Indicate which actions have been carried out to implement this Resolution :
Capacity-building
Convene stakeholders/Networking
Education/Communication/Raising awareness
Fundraising
Policy influencing/advocacy
Describe the results/achievements of the actions taken:
- Accession to the water convention during the reporting period: Guinea-Bissau (June 2021) and Togo (Sep 2021)
- Positive momentum regarding Water Convention. A lot of progress in Africa, esp. west Africa – e.g. the Gambia is close to ascension as cabinet approved. Interest also in East and Southern Africa, e.g. Tanzania, Uganda. UN Water conference next year is building momentum for countries. Also interest in Central and Southern America e.g. Dom Rep, Panama, Paraguai. Growing understanding from Latin American Countries that the convention is a tool that can help strengthen collaboration.
- When it comes to Water Convention implementation, there is also progress, many countries have now got implementation plans.
- Accession to the Ramsar Convention during the reporting period: Angola
- IUCN has continued to leverage GEF International Water funds to support transboundary water cooperation, building a sizeable portfolio linked to basins in which IUCN has been engaging with (Africa: BUPUSA; SMM; Mano; Asia: Mekong/3S)
- IUCN's BRIDGE 4 programme came to an end in 2022 with the following key outcomes:
1.Transboundary water governance institutions, legal and policy frameworks are strengthened and operationalised. Institutions are better equipped to function sustainably, in a stakeholder‐inclusive manner that recognises the inter‐sectoral nature of water resources management, with improved linkages across scales and with reliable means for operation.
2.Strategies and plans developed and adapted to enable shared benefits on the ground. BRIDGE 4 has paved the way for IUCN to enable joint elaboration of plans and projects, and where possible, facilitate their implementation towards equitable economic, environmental and social benefits for a range of stakeholders at local level.
3.Enhanced knowledge base catalyses dialogues and planning for transboundary cooperation. Knowledge and tools produced through BRIDGE feed into dialogues to facilitate joint identification of issues and cooperative solutions among multiple stakeholders.
- The IUCN-led shared waters cooperation facility initiated during this reporting period and is designed to provide appropriate expertise that can facilitate dialogue and joint action where cooperation has slowed or stopped. Partnership lies at the centre of the Facility in order to respond to the needs of stakeholders and to shift shared water challenges to shared water solutions.
What challenges/obstacles have been encountered in the implementation of this Resolution and how were they overcome :
- Low or not the right capacity to deal with transboundary water governance issues in transboundary institutions - in this case, we strive to build internal capacities among relevant staff to increase their intervention on the transboundary water governance agenda.
- Lack of or limited funding to mobilise action around transboundary water cooperation in the long run. As a response to this barrier, we will in the future look to improve the financial sustainability of these process, including the actors leading and participating in them, from local to regional level.
- Potential of wetlands to mitigate climate change continues to not be well understood - improved awareness is needed.
Briefly describe what future actions are needed for the implementation of this Resolution:
- BRIDGE 5 - IUCN-led transboundary governance programme financed by SDC initiated on 1 September 2022 and will continue to facilitate tranboundary cooperation in 14+ shared basins in South America, Asia and Africa. Through this programme we will strengthen engagement with UNECE and support implementation of this resolution.
- Shared waters facility provides another mechanism to support acceleration of TB negotiations, including engagement on specific issues including climate change and nature-based solutions.
- IUCN will continue to collaborate closely with UNECE and Ramsar Convention, examining opportunities for mutual support in specific shared basins
- Leverage multi-lateral finance, including GEF and GCF to support shared water cooperation.
- UN Water Conference 2023 will be used to incentivize countries to make commitments on TB cooperation
Are these actions planned for yet:
