Economic and Financial

Instruments for IWRM

Introduction to IWRM

Part 2: IWRM Principles

Goal and objectives of the session

To introduce water management principles

Introduction

Adoption of water management principles are key

to achieving IWRM but challenges exist.

Water Management Principles

1: Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource

2: Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach.

3: Women play central role in provision, management and safeguarding of water.

4: Water has an economic value but should be recognised as an economic good and a social good.

Principle 1: Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable

resource

Ocean

Evaporation Evaporation (ET)

runoff

Precipitatio

n

Aquifer

Infiltration

Evaporation

Precipitation

Evaporation/ET

Surface Water

Groundwater

Why is it vulnerable?

Water is essential for development and is vulnerable to development.

Holistic approach: Link social and economic development with the protection of natural ecosystems.

Integrated Perspective: No dichotomy between land use and water use.

The river basin is the logical unit for water resources management.

Principle 2: Water development & management

should be participatory

Everyone is a stakeholder (inclusion vs exclusion);

Democratisation of decision-making principle is adopted;

Ideally, multiple stakeholders (users, planners and policymakers) at all levels involved;

In reality, involvement in decision-making at the most feasible level (subsidiary);

Gender sensitive and sensitive to issues of vulnerability and poverty.

Benefits of participation

More successful projects in terms of scale, design,

operation and maintenance;

Improve cost recovery . Key to revenue generation

and financing;

Environmental resources are protected and

cultural and human rights are respected;

Coordinate interests and resolve conflicts;

Increase transparency and accountability in

decision-making.

Challenges to the Participatory Approach

Participation does not always achieve consensus:

Arbitration processes and conflict resolution mechanisms needed.

Government intervention needed to create enabling environment for marginalised social groups (poor, indigenous people, the elderly & women.

Disadvantaged groups must also have the capacity to participate.

Think about it

In your country are all stakeholders involved in

decision-making on water supply, management

and investment decisions?

Principle 3: Women play a central role in the

provision, management and safeguarding of water.

In many countries women are the collectors of water, responsible for safeguarding water for domestic use and agricultural use.

Women less instrumental than men in key areas:

Management;

Problem analysis;

Decision-making in relation to design of systems and investment etc.

Links between Gender and IWRM

Gender and environmental sustainability

linkages

Gender and economic efficiency linkages

Gender and social equity linkages

Gender and economic efficiency linkages

Women may be less mobile and have

payment constraints

Payment centres should be in closer

proximity to their homes

Payment amounts should be smaller and

can be made at more regular intervals

making more affordable.

Think about it

In your country is a gender-sensitive approach being used to manage water resources?

If not, give reasons why this approach has not been adopted.

Principle 4: Water has an economic value among all

competing uses and should be recognised as an

economic good as well as a social good.

Water has a value as an economic good as

well as a social good.

The value of water in alternative uses is

important for the rational allocation of

water as an economic good as well as a

social good.

Think about it

Is there any adoption

of water management

principles in your

country? Where can

you find them?

End

Next presentation introduces the role of

economic and financial instruments in

IWRM