Page 60 - report_A Matter of Survival

People’s Diplomacy, Inter-Sectoral Water Management and Decision Making

major rivers systems in Europe, such as the Danube River with its identify the critical indicators that encapsulate key developments
19 riparian countries (this number includes the major tributaries in the basin. A broader cooperative and institutional arrangement
of the Danube), demonstrate the complexity of management and may well be a necessary phase in which the riparian countries
the potential levels of cooperation that can be developed over develop the full sense of each of their needs as well as of
longer periods of time. Citizen involvement through civil society their common need in order to further develop their overall
organizations is becoming an increasingly important feature of water cooperation.
water management.
Inter-sectoral water management in transboundary water
In addition, there are more recent cases where the magnitude situations in different parts of the world shows several common
of the basin and its vital importance requires an accelerated features. In general, technical cooperation can provide
cooperation process, both intergovernmental and inter-sectoral. information that constitutes the basis for engineering and
technical solutions, as well as for broader strategic decisions. It
The Mekong River Basin offers one of the most illustrative must be understood that technical cooperation and engineering
examples. The Mekong River Basin is an important river basin per se cannot substitute for social and ethical decisions. Once
from the global perspective, providing the largest inland fish the technical analyses are done and engineering possibilities
resources in the world, with 60 million people depending on the are understood, it is important to move forward in a transparent
river and its resources for their immediate livelihood. In addition manner. It is clear that technical and engineering knowledge has
to growing food demand in the basin, the more recent and rapidly to be at a sufficiently high level to enable responsible social and
evolving demand for energy is producing a complex situation political decisions. However, technical cooperation alone will not
requiring the highest attainable level of intergovernmental remove the danger of tensions and disputes, and will not address
and inter-sectoral cooperation. The potential for tensions and the broader social needs. Broad stakeholder participation,
disputes should not be underestimated. The basic principles of including civil society groups, local representatives, scientists
International Water Law – equitable and reasonable utilization and businesses is necessary. Above all, effective hydro-
of water and the obligation to do no harm – should help in diplomacy and the engagement of political leaders, including
addressing any problems arising from the increasing emphasis the highest level of political leaders from the countries sharing
on the use of water for power generation. the basin, has to guide the process towards solutions.

Currently, hydropower development is very high on the agenda This synopsis of the experience of water cooperation epitomizes
of many Mekong riparian countries: 11 power plants will be built the challenge of water cooperation in the contemporary world.
along the mainstream and more than 80 along the tributaries. Some of the conclusions of global relevance are as follows:
Because hydropower is currently an important priority, the
perception has developed that energy development for ▪ It is indispensable to ensure the sharing of relevant information
industries and urban centers comes at the expense of poor rural and data for all key stakeholders, including citizens’ groups,
communities that depend on the rivers for food production. This from the very early stages of a planned project, prior to
has raised the level of complexity around water cooperation in beginning actual work. It is important for the principal actors
the basin and has engaged a number of actors involved in the (governments and companies) to understand which data is
management of the water basin. required by whom and when. The need for transparency has
to be fully understood by all stakeholders.
In addition to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the ▪ It is advisable to form representative consultative and
governance structure of the Mekong River Basin also involves the decision-making bodies involving all the relevant stakeholders
Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Association of Southeast to facilitate an informed discussion during the decision-
Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional energy market, and a host making process about the anticipated project impacts
of national and sub-national institutions. China’s increased and to enable peaceful and amicable adjustments of any
participation is concentrated on practical cooperation such potential controversy.
as increased water supply to lower riparian countries in dryer ▪ The existing practices have already made it possible to
periods of the year and on the strengthening of institutional
ties within the Mekong River Basin system through the Lancang- develop general guidelines or voluntary codes of conduct that
would guide the cooperation of the principal stakeholders.
Mekong Cooperation Mechanism (LMCM) launched in 2014. This Such guidelines could be approved by the UN Global Compact
mechanism is expected to increase interconnectivity, production and proposed for the voluntary application by businesses
capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, including involved in water cooperation projects. This practice should
cooperation in agriculture, and is expected to contribute to
poverty alleviation in the riparian countries. over time give rise to internationally agreed standards
that would provide the framework fvor business activity and
policy making.
Studies focusing on the upstream hydropower developments
and on the downstream ecological and agricultural situations ▪ Public education and information should be standard features
and fisheries in the Mekong River Basin have underlined the of all the activities mentioned. This would involve familiarizing
need for stakeholders to work together to build capacity for the stakeholders with technical, engineering, management,
risk, opportunity mapping, and for developing sustainable and financing questions, as well as the environmental and
management options. Furthermore, such cooperation would social impacts of water projects.

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