Water management

Water is a strategic natural resource and an essential element of national and regional security. Water scarcity, including lack of access to water, and water pollution can threaten socio-economic development and political stability and security. Water management challenges can potentially trigger disputes and conflicts. At the same time, water management can also create valuable opportunities for co-operation and dialogue. The international community, academia, business community and policymakers are aware of the risks water crises can pose to security, and the additional stress put on water resources by climate change.

Water diplomacy can lead to improved relations among countries and communities, enhance security and prosperity and protect the environment. Supporting co-operation in transboundary basins provides opportunities for strengthening bilateral and regional co-operation to promote stability, security, sustainable development, and peace.  Good water governance can support implementing political, social, economic and administrative systems to manage water resources more sustainably.

The OSCE has a long track record of working on various aspects of water management, such as water diplomacy, transboundary water co-operation and good water governance.

There are more than 150 river and lake basins shared by two or more states in the OSCE region. Given its mandate in the area of water management and its significant experience in promoting transboundary water co-operation, the OSCE is well-positioned to foster water diplomacy. OSCE projects and activities have contributed to more effective governance of water resources, also articulating and materializing benefits of transboundary water co-operation for strengthening trust and good neighbourly relations.

These projects are supported by the Office of the Co-ordinator together with the OSCE’s field operations and external partners, such as the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and the UN Development Programme.

The OSCE supports water management through:

• the long-term and comprehensive strengthening of transboundary co-operation and sustainable development in the Dniester river basin between Moldova and Ukraine;
• supporting the drafting and negotiation of the Draft Kura River Basin Agreement shared by Georgia and Azerbaijan;
• supporting co-operation between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan within the framework of the Chu-Talas River basin; and
• involvement in the International Framework Agreement on the Sava River Basin since its early stages.

The Organization also contributes to the incorporation of gender perspectives in water governance and the participation of women in conflict resolution and water management at all levels in Central Asia and Afghanistan.