COPING UN-Water Thematic Initiatives WITH WATER SCARCITY A strategic issue and priority for system-wide action BACKGROUND UN-Water is the mechanism coordinating the UN system actions aimed at the implementation of the agenda defined by the Millennium Declaration and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in all aspects related to freshwater. UN-Water has grown out of many years of extensive collaboration and partnership among the UN Agencies. These efforts have contributed to the achievement of significant progress to date and have helped to bring water and water related issues to the top of the political agenda. Advancing the implementation of this complex and ambitious international agenda is a collective responsibility and challenge which calls for coordinated action within the UN system and with other partners and stakeholders including organizations from public and private sectors, civil society and labour towards a global, comprehensive effort. The main purpose of UN-Water is to complement and add value to existing programmes and projects by facilitating synergies and joint efforts, so as to maximize coordinated action, coherence and effectiveness of the support provided to countries in their efforts towards achieving the goals agreed upon by the international community. Coping with water scarcity has been identified by UN-Water as part of strategic issues and priorities requiring joint action. This note proposes a joint Plan of Action for this thematic initiative and describes the elements of this plan.
COPING WITH WATER SCARCITY: THE ISSUE Water is a fundamental resource to all socio-economic development and for maintaining healthy ecosystems. As population increases and development calls for increased allocations of groundwater and surface water for the domestic, agricultural and industrial sectors, the pressure on water resources intensifies, leading to tensions, conflicts among users and excessive pressure on the environment. The increasing stress on freshwater resources brought about by an ever rising demand and profligate use as well as by growing pollution worldwide is of serious concern. There are several ways of defining water scarcity. The definition used in framing this programme refers to scarcity as the point at which the aggregate impact of all users impinges on the supply or quality of water under prevailing institutional arrangements to the extent that the demand by all sectors, including the environment, cannot be fully satisfied. Water scarcity is a relative concept and can occur at any level of supply or demand. Scarcity may be a social construct, a product of affluence, expectations and customary behaviour, or a change in supply pattern due to climate change. Scarcity has various causes, most of which are capable of being remedied or alleviated. A society confronting water scarcity usually has options. However, scarcity often has its roots in water shortage, and it is in regions affected by droughts and large climatic variability, combined with population growth and economic development that the problems of water scarcity are the most acute. Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of the population increase during the last century, and although there is no such thing as global water scarcity, an increasing number of regions are chronically water short. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity and 2/3 of the world population could be under stress conditions. Fresh water bodies have a limited capacity to process the pollutant charges of the effluents from expanding urban, industrial and agricultural uses. Water quality degradation can be one of the main causes of water scarcity. Most countries in the Middle East and North Africa suffer from acute water scarcity, as well as countries like Pakistan, South Africa, and large parts of India and China. Irrigated agriculture, which represents the bulk of the demand for water in these countries, is also usually the first sector affected by policy responses to water shortage and increased scarcity, resulting in a decreased capacity to maintain their per capita food production while meeting water needs for domestic, industrial, and environmental purposes. To sustain their needs, these countries need to focus on water allocation strategies that maximize the economic and social return of limited water resources, and at the same time enhance the water productivity of all sectors. In this endeavor, special attention is required on issues of equity in access to water and social impact of water allocation policies. In most countries, agriculture dominates the demand for water. Historically, large scale water development projects have played a major role in poverty alleviation by providing food security, protection from floods and droughts, and expanded opportunities for employment. In many cases irrigated agriculture has been a major engine for economic growth and poverty reduction. At the same time, poor communities tend to suffer the Imbalances between availability and demand, degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, intersectoral competition, interregional and international conflicts, all bring water issues to the forefront. COPING WITH WATER SCARCITY A strategic issue and priority for system-wide action
