Associated Event : SDG 6 on Water and Sanitation

Associated Event : SDG 6 on Water and Sanitation Ir. (Dr.) Keizrul bin Abdullah Chairperson, Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO)

The Role of River Basin Organizations (RBOs) in Fostering Regional Water Cooperation Ir. (Dr.) Keizrul bin Abdullah Chairperson, Network of Asian River Basin Organizations (NARBO)

Key Questions What are the Barriers and Challenges Addressing the Challenges in Implementation of SDG 6 Supporting Transboundary Water Resources Management Managing the Conflicting Demands for Agriculture with Increasing Demand in Cities Sharing good Practices for Integrated Water Resources Management From perspective of River Basin

Network of Asian River Basin Organisations

i. Goal: NARBO s Charter To help achieve IWRM in river basins throughout Asia

ii. Objectives: NARBO s Charter To enhance the capacity in IWRM To ensure equitable and sustainable use of WR among various stakeholders Capacity building of RBOs, Policy Makers, Line Departments in IWRM Exchange info, knowledge, lessons learned in managing WR and in conflict resolution

Establishment of NARBO on Feb 2004 at Batu, East Java, Indonesia

86 Members from 18 Countries Members River Basin Organisations

Key Questions What are the Barriers and Challenges Addressing the Challenges in Implementation of SDG 6 Supporting Transboundary Water Resources Management Managing the Conflicting Demands for Agriculture with Increasing Demand in Cities Sharing good Practices for Integrated Water Resources Management

Water Challenges in Asia Pacific

277 million People in Asia and Pacific have no access to Safe Drinking Water

1.5 billion People in Asia and Pacific (½ rural population) have no access to Basic Sanitation

Water Security Challenges Population increase higher demand for water, food, energy, industry Urbanization concentrates water demand, increased pollution; increased floods Droughts have transformed from local problem to transboundaryhealth and environmental e.g. haze Sanitation and waste-water (industrial) treatment lagging behind Competition and Conflicting demands Issues of water security will be exacerbated by climate change

Water Management Challenges Water managed by various ministries and agencies, working in silos and sometimes in competition focus is on resource exploitation and economic growth rather than resource conservation and sustainable growth Traditionally top-down shifting to greater stakeholders participation (bottom-up) Increasing acceptance of the need for holistic and integrated management best carried out at river basin level Concept of river basin

Concept of River Basin

River Basin Geographical area determined by the watershed limits of the system of waters, including surface and underground waters, flowing into a common terminus

A River Basin has several Sub-basins

When population small Impacts localised in Sub-basin

When population small Impacts localised in Sub-basin

When population small Impacts localised in Sub-basin

When population small Impacts localised in Sub-basin

As population grows Impacts extend beyond. Upstream activities can affect downstream areas and vice versa

Upstream Users People River Flora Fauna Downstream Users

Competition and Conflicting Demands Among Users

Case Example 1 Upstream activities affecting Downstream Aral Sea

The Aral Sea was once the World s 4 th largest lake

From 1930s, water was diverted for irrigation

This has resulted in the Aral Sea shrinking

One of the Worst Environmental Disaster in the World

Case Example 2 Downstream activities affecting Upstream Bangkok

The Great Bangkok Floods of 2011

Upstream activities affecting downstream

Downstream activities affecting upstream

Managing Water at the River Basin level

Managing Water in River Basin Most critical factors for IWRM to succeed at river basin level : (Questionnaire to NARBO members in 2014)

Managing Water in River Basin Most critical factors for IWRM to succeed at river basin level : Strong Political Will and Commitment; with Basin Management Plan and Clear Vision Participation from Stakeholders (Questionnaire to NARBO members in 2014)

IRBM The process of coordinating conservation, management and development of water, land and related resources across sectors within a given river basin, in order to maximize the economic and social benefits derived from water resources in an equitable manner while preserving and, where necessary, restoring freshwater ecosystems (Adapted from Integrated Water Resources Management, Global Water Partnership Technical,Advisory Committee Background Papers, No. 4, 2000)

