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CHAPTER 7

In Pursuit of Agency: New Mechanisms of Water Diplomacy

The Meaning of the Concept of “Agency” Such activities would facilitate cooperation and thus would need
to be managed with the appropriate tact and ensure meaningful
In the preceding chapters, references were made to international and early engagement so that actors improve their understanding
institutions dealing with water issues, ranging from river basin of each other. Initiatives would need to be complementary and
organizations or transboundary water management systems mutually supportive, and no basin could be left behind.
to research institutes as well as regional intergovernmental
organizations and UN organs, agencies, funds and programs. But which organization could undertake this task and how would
Many of the latter institutions have a variety of water issues they accomplish it?
included in their mandates and programs. They all contribute
significantly to water cooperation to the extent possible at the
current level of international cooperation. A Global Observatory for Water and Peace:
Basic Features
These existing organizations and mechanisms are necessary,
valuable and impactful. They are doing valuable work in The Panel suggests that this facilitation initiative be the “Global
furthering joint water management as a means of advancing Observatory for Water and Peace” (GOWP). Its mandate would
peace. Several governments offer confidential political and be to facilitate assistance to governments to use water as
diplomatic assistance in this particular niche, and numerous an instrument for avoiding conflicts, developing cooperation
donors seek to create or strengthen conditions for closer water mechanisms and peace building activities. The Observatory’s
cooperation. Activities pursued in the follow up to the adoption purpose would be to catalyze and facilitate the expansion of
of the SDGs, and SDG 6 on water and sanitation in particular, water cooperation for peace by:
are expected to contribute to strengthening existing forms of
cooperation, and perhaps even add a few new ones. ▪ Highlighting the potential of using water for peace;
▪ Showcasing the expertise and assistance that is available to
At the same time, it is necessary to recognize the political governments;
importance and nature of many water issues that need to be ▪ Matching governments with existing organizations and
addressed diplomatically, therefore requiring attention beyond the approaches;
technical dimension of water cooperation. An important feature
of discussions relating to international water cooperation is the ▪ Capturing and highlighting the approaches and achievements
frequently cited “lack of agency” at the political and diplomatic of organizations that work successfully in this area;
levels and the search for a global home of hydro-diplomacy. ▪ Facilitating activities of a select network of regional practitioner
Importantly, “lack of agency” does not refer to the need for an institutions that are focused on using water for peace;
additional international institution. “Agency” is referred to in a ▪ Facilitating training and development of water diplomacy
philosophical sense, that is, as the capacity of international actors skills;
to act effectively in the current global environment in which water ▪ Acting as a catalyst for financial investment in water cooperation,
problems are growing and are likely to contribute to international e.g. by funding early stage research of existing water diplomacy
tensions, disputes and threats to peace.
organizations on water cooperation ideas designed to address
the needs of governments engaged in conflict;
Leveraging Water for Peace ▪ In cases of armed conflict, monitoring, evaluating and reporting

These statements suggest that there is a gap in international on the destruction of water supply and sanitation systems.
cooperation and, beyond joint water management, especially
in systematically leveraging water for peace. The world needs The Global Observatory for Water and Peace would work closely
a global structure to coordinate and facilitate the expansion with organizations and centers at the global and regional levels,
of water cooperation by providing a trusted, impartial clearing which specialize in water cooperation and harness the potential
house for promising initiatives. This structure would not primarily of water for building peace. In short, it would focus on hydro-
coordinate existing initiatives, although that could become one diplomacy beyond joint management.
of its tasks, but advise interested parties on potential models
of cooperation, ongoing processes in specific regions or basins The Observatory would strive to capture best practices and lessons
and potential complementary efforts, and matching particular learned from the widest variety of actors, including regional
needs with potential supporters. It would be linked to a variety organizations and initiatives, as well as entities at the global
of regional structures, both those already in existence and level. It would maintain a credible network of leading academic,
ones that could be established in the future, to support water water professional, research, think tank and other organizations
diplomacy that is expressed politically or led diplomatically and to maintain a centralized knowledge base of academic and
goes beyond joint water management. theoretical approaches, as well as global case studies.

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