Environment and Energy

Integrated Water Resources Management

The competition for available water resources in much of the developing world is growing rapidly due to ever-increasing and conflicting demands from agriculture, industry, urban water supply and energy production. The demand is fueled by factors such as population growth, urbanization, dietary changes and increasing consumption accompanying economic growth and industrialization. Climatic changes are expected to further increase the stress on water resources in many regions.

The traditional fragmented approach is no longer viable and a more holistic and coordinated approach to water management is essential. This is the rationale for the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach that has been accepted internationally as the way forward for efficient, equitable and sustainable development and management of the world’s limited water resources.

UNDP assists countries to achieve equitable allocation, develop capacities and implement integrated approaches to water resources management through adaptive water governance to reduce poverty and vulnerability, sustain and enhance livelihoods and protect environmental resources.

Through the UNDP Water Governance Facility at SIWI policy advice and support to advance water governance reform is provided. Support to sector reforms focuses on systematically integrating pro-active adaptation policies and measures in water resources strategies and into regional and national development processes, instruments and institutional frameworks. The Facility also develops water governance methodologies and tools to facilitate work on IWRM, adaptation and related issues.

UNDP recognizes the key role of capacity building to manage competing demands and improve equity and efficiency in water use and management. Through the international network for capacity building in integrated water resources management, Cap-Net, UNDP is scaling up local capacity development through strengthening of capacity building networks, developing and sharing tools and training materials, sharing and exchanging experiences and supporting delivery of capacity building.

Cap-Net is made up of a partnership of over 20 autonomous regional and national capacity building networks and three thematic networks linking more than 300 capacity building institutions and knowledge centers across the world. The programme receives core support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sida and the EU and its global secretariat is hosted by the Water Research Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are particularly vulnerable to increased stresses on water resources as populations grow. With limited land resources and even more limited fresh water resources the pressures of economic development coupled with climate change associated climate variability make water shortages, flooding, soil erosion, pollution and salinisation a present day reality.

UNDP, in partnership with UNEP, is presently supporting all Pacific and Caribbean SIDS to address these challenges through the preparation and implementation of national IWRM plans whereby the island ecosystems including land, freshwater and coastal zones are addressed in a systematic and coordinated manner. In parallel, a series of demonstration projects are piloting on-the-ground strategies for implementing IWRM at island level for up-scaling and replication in other islands. The aim of the support is to improve the assessment and monitoring of water resources, reduce water pollution, improve water use efficiency, access to technologies and strengthen institutional arrangements. A similar program is in preparation for the SIDS around the African continent and the Indian Ocean.

In Central Asia, UNDP has started a 5.4m USD programme together with the European Commission to promote IWRM and foster transboundary dialogue. The focus lies besides policy and institutional reforms in supporting the governments to develop national investment and development strategies, accompanied by a number of demonstration projects in the areas of rural water supply and sanitation irrigation efficiency and small-scale hydropower.

UNDP’s Water Governance Programme is working with over 50 countries, including all Small Island Developing States, supporting development and implementation of IWRM plans in the context of national development strategies. More information can be found on WaterWiki.