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Principles Structure IRBM Model Economic Efficiency Enabling Environment Equity Institutional Frameworks Environmental Sustainability Management Tools Ref: GWP/NARBO Managing Water for Sustainablity

Concept vs Practice

NARBO Study

ADB Regional Technical Assistance 7547:Supporting Investments in Water Security in River Basins Regional Workshop Chiang Mai, Thailand, 17 May 2013 Improving Water Security: Lessons from IWRM Cases in Indonesia, Nepal and Uzbekistan 53

3 Minimum Conditions for Success 3 Pillars Keys For Success

Inclusiveness 3 Pillars

Inclusiveness 3 Pillars Many stakeholders in a RivcrBasin Upstream v Downstream Many Govt. Agencies -Gaps, Overlaps, Competition, Conflict Private Sector v Civil Society Consultation Buy-in Empowerment

Governance Structure 3 Pillars

Inclusiveness 3 Pillars Governance Structure Laws & Policies Basin Plan, Roadmap Institutions - Implement, Enforce RBOs, Water Councils Tools -IWRM Spiral Model Finance

Governance 3 Pillars Hardware

Inclusiveness Governance Structure Hardware 3 Pillars Data Collection Engineering Structures & Systems Operation & Maintenance Monitoring, Safety Rehabilitation

Transboundary River Basin

Transboundary River Basin Transboundary across a boundary Transboundary river basin a river basin that crosses or demarcate one or more political boundary ~57 international transboundary river basins in Asia

Challenges Complex physical, hydrological, political and human interactions make management extremely difficult Nationalistic fervour and sovereignty potentially disruptive factors inhibiting cooperation Different national interests Power disparities between riparian countries Differences in national institutional capacity Limited data and information exchange

Some Case Examples from Asia

Case Example #1 Indus Waters Treaty a water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan signed in 1960

Case Example #1 Indus Waters Treaty a water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan signed in 1960 Disagreements and disputes settled through legal procedures provided for within framework of treaty Both countries agreed to exchange data and cooperate in matters related to the treaty Treaty created the Permanent Indus Commission, with a Commissioner appointed by each country to adjudicate any future disputes arising over the allocation of waters Treaty considered to be one of the most successful water-sharing agreements in the world

Case Example #2 Mekong River Basin Encompassing parts of Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam Basin area : 795,000 km³

Case Example #2 Mekong River Basin Commission (MRC) Inter governmental agency Comprises lower Mekong countries : Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam China and Myanmar are Dialogue partners

Case Example #2 Role of Mekong River Basin Commission (MRC) Provide basin-wide understanding of cumulative impacts of development scenarios &interactions between sectors Provide advice to government decision-makers Build capacity, facilitate dialogue and provide technical guidance Promote development and alleviate poverty, but at same time protect aquatic ecosystems and other ecology To share benefits from future development among the four countries of the lower basin Monitor -river flow, water quality, sediment, salinity, fisheries, navigation

Lessons Learnt

Lessons Learnt Need for greater transparency when dealing with hydrological data and information Building up trust facilitate data and information exchange The establishment of international water treaties &/or institutions can play vital role in minimizing and mitigating conflicts in transboundary river basins

TransboundaryRBO Characteristics Authority Formal Informal Mandate Geographic coverage Tasks Capacity Resources Financing

SDG 6 : Water and Sanitation To meet the Targets in SDG 6 : Manage water on a river basin basis, with greater focus on sustainability Through IRBM (Integrated River Basin Management) Best implemented by RBOs front liners Need to improve capacity of RBOs Transboundary River Basins need for transparency, trust, regional cooperation

Regional Cooperation Opportunities for Regional Cooperation : Much similarities in the Asia and Pacific region on water and sanitation issues Share good practices in water and sanitation Disseminate ideas, information, experiences, lessons learnt from successes and failures Cooperate in capacity building individuals and institutions

Regional Cooperation Transboundary River Basins : Dealing with complex hydrological, political and sovereignty issues Learn from the successes and failures in the region Role for a third party to provide objective and independent perspective / arbitrate / broker ESCAP and NARBO can work together to provide this role

Thank you