Steering Transboundary Water Cooperation in the ASEAN Region

Transboundary water governance is a regional challenge, affecting nearly all Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) States and those at its periphery. Still, the region has few operational arrangements to govern these shared water resources.

Practice across the region is mixed, with limited arrangements on transboundary watercourses shared by ASEAN States. There are operational arrangements for water resources shared between ASEAN and non-ASEAN states, but they are often non-binding.

Regional or global agreements, including the 1985 Natural Resources Agreement, 1997 Watercourses Convention or 1992 Water Convention, could accelerate transboundary water cooperation in the region.

The expansion and implementation of transboundary water cooperative arrangements across the region can secure significant benefits while supporting the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6.5.