Page 74 - report_A Matter of Survival

CHAPTER 7

In Pursuit of Agency: New Mechanisms of Water Diplomacy

The Meaning of the Concept of “Agency” expressed politically or led diplomatically and goes beyond joint
water management.
In the preceding chapters, references were made to international
institutions dealing with water issues, ranging from river basin Such activities would facilitate cooperation and thus would need
organizations or transboundary water management systems to be managed with the appropriate tact and ensure meaningful
to research institutes as well as regional intergovernmental and early engagement so that actors improve their understanding
organizations and UN organs, agencies, funds and programs. of each other. Initiatives would need to be complementary and
Many of the latter institutions have a variety of water issues mutually supportive, and no basin could be left behind.
included in their mandates and programs. They all contribute
significantly to water cooperation to the extent possible at the But which organization could undertake this task and how would
current level of international cooperation. they accomplish it?
These existing organizations and mechanisms are necessary,
valuable and impactful. They are doing valuable work in A Global Observatory for Water and Peace:
furthering joint water management as a means of advancing Basic Features
peace. Several governments offer confidential political and
diplomatic assistance in this particular niche, and numerous The Panel suggests that this facilitation initiative be the “Global
donors seek to create or strengthen conditions for closer water Observatory for Water and Peace” (GOWP). Its mandate would
cooperation. Activities pursued in the follow up to the adoption be to facilitate assistance to governments to use water as
of the SDGs, and SDG 6 on water and sanitation in particular, an instrument for avoiding conflicts, developing cooperation
are expected to contribute to strengthening existing forms of mechanisms and peace building activities. The Observatory’s
cooperation, and perhaps even add a few new ones. purpose would be to catalyze and facilitate the expansion of
water cooperation for peace by:
At the same time, it is necessary to recognize the political
importance and nature of many water issues that need to be ▪ Highlighting the potential of using water for peace;
addressed diplomatically, therefore requiring attention beyond the ▪ Showcasing the expertise and assistance that is available to
technical dimension of water cooperation. An important feature governments;
of discussions relating to international water cooperation is the ▪ Matching governments with existing organizations and
frequently cited “lack of agency” at the political and diplomatic approaches;
levels and the search for a global home of hydro-diplomacy.
Importantly, “lack of agency” does not refer to the need for an ▪ Capturing and highlighting the approaches and achievements
additional international institution. “Agency” is referred to in a of organizations that work successfully in this area;
philosophical sense, that is, as the capacity of international actors ▪ Facilitating activities of a select network of regional practitioner
to act effectively in the current global environment in which water institutions that are focused on using water for peace;
problems are growing and are likely to contribute to international ▪ Facilitating training and development of water diplomacy
tensions, disputes and threats to peace. skills;
▪ Acting as a catalyst for financial investment in water
Leveraging Water for Peace cooperation, e.g. by funding early stage research of existing
water diplomacy organizations on water cooperation ideas
These statements suggest that there is a gap in international designed to address the needs of governments engaged
cooperation and, beyond joint water management, especially
in systematically leveraging water for peace. The world needs in conflict;
a global structure to coordinate and facilitate the expansion ▪ In cases of armed conflict, monitoring, evaluating and reporting
of water cooperation by providing a trusted, impartial clearing on the destruction of water supply and sanitation systems.
house for promising initiatives. This structure would not primarily
coordinate existing initiatives, although that could become one The Global Observatory for Water and Peace would work closely
of its tasks, but advise interested parties on potential models with organizations and centers at the global and regional levels,
of cooperation, ongoing processes in specific regions or basins which specialize in water cooperation and which harness the
and potential complementary efforts. It would also facilitate the potential of water for building peace. In short, it would focus on
identification of potential protagonists in a position to answer hydro-diplomacy beyond joint management.
to specific needs. It would be linked to a variety of regional
structures, both those already in existence and ones that could The Observatory would strive to capture best practices and
be established in the future, to support water diplomacy that is lessons learned from the widest variety of actors, including
regional organizations and initiatives, as well as entities at the

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