Cooperation on Transboundary Waters:

A Challenge for Europe and Other Regions of the WorldDr. Stephen F. Lintner World Bank

World BankOur Mandate

Poverty Reduction

Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development

Knowledge Sharing

World Bank - Environment Strategy

The Strategy sets three interrelated objectives:

Improving the quality of life Improving the prospects for and the

quality of growth Protecting the quality of the regional

and global environmental commons

World Bank Experience

Transboundary Water Management

Water is a Catalyst for Cooperation

Integrated Management – Freshwater, Coastal and Marine Resources

Preventive and Curative Measures

Sharing Benefits Not Water

World BankPrograms and Projects Mediterranean Sea Baltic Sea Danube River Basin Black Sea Caspian Sea Aral Sea Lake Ohrid

World BankPrograms and Projects Nile River Basin Lake Victoria Lake Chad Basin Senegal River Basin Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Mekong River Basin Mesoamercian Barrier Reef Gurani Aquifer

World BankExchange of Experience

Petersberg Process Petersberg Declaration Berlin Recommendations Vilnius Recommendations

Consultation on Transboundary Water Management (Berlin)

Cooperation with GEF (Budapest)

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned:Key Factors for Success

Shared Vision

Sustained Political Commitment

Strong Public Support

Broad Based Partnership

Lessons Learned:Important

Considerations Program Design

Clear and Realistic Objectives Adoption of a Long-Term

Timeframe Phased Implementation Performance Indicators

Lessons Learned:Important

Considerations

Institutional Arrangements Small Efficient Secretariats All Cooperating Countries Need to

Contribute to Operational Costs Transparent Personnel and

Accounting Procedures Avoid Reliance on External Grant

Funding

Lessons Learned:Important

Considerations

Integration of Priorities into Investment Plans National and Local Level Use of Grant Resources Use of Loan Resources

Lessons Learned:Important

Considerations

Use of Economic Instruments Limited to Date As Programs

Designed to Address Externalities

Major Focus on Water and Wastewater Tariffs

Clear Responses to User Fees Pollution Fees and Fines

Lessons Learned:Key Factors for Success

Conventions Are Important; However,

They Are Not Mandatory

for Effective Progress

Lessons Learned:Preventive Measures

Often Most Politically and Socially Difficult Require Changes in Plans and Visions May Result in Conflicts with Vested Interests Most Cost Effective Physical and Environmental Planning Development Restrictions Environmental Incentives Water Pricing and Cost Recovery Risk Prevention

Lessons Learned:Curative Measures

Often Political and Social Demands for Action

Results Difficult to See Quickly Expensive Requires Long Time Frames Point Source Pollution Non-Point Source Pollution Restoration of Ecosystems Monitoring Systems

Lessons Learned:Curative Measures

Mobilization of Capital Investment Critical Need to Avoid Over Investment Operation and Maintenance Political Sensitivity of Tariff Adjustments Often Need to Change Institutional

Structures Importance of Efficiency

Challenges

Four Major Challenges

Making the Transition from Planning to Action

Sustained Cooperation Over the Long-Term

Increasing Self-Financing of Programs

An Ability to Revise Programs to Meet Changing Conditions

A New Challenge

Integration of Transboundary Waters Programs into Emerging Development Frameworks Millennium Development Goals Performance Based Aid (post Monterey) Comprehensive Development Frameworks Poverty Reduction Strategies

Increases Importance of Broad Based Ownership by Cooperating Countries and Internalization in Their Priorities

Financing Water Services

Link Infrastructure to Water Resources Management

Treat Water as a Market Good Efficient Use and Delivery Appropriate Pricing Cost Recovery

Support Regulatory Frameworks and Policies

Financing Water Services

Encourage Adoption of Affordable Standards

Increase Dialogue with Industry and Investors

New Approaches to Public-Private Collaboration

Innovative Financing Sub-Sovereign Guarantee Schemes