Institutional Characteristics for International Cooperation in Water Resources

Agenda 21 calls for integrated management of water resources with catchments or sub-basins as the unit of management. There has been a steady evolution in the arrangements for cooperation in the man agement of international river basins over the last two centuries. Rather than aiming at a standardized set-up for all the international river basins, basin organizations can best be allowed to grow in phases according to the emerging needs of the respective basins. For healthy working of international basin organizations negotiations between the participating countries will be the principal thrust. Nevertheless, provision for arbitration for resolution of disputes will be desirable. The internation al non-governmental professional organizations have also steadily grown in different subject areas. They will be able to provide expert inputs into the workin g of the basin organizations. The river basin organizations and regional water m anagement bodies will need a global common platform for exchanging their experiences and for developing common global strategies. A World Water Council can provide such an umbrella set-up with its General Assembly comprising international basin entities, regional bodies, international professional associations and the UN agencies dealing with water .