WEFE) systems in transboundary river basins [Abstract only]. Paper presented at the IAHS-AISH Scientific Assembly 2022, Montpellier, France, 29 May-3 June 2022. 1p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5194/iahs2022-463]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051440)
(0.10 MB) (96.8 KB)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051409)
(3.47 MB) (3.47 MB)
Small and medium-sized reservoirs play an important role in water systems that need to cope with climate variability and various other man-made and natural challenges. Although reservoirs and dams are criticized for their negative social and environmental impacts by reducing natural flow variability and obstructing river connections, they are also recognized as important for social and economic development and climate change adaptation. Multiple studies map large dams and analyze the dynamics of water stored in the reservoirs behind these dams, but very few studies focus on small and medium-sized reservoirs on a global scale. In this research, we use multi-annual multi-sensor satellite data, combined with cloud analytics, to monitor the state of small (10–100 ha) to medium-sized (> 100 ha, excluding 479 large ones) artificial water reservoirs globally for the first time. These reservoirs are of crucial importance to the well-being of many societies, but regular monitoring records of their water dynamics are mostly missing. We combine the results of multiple studies to identify 71,208 small to medium-sized reservoirs, followed by reconstructing surface water area changes from satellite data using a novel method introduced in this study. The dataset is validated using 768 daily in-situ water level and storage measurements (r2 > 0.7 for 67% of the reservoirs used for the validation) demonstrating that the surface water area dynamics can be used as a proxy for water storage dynamics in many cases. Our analysis shows that for small reservoirs, the inter-annual and intra-annual variability is much higher than for medium-sized reservoirs worldwide. This implies that the communities reliant on small reservoirs are more vulnerable to climate extremes, both short-term (within seasons) and longer-term (across seasons). Our findings show that the long-term inter-annual and intra-annual changes in these reservoirs are not equally distributed geographically. Through several cases, we demonstrate that this technology can help monitor water scarcity conditions and emerging food insecurity, and facilitate transboundary cooperation. It has the potential to provide operational information on conditions in ungauged or upstream riparian countries that do not share such data with neighboring countries. This may help to create a more level playing field in water resource information globally.
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