WCC 2020 Res 015 - Progress Report

- Accession to the water convention since the approval of the resolution: Guinea-Bissau (June 2021), Togo (Sep 2021), Cameroon (Nov 2022), Nigeria (March 2023), Iraq (March 2023), Namibia (June 2023), Panama (July 2023), Gambia (July 2023)
- Positive momentum regarding Water Convention. A lot of progress in Africa, esp. west Africa – Interest also in East and Southern Africa, e.g. Tanzania, Uganda and also Zimbabwe. UN Water conference in 2023 built momentum for countries. Also interest in Central and Southern America e.g. Dom Rep, Paraguay. 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.
- Reported at the Ramsar COP November 2022: Two additional Transboundary Ramsar Sites have been named since COP13, in Africa, making a total of 22 Transboundary Ramsar Sites established in line with Article 5 of the Convention.
- Resolution XIV.6 on Enhancing the Convention’s visibility and synergies with other multilateral environmental agreements and other international institutions approved at the Ramsar COP in November 2022 sets out:
> ENCOURAGES Contracting Parties to continue to implement the Guidelines for international cooperation under the Ramsar Convention (Resolution VII.19), including by establishing cooperative mechanisms for the management of shared wetlands and hydrological basins to enhance transboundary cooperation, and establishment of transboundary Ramsar Sites;
- Resolution XIV.16 on Integrating wetland protection, conservation, restoration, sustainable use and management into national sustainable development strategies also approved at the Ramsar COP in November 2022 sets out:
> ENCOURAGES Contracting Parties, where appropriate and in line with national circumstances, to develop international wetland conservation and restoration, sustainable use and management partnerships, including for transboundary water basins and to reflect the migratory connectivity of species, in cooperation with neighbouring countries within the relevant frameworks;
- 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.
IUCN's BRIDGE 5 programme stared in September 2022 with the following outcomes:
1. Shared water agreements and institutions are strengthened to ensure informed and inclusive participation, recognising the inter‐sectoral nature of water resources management.
2. Financial sustainability is an integral part of planning and delivery of transboundary water governance and management, contributing to fit-for-purpose institutions and diversified financing streams.
3. Benefit sharing arrangements are applied and implemented, resulting in equitable economic, environmental and social benefits for a range of stakeholders at local level.
4. The role of women and young people in decision-making and integrated water resources management for transboundary basins is recognised and enhanced, though, inter alia, improved access to knowledge and finance.
- 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.
- UN Water Conference 2023 was used to incentivize countries to make commitments on TB cooperation