About

GWP’s VISION is a water secure world. Our MISSION is to advance governance and management of water resources for sustainable and equitable development.

OUR UNIQUE VALUE: GWP mobilises action on the global water crisis through a unique combination of social capital, shared values, credibility within the global water community, bottom-up orientation, and expertise. A network of networks, we ensure the ‘voices of water’ can inﬂuence local, national, regional, and global development priorities. We are committed to our role as a neutral convener and respected for our focus on inclusiveness and sustainability.

Learn

GWP creates and communicates information about integrated water resources management which contributes to improved water governance and, ultimately, water security.

Together with our Partners, we provide knowledge resources and capacity building activities for solving water problems.

Partner

Institutional Partners are the basis of GWP's multi-stakeholder partnership. A strong, diverse partnership can bring about the changes needed to achieve a water secure world. In this section, learn about the benefits of being a Partner and meet a few who already are. We invite like-minded organisations to join us!

GWP Regions

This is where you can find links to the websites of our Regional Water Partnerships (RWPs). RWPs are closest to the countries where we work. They share knowledge and learning across national boundaries and are expected to have an open, inclusive, and gender-sensitive policies for bringing together as wide a group of stakeholders as possible to solve water problems.

Global Transboundary

2/16/2021

Interactive Online Session: Ecosystems, International Law, and Transboundary Water Cooperation

In 2021, GWP and Wuhan International Water Law Academy are co-organising an interactive online series called the "Transboundary freshwater security governance train". The sessions are conducted in an approach of a ‘train’, stopping at various locations in the world. At each of the stops, a different topic from the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) for Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security is explored. On 16 February, the 2nd session in the series looks at ecosystems, international law and transboundary water cooperation.

Please note: Prior to this online session, participants are encouraged to register to the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on Governance for Transboundary Freshwater Security, and to take a look at Module 3: International Water Law, particularly the lectures on Substantive Norms, Environmental Flows, Equitable and Reasonable Use and Procedural Norms for this module.

Ecosystems, and the goods and services they provide, are increasingly recognised as critical for sustaining our health and well-being. However, a central challenge is that these systems defy political boundaries, which makes the need for cooperation between countries over their shared protection essential. Given this challenge, this interactive panel discussion will explore the role of international water law in protecting ecosystems within transboundary river basins, and advancing transboundary water cooperation.

Questions will be collected in advance through the MOOC platform, the Zoom registration form, and during the 1,5-hour-long session. Patnellists will provide brief presentations and then the floor is open to questions in breakout rooms, which offers an opportunity to engage with regional experts.

WHEN: Tuesday 16 February, at 9:00 (London), 10:00 (Stockholm), 12:00 (Nairobi), 16:00 (Bangkok), 17:00 (Beijing)

WHAT: The session will feature speakers with different experiences to share, discussing the following topics:

To what extent does international law protect the ecosystems of transboundary rivers? How do substantive and procedural norms play their respective roles in the protection of freshwater ecosystems?

How is scientific knowledge of ecosystems reflected in the design and implementation of contemporary transboundary legal arrangements? Are there examples of best practice in embedding ecosystem thinking into these arrangements?

Does a focus on ecosystem protection help or hinder negotiations between countries concerning sharing transboundary rivers? For example, can an ecosystem services framework help identify and weigh key factors for determining what is equitable and reasonable?

Is there best practice on ecosystem protection at local and national levels, such as e-flows, that can be upscaled to the transboundary level?

HOW: Registration is required, please use this link.

WHO: The confirmed speakers are:

Dr. Yumiko Yasuda (Event moderator), Senior Network & Transboundary Water Cooperation Specialist, Global Water Partnership

Professor Alistair Rieu-Clarke (Co-chair), School of Law, Northumbria University

Professor Otto Spijkers (Co-chair), Academy of International Water Law, Wuhan University

Dr. Yang Liu (speaker), School of Law, Ghent University

Professor Owen McIntyre (speaker), School of Law, University College Cork

Professor Jackie King (speaker), Water Matters, South Africa, and 2019 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate

Mr. Dimitris Faloutsos (speaker), Deputy Regional Co-ordinator, Global Water Partnership Mediterranean

Background: The MOOC on Governance for Transboundary FreSecurityshwater opened in August 2020 by GWP, GEF IW:Learn, and Partners. The aim is to bring together countries that share freshwater resources – giving them the skills to cooperate so that the shared resource is managed sustainably for the benefit of each country’s population. The self-paced MOOC is available on the SDG Academy platform - it is free and open to everyone - but especially designed for professionals who manage and make decisions about transboundary waters.

Top photo: Vientiane Cityscape At Mekong River, by Mostphotos.com/Digitalpress

Page last edited: 1/29/2021