Water development is closely linked to poverty reduction, in particular in low income countries highly depending on a rural economy. greatest health burden from inadequate water supplies and as result of ill-health are unable to move out of a cycle of poverty and disease. Thus, the growing scarcity and competition for water stands as a major threat to future advances in poverty alleviation, in particular in rural areas. In semi-arid regions, an increasing number of the rural poor are coming to see entitlement and access to water for food production and for domestic purposes as a more critical problem than access to primary health care and education. In this context of rapid change, a number of questions arise: How are we balancing the many In arid and semi-arid regions, where water scarcity is almost endemic, groundwater has played an immense interests involved in water? On what basis are we role in meeting domestic and irrigation demands. In going to decide in favour of certain developments at many regions massive use of groundwater has been the expense of others? What are the scope and practiced for some time for irrigation. conditions for water productivity increase in different Groundwater mining and the lack of adequate planning, legal frameworks and governance have sectors? Which tools should we use for more efficient opened a new debate on the sustainability of the and equitable allocation of water? Which measures intensive use of groundwater resources. should be put in place to protect water resources and increase water supply? Which institutional and legal set-ups are the most appropriate to ensure adequate coordination? What kind of information do we need and how are we going to ensure wide public ownership of the problems related to water? In conditions of water scarcity, putting in place effective and equitable management practices requires knowledge, expertise and investment at political, institutional and technical levels. JUSTIFICATION FOR A JOINT UN-WATER PROGRAMME Water scarcity affects all social and economic sectors and Water conflicts can arise in water stressed threatens the sustainability of the natural resources base. areas among local communities and between Addressing water scarcity calls for an intersectoral and countries since sharing a very limited and essential resource is extremely difficult. The multidisciplinary approach to water resources lack of adequate legal agreements exacerbates management, that ensures a coordinated development and already difficult conditions. More focus should management of water and related resources in order to be given to the peaceful sharing and the maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an management of water, both at international and local levels. In short water scarcity is also equitable manner without compromising the sustainability about equity and rights and due consideration of vital ecosystems. Integration across sectors is needed, should be give to cultural and ethical issues. that takes into account supply, use, and demand, and putting emphasis on people and the ecosystem that sustain them. On the demand side, enhancing the productivity of use of water in all sectors, and in particular in agriculture, which accounts for the largest share of water use in many countries, is paramount to successful programmes of water scarcity alleviation.
Furthermore, protecting and restoring the ecosystems that naturally capture, filter, store and release water, such as rivers, wetlands, forests and soils is crucial to increase availability of water of good quality. Addressing water scarcity requires actions at local, national and river basin levels. It also calls for actions at global and international levels leading to increased collaboration between nations on shared management of water resources and of the benefits thereof. Because it is intersectoral in its nature, the UN-system response to water scarcity requires collaboration, the sharing of joint visions and policy principles, and joint action in assisting countries to address the issue. One of the main challenges in successfully addressing water scarcity in countries is the institutional fragmentation of responsibilities in the water development sector. POLICY RELEVANCE Water scarcity issues and the way they are addressed will impact upon the successful achievement of most of the Millennium Development Goals. Eradication of poverty and hunger in rural areas are strongly related to fair and equitable access of the most vulnerable people to basic livelihood assets including land and water, both for domestic purposes and for productive uses. Because in situations of water scarcity, increased demand usually threatens the sustainability of the environment, water scarcity management is also critical in achieving the goals of environmental sustainability. Water scarcity is also closely linked to the five key areas for action identified by the UN Secretary General on the occasion of WSSD: water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity. Finally, it also impacts on all issues identified in the WSSD Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, and in particular poverty eradication; changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production; and protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development. COPING WITH WATER SCARCITY A strategic issue and priority for system-wide action
