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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 their
longer periods of time. Citizen involvement through civil society common need to further develop their overall water cooperation.
organizations is becoming an increasingly important feature of
water management. Inter-sectoral water management in transboundary water
situations in different parts of the world shows several common
In addition, there are more recent cases where the magnitude features. In general, technical cooperation can provide
of the basin and its vital importance requires an accelerated information that constitutes the basis for engineering and
cooperation process, both intergovernmental and inter-sectoral. technical solutions, as well as for broader strategic decisions. It
must be understood that technical cooperation and engineering
The Mekong River Basin offers one of the most illustrative per se cannot substitute for social and ethical decisions. Once
examples. The Mekong River Basin is an important river basin the technical analyses are done and engineering possibilities
from the global perspective, providing the largest inland fish are understood, it is important to move forward in a transparent
resources in the world, with 60 million people depending on the manner. It is clear that technical and engineering knowledge has
river and its resources for their immediate livelihood. In addition to be at a sufficiently high level to enable responsible social and
to growing food demand in the basin, the more recent and rapidly political decisions. However, technical cooperation alone will not
evolving demand for energy is producing a complex situation remove the danger of tensions and disputes, and will not address
requiring the highest attainable level of intergovernmental the broader social needs. Broad stakeholder participation,
and inter-sectoral cooperation. The potential for tensions and including civil society groups, local representatives, scientists
disputes should not be underestimated. The basic principles of and businesses is necessary. Above all, effective hydro-
International Water Law – equitable and reasonable utilization diplomacy and the engagement of political leaders, including
of water and the obligation to do no harm – should help in the highest level of political leaders from the countries sharing
addressing any problems arising from the increasing emphasis the basin, has to guide the process towards solutions.
on the use of water for power generation.
This synopsis of the experience of water cooperation epitomizes
Currently, hydropower development is very high on the agenda the challenge of water cooperation in the contemporary world.
of many Mekong riparian countries: 11 power plants will be built Some of the conclusions of global relevance are as follows:
along the mainstream and more than 80 along the tributaries.
Because hydropower is currently an important priority, the ▪ It is indispensable to ensure the sharing of relevant information
perception has developed that energy development for and data for all key stakeholders, including citizens’ groups,
industries and urban centers comes at the expense of poor rural from the very early stages of a planned project, prior to
communities that depend on the rivers for food production. This beginning actual work. It is important for the principal actors
has raised the level of complexity around water cooperation in (governments and companies) to understand which data is
the basin and has engaged a number of actors involved in the required by whom and when. The need for transparency has
management of the water basin. to be fully understood by all stakeholders.
▪ It is advisable to form representative consultative and
In addition to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), the decision-making bodies involving all the relevant stakeholders
governance structure of the Mekong River Basin also involves the to facilitate an informed discussion during the decision-
Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Association of Southeast making process about the anticipated project impacts and to
Asian Nations (ASEAN), the regional energy market, and a host enable peaceful and amicable adjustments of any potential
of national and sub-national institutions. China’s increased controversy.
participation is concentrated on practical cooperation such ▪ The existing practices have already made it possible to
as increased water supply to lower riparian countries in dryer develop general guidelines or voluntary codes of conduct that
periods of the year and on the strengthening of institutional would guide the cooperation of the principal stakeholders.
ties within the Mekong River Basin system through the Lancang-
Mekong Cooperation Mechanism (LMCM) launched in 2014. This Such guidelines could be approved by the UN Global Compact
and proposed for the voluntary application by businesses
mechanism is expected to increase interconnectivity, production involved in water cooperation projects. This practice should
capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, including over time give rise to internationally agreed standards that
cooperation in agriculture, and is expected to contribute to would provide the framework for business activity and policy
poverty alleviation in the riparian countries.
making.
Studies focusing on the upstream hydropower developments ▪ Public education and information should be standard features
and on the downstream ecological and agricultural situations of all the activities mentioned. This would involve familiarizing
and fisheries in the Mekong River Basin have underlined the the stakeholders with technical, engineering, management,
need for stakeholders to work together to build capacity for and financing questions, as well as the environmental and
risk, opportunity mapping, and for developing sustainable social impacts of water projects.
management options. Furthermore, such cooperation would

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