GROUNDWATER GOVERNANCEGROUNDWATER GOVERNANCE

Fifth Regional Consultation:

UNECE Region

A. AureliUNESCO IHP 

Fifth Regional Consultation:

UNECE Region

A. AureliA. AureliUNESCO IHP UNESCO IHP 

– Many countries still lack – coherent policies and strategies for the management of aquifers and groundwater resources  

– adequate legal settings– and institutional arrangements to administer related  legislation 

An attempt at cartographic anamorphosis, showing the groundwater extractions in each country

Jean Margat, UNESCO-BRGM 2008

GROUNDWATE R

DEPENDENCY

IWRM IWRM It gives very little recognition to the It gives very little recognition to the

vital function that groundwater plays in vital function that groundwater plays in the global water cycle the global water cycle

.

Groundwater Governance –IWRM and Sustainable Development

Consultation Arab States Region

AMMAN

8-10 October 2012

Dr. A. AureliChief Groundwater Resources Section

UNESCO

Groundwater Governance

The state of the art:

Thematic papers

Synthesis Report

ConsultationsConsultations: :

Global Global Groundwater Groundwater DiagnosticDiagnostic

A shared vision:

Global Framework for Action on Groundwater Governance

1 2 3

To LEARN and to SHARETo LEARN and to SHARE

Take stock from lessons learnt Take stock from lessons learnt

in the regionsin the regions

OBJECTI

VEOBJECTI

VE

Regional 

ConsultationsIHP – Regional Focal 

Point

Host Country 

Partner

IAH focal 

contact

Regional 

Organization

DATES

Americas

Host Country 

Uruguay 

IHP Americas Montevideo 

office

Water Related 

Ministry  

OAS

ECLAC April 2012

Africa

Host Country  

Kenya

IHP Africa UNESCO 

Nairobi Office 

Water Related 

Ministry  

AMCOW May 2012

Arab Countries

Host Country 

Jordan 

IHP Amman 

UNESCO office

Water Related 

Ministry  

UNESCWAOctober

2012

Asia 

(East/South 

East)  

IHP  CHINA UNESCO 

offices

Water Related 

Ministry  

ESCAP DECEMBER  

2013

UNECE region

+ 

Private Sector 

Panel

NETHERLANDS

IHP Europe  NetherlandsUnesco

National 

Commision

UNECEMARCH 

2013

The target audience for each Regional Consultation

National and National and Regional governmental Regional governmental representativesrepresentatives

PractitionersPractitioners

Decision MakersDecision Makers

Regional economic commissionsRegional economic commissions

UNESCOUNESCO--IHP network,IHP network,

Nat ComNat Com––centrescentres––chairschairs

IAH regional networkIAH regional network

Regional academy and researchers Regional academy and researchers

Users associationsUsers associations

Regulatory associationsRegulatory associations

Private sectorPrivate sector

Professional regional associationsProfessional regional associations

NGOs, Civil societyNGOs, Civil society--

MediaMedia

~60

Participants

~60~60

ParticipantsParticipants

The challenge is to achieve governance that ensures equal access and sustainability of natural systems.

Participation of all stakeholders in order to create a social consensus aimed to generate changes and accept new policies based on sound scientific, economic and environmental considerations.

The challenge is to achieve governance that The challenge is to achieve governance that ensures ensures equal access equal access and and sustainability of sustainability of natural systems. natural systems.

Participation of all stakeholders in order to Participation of all stakeholders in order to create a social consensus create a social consensus aimed to generate aimed to generate changes and accept new policies based on changes and accept new policies based on sound scientific, economic and sound scientific, economic and environmental considerations. environmental considerations.

Montevideo Messages

Montevideo Messages

The region has a large number of The region has a large number of transboundarytransboundary

aquifersaquifers, cooperation becomes , cooperation becomes

essential in the search for common solutionsessential in the search for common solutions

Most of the countries have made a substantial Most of the countries have made a substantial effort to consider groundwater constitute effort to consider groundwater constitute a a resource unit resource unit that is that is part of the state public part of the state public domain, subordinate to the general interestdomain, subordinate to the general interest

All countries confirmed existence of policy related to groundwater at macro level, but difficulties to implement it locally. Lack coordination and harmonization issues between central and local administrations.

TBA and the role of international water law-

River Basins Commission responsible

for groundwater-

AMCOW GC

All countries confirmed existence of policy All countries confirmed existence of policy related to groundwater at macro level, but related to groundwater at macro level, but difficulties to implement it locally. Lack difficulties to implement it locally. Lack coordination and harmonization issues coordination and harmonization issues between central and local administrations.between central and local administrations.

TBA and the role of international water TBA and the role of international water lawlaw--

River Basins Commission responsible River Basins Commission responsible

for groundwaterfor groundwater--

AMCOW GCAMCOW GC

Nairobi Messages

Mechanism of decision making top-down, although participatory approach is progressing;

In several countries, decentralization is undertaken, while at local level stakeholders are not skilled to do the job;

In many countries the assessment of groundwater resources is very incomplete

Mechanism of decision making topMechanism of decision making top--down, down, although participatory approach is progressing;although participatory approach is progressing;

In several countries, decentralization is In several countries, decentralization is undertaken, while at local level stakeholders undertaken, while at local level stakeholders are not skilled to do the job;are not skilled to do the job;

In many countries the assessment of In many countries the assessment of groundwater resources is very incompletegroundwater resources is very incomplete

Nairobi Messages

Existing data and monitoring systems are inadequate. Need for upgrading -through new technologies, and staff training.

Strengthening water institutions responsible for groundwater resources

Existing structures and processes limit stakeholder involvement and there is minimal public dialogue

Education extending from the involved stakeholders to the general public. Social Transformations-

Migrations Facing difficulties enforcing existing laws and

policies

Existing data and monitoring systems are inadequate. Existing data and monitoring systems are inadequate. Need for upgrading Need for upgrading --through new technologies, and through new technologies, and staff training.staff training.

Strengthening water institutions responsible for Strengthening water institutions responsible for groundwater resourcesgroundwater resources

Existing structures and processes limit stakeholder Existing structures and processes limit stakeholder involvement and there is minimal public dialogueinvolvement and there is minimal public dialogue

Education extending from the involved stakeholders Education extending from the involved stakeholders to the general public. Social Transformationsto the general public. Social Transformations--

MigrationsMigrations

Facing difficulties enforcing existing laws and Facing difficulties enforcing existing laws and policiespolicies

Amman Messages

Deploy more resources to further develop groundwater governance structures and processes

Reducing groundwater consumption by managing evapotranspiration

National policies are needed to encourage conjunctive use and managed aquifer recharge.

Coordination between surface water and groundwater plans

Pricing of surface water and groundwater should be consistent.

Lack of participation -Education and training programs.

Deploy more resources to further develop Deploy more resources to further develop groundwater governance structures and processes groundwater governance structures and processes

Reducing groundwater consumption by managing Reducing groundwater consumption by managing evapotranspirationevapotranspiration

National policies are needed to encourage National policies are needed to encourage conjunctive use and managed aquifer recharge.conjunctive use and managed aquifer recharge.

Coordination between surface water and Coordination between surface water and groundwater plans groundwater plans

Pricing of surface water and groundwater should be Pricing of surface water and groundwater should be consistent.consistent.

Lack of participation Lack of participation --Education and training Education and training programsprograms. .

Shijiazhuang-Messages

Groundwater is a key resources

The main challenge is to interest different island governments on the