OBJECTIVES OF THE PLAN OF ACTION The prime objective of the Plan of Action is to provide a coherent and comprehensive set of information, policy advice and technical support to countries and stakeholders that allows them to better addressing water scarcity issues at national, river basin and local levels. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to consider the social, economic, cultural, legal and institutional constraints oriented to local communities, urban centres, rural areas, user groups, and administrative, public and private organizations. Due consideration must also be given to societal and cultural changes inducing transformation of related water management scenarios and to the adaptation to social and cultural changes reconsidering development schemes at local and national level. Several UN Agencies have already produced valuable contributions of this topic at several levels and from different perspectives. At national and local levels, many countries have already developed scientific and technical knowledge, backed with policies and legislations, to prevent and remediate water scarcity impacts. There is a widespread need to share the results achieved so far and to raise awareness with all decision-makers, managers, and end-users including the general public. STRATEGY FOR THE DECADE WATER FOR LIFE The Decade Water for life is a unique opportunity for the UN system and its partners to deliver a coordinated response to the challenge of water scarcity and to make Water for Life a decade for action. Through the Water Scarcity Plan of Action, UN-Water agencies plan to join forces to work towards an effective and coherent response to the challenge of water scarcity. A coordination mechanism established under the aegis of UN-Water would ensure the overall guidance and coordination of actions by individual agencies and partners. The Plan of Action (PoA) will complement and provide a coherent framework for action for all programmes implemented by individual UN-Water Agencies and their partners, and support actions at global, regional, national and local levels. In particular, the Plan will rely extensively on the expertise and knowledge accumulated by agencies through their cooperation and networking programmes, in particular the UNESCO programme on Water And Development Information for arid lands (GWADI) and its Water Resources Management in Arid and Semiarid Zones Centers, the FAO programme on Agricultural water productivity, ESCWA s programme on Integrated policies for the management of regional resources for sustainable development, ESCAP s SPM-water Programme, the UNECE/WHO-EURO Protocol on Water and Health, and technical assistance to countries in various issues of water policies by UN-DESA, FAO,
UNESCO, UNU etc. It will also link and take advantage of collaboration with UN partners, including GWP and its regional programmes, the networking and advocacy role of the World Water Council and its World Water Fora and the CGIAR Challenge programme on water and food. At international level, agencies will provide countries with advice on transboundary water management issues, focussing on negotiations and dialogue and promoting regional cooperation. At national level, the PoA will focus on policy advice and related water governance. Agencies will provide a coherent and coordinated advice to national institutions, emphasizing the need for institutional integration of water policies. At local level, the PoA will promote best practices in all fields, leading to increased productivity and sustainability in the use of water and better sectoral integration in the management of water resources. The strategy underlying the PoA will include: Knowledge and monitoring; Best practices; Policy guidance; and Advocacy and networking. It will focus on enhanced governance capacity building at all levels, transparency, subsidiarity and equity. PLAN OF WORK FOR 2005-06 A proposed plan of work for the first two years of the decade, with concrete deliverables, is presented in Annex. It lists only the activities which are cross-sectoral in nature and require a joint approach by several UN-Water institutions and partners. It is organized along the main categories of actions proposed for the PoA, i.e. co-ordination; Knowledge management, education-training and monitoring; Policy advice; Best Practices and Technical Advice; Advocacy and Networking. COPING WITH WATER SCARCITY A strategic issue and priority for system-wide action
Annex: Draft Plan of work of the UN-Water Plan of Action Coping with water Scarcity and deliverables for the period 2005-2006 # Description Partners 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Coordination Setting up UN-Water Steering Committee on water scarcity Develop UN-Water position on Coping with water scarcity Knowledge and monitoring World Water Development Report. A periodic report by UN-Water agencies on the state of the world s water resources, their use and the challenges they face. Development of a joint web-based UN-Water information system: In addition to the WWDR, there is a need to strengthen the component of the programme dealing with data and indicators, possibly leading to the computation of a water development index. The programme will heavily relying on on-going sectoral initiatives like UNEP-Gemstat, AQUASTAT, IGRAC, GRDC, etc Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: Designed to meet the needs of decision makers and the public for scientific information concerning the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and options for responding to those changes, it focuses on ecosystem services. In particular, the