Pan Asia Training on International Water Law: Improving Water Governance and Climate Resilient Investment

Welcome message

On behalf of all of the organizers and partners, we warmly welcome you to the inaugural Pan-Asia Training on International Water Law: Improving water governance and climate resilient investment. The main objective of this training is to foster partnerships and build capacity for improved practices in international water law and developing agreements for transboundary water cooperation in Asia.

Background

Despite significant developments in international water law during the last few decades, challenges remain in advancing cooperative frameworks. In Central, Eastern, Southern, and South-Eastern Asia, 25 out of the 30 countries share transboundary rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Yet according to the third round of reporting on SDG Indicator 6.5.2 measuring transboundary water cooperation, only six countries have more than 90% of their rivers and lake basins covered by a cooperation agreement and institutional mechanism for management. In some cases, existing arrangements lack effective governance frameworks and sufficient financial and technical resources to effectively face intensifying global challenges on transboundary water resources, encompassing both surface and groundwater.

This training builds upon: the ‘Pan-Asia Workshop on Water Governance: International Water Law and Multi-Stakeholder Processes’ organised by Global Water Partnership (GWP) in Kunming, China on 13-15 December 2018; and past and present IUCN BRIDGE initiatives on international water law and policy in Asia, including in the Meghna and Mekong basins. Moreover, the training seeks to draw from lessons learned and experiences of successful international water law trainings co-organised by the UN Water Convention Secretariat, in partnership with others, including those held in Africa over the past decade.

Overview, aims, modality and target audience

This training seeks to bring together participants from across Asia in order to share lessons learned and deepen knowledge and understanding of water governance and international water law irrespective of differing backgrounds and disciplines. In doing so, the training will focus not only on the applicable legal rules and principles that shape how countries across the continent cooperate over their transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers; but also, the more practical challenges and experiences in the implementation of international water law.

This training comprises three main elements,

1. lectures and Q&A sessions delivered by leading experts in the field to promote ‘practitioner-to-practitioner’ learning;
2.  case study presentations from practitioners in specific fields; and
3. simulation exercises facilitated by the aforementioned experts.

Several core themes will run throughout the training.  In its focus on international water law across Asia, the training will explore the rules and principles that are applicable to a diverse range of water bodies, including transboundary river basins and aquifers.

Additionally, in not only looking at ‘law on paper’, but also at the practical challenges of implementation, the training will consider the national governance setting (laws, policies and institutions) in place to ensure that transboundary arrangements are implemented in an effective and efficient manner.

A further theme that runs throughout the training is that of investment in transboundary water cooperation. Core facilitators will participate for the duration of the workshop to ensure that these key themes are considered throughout the lectures, case study presentations and simulation exercises.

We hope that this event will work as a steppingstone towards stronger long-term collaboration in Asia.

We are looking forward to welcoming you all in Bangkok and online!

On behalf of the organizing partners,

UN Water Convention, University of Northumbria, UNU-CRIS, IUCN BRIDGE, GWP, FAO, UCC Ireland, International Water Law Academy European Union, the Netherlands, Finland, Bangladesh and Australia.

Financial support for this training is provided by the European Union, Finland and the Netherlands.

In-kind support is provided by IUCN BRIDGE, GEF IW Program, University of Northumbria, UNU-CRIS, UCC Ireland and Australia.

For further information, please click here.