chapter on freshwater is of direct relevance to this programme Comprehensive Assessment of water management in agriculture. This is a 5-year research and assessment programme led by the CGIAR aiming at identifying policy and investment options for water management in agriculture with special focus on environment and rural livelihood. The period 2005-2006 will be open to a wide participation from all stakeholder institutions in drafting and reviewing the synthesis assessment. River Basin Initiative. The purpose of this project is to assess the linkage between the management of Wetlands of International Importance and their respective river basins; review relevant experience on site management to provide lessons for application in future GEF interventions; and disseminate information through GEF and other networks Education and Public Awareness The educational aspects constitute the most crucial issue to be developed by the UN system. Education can change people s attitudes to water. Education is meant in the widest sense, aimed at children and youths, women, with their role in the family and the community, farmers and industrial water users, managers, operational and maintenance personnel, educators, agronomists and engineers. The need for innovation in developing public awareness of water scarcity is crucial. Policy guidance Support to water management policies in water-scarce countries. A process will be developed to review and adapt water management policies in water-scarce countries. The process will focus on capacity building in negotiation and conflict resolution, adaptation of water and agricultural policies and harmonization of legislative and environmental standards. Financing water for agriculture: This initiative will support the works of the WWF4 High Level Panel on Water financing and review approaches and methods in financing water for agriculture, including investments and operation activities. Guidelines for integrated water resources management. IWRM requires an approach that ensures efficient allocation of water among stakeholders, a comprehensive approach to water scarcity management and a comprehensive and equitable assessment of the benefits and costs of al water uses within a river basins. Country assistance in water scarce countries incl. Chad, Morocco, Malta, Tunisia, Swaziland, Mozambique, Yemen, Syria, Niger etc. Non-renewable groundwater resources The purpose of this project is to provide guidelines for sustainable groundwater management. Evaluate sustainable planed groundwater mining, environmental costs and social costs. Adaptation to social and cultural changes and evaluation of the possible redefinition of development schemes at local and national level. Water and health The UNECE Protocol on Water and Health will assist countries in putting into place policies to ensure clean and reliable water supply though the effective management of the water resources. It will foster good health, well being and the protection of water resources through a series of measures including legal, administrative and economic measures, monitoring, education, awareness raising, participatory approach, transboundary cooperation, international support for national and local action. Code of practice for the integration of water-related ecosystems in water management policies It aims to promote policies, strategies and action to integrate forests and wetlands in sustainable water management and to facilitate their implementation. It will illustrate the role of forests and wetlands in the water cycle and the advantages related to their sustainable use, protection and restoration to ensure sustainable water management and supply of water of good quality. It will include best practices and recommendations on legal, administrative, economic measures. Best practices Technical advise Internationally Shared/Transboundary Aquifer Resources management (ISARM) One of the purpose of this project is to assess the linkage between the management of transboundary aquifers and water scarcity. Under the International Hydrological Programme of UNESCO, an international initiative has been launched to promote studies in this field, called the Internationally Shared Aquifer Resources Management programme (ISARM). Regional inventories, technical advices to countries, case studies have been developed. Close cooperation with UNILC has been set up for the preparation of new Legal instruments on the Law of transboundary Aquifer-systems Transboundary River Basin Dialogues Based on experience in conflict resolution in water-scarce regions, the programme element will develop an approach to river basin dialogue aiming at expanding the boundary conditions of the problem, seeking to share the benefits of water use rather than water itself, thus expanding the domain of optimal solutions. Expertise developed for the Nile basin, the UNESCO PC-CP programme, the transboundary water conference in Central Asia, etc. will be used to shape the programme. All UN-Water All UN-Water WWAP and UN-Water agencies All UN-Water Most UN and partners CGIAR; FAO; Ramsar RAMSAR; CBD; GEC; Nature Conservancy; Wetlands International; UNDP-GEF UNESCO IHE, UNU, all ESCWA; ESCAP; FAO; ICID; UNU; UNESCO WWF; GWP; WB; IFAD; FAO; IWMI GWP; UN-Water agencies; EU UNESCO, GW-MATE, IAEA, IAH, IGRAC, FAO UNECE, WHO UNECE; RAMSAR; FAO; Switzerland UNESCO, FAO, UNECE, IAEA, IAH, IGRAC UNDP; WB; UNESCO; FAO; DESA; UNEP; UNECE, etc. (continued...)
Annex: Draft Plan of work of the UN-Water Plan of Action Coping with water Scarcity and deliverables for the period 2005-2006 # 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Description Water scarcity management and conflict resolution at local level The programme will provide a link between local initiatives in water scarcity management and conflict resolution at the level of the small basin, enhance exchange of experience and information among stakeholders and develop a knowledge base for use by stakeholders and practitioners in the field Guidelines and case studies on village water development Integrating drinking water with productive use of water can maximise benefits of village water development. It requires the development of new institutional linkages, especially at a decentralised level. The guidelines will assist in setting up integrated water resources planning and management capacities at local level. Field projects in SSAfrica and Pacific islands (Gambia, Chad, Madagascar, East Timor, etc.) Guidelines and case studies on the use of treated waste water in agriculture In situations of increasing water scarcity, the reuse of treated waste water for agriculture offers an interesting opportunity to provide urban and periurban agriculture with a safe, reliable, regular source of water of high nutrient content. Guidelines to assess impacts of recharge enhancement systems for irrigated agriculture Assessing water harvesting for groundwater recharge (enhancement systems such as percolation dams, recharge wells, etc.). The improvement of scientific knowledge on the technical performance of recharge enhancement systems and their associated social, economical and environmental impacts is intended to make the aspect of groundwater recharge better understood and managed. WHYMAP- Preparation of the Hydrogeological Map of the World at scale 1:25.000.000 and related georeferenced data base and thematic groundwater resources maps. A thematic map on Recharge Rates and definition of Non-Renewable groundwater resources systems of the world is under preparation by UNESCO and IAEA with the cooperation of the IAH, BGR-Germany, CGMW. Groundwater dependent ecosystems Wetlands as many other ecosystems depend on aquifers and groundwater resources. This activity aims to develop hydrogeological criteria for their management, and ensure their conservation and protection. Advocacy Networking Fourth World Water Forum Two of the framework themes of the forum deal directly with water scarcity issues: Implementing integrated water resources management; and Water management for food and the environment Development of an e-platform regional network on strategic planning and management (SPM) of natural resources for Asia and the Pacific, focusing on groundwater and surface water and related capacity building Partners CGIAR; FAO; RAMSAR? UNICEF; FAO; WHO; DESA WHO; FAO;UNESCO IHE FAO; UNESCO; IAEA.IAH, GEF UNESCO, IAEA UNESCO, FAO, IAH, GEF, Spain, Italy WWC; all UNESCAP; FAO, WHO; UNICEF; UNEP,UNESCO For further information on the UN Water Scarcity Initiative Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Contact: Jean-Marc Faurès Land and Water Development Division Viale delle Terme di Caracalla 00100 Rome, Italy e-mail: jeanmarc.faures@fao.org www.fao.org/landandwater United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Contact: Alice Aureli Division of Water Sciences 1, rue Miollis 75732 Paris Cedex 15, France e-mail: a.aureli@unesco.org www.unesco.org/water/ihp/index.shtml Contacting UN-Water Dr James Bartram, Chair, UN-Water World Health Organization (WHO) 20, avenue Appia CH-1211 Genève 27, Switzerland e-mail: bartramj@who.int www.who.int/water_sanitation_health Manuel Dengo Secretary, UN-Water UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN-DESA) Room DC2-2020 Two United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA Tel +1-212-963-4208 e-mail: dengo@un.org International Decade for Action Water for Life 2005-2015 www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/ UN AGENCY MEMBERS Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) United Nations Children s Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs: Gender and Water Task Force (DESA:GWTF) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) United Nations Environment Programme Global Environment Monitoring System (UNEP/GEMS) United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UNHABITAT) United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UN-ISDR) United Nations University (UNU) United Nations Water World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) World Bank (WB) World Health Organization (WHO) World Meteorological Organization (WMO) PARTNERS Global Water Partnership (GWP) International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID) International Water Association (IWA) Public Services International (PSI) Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat Word Water Council (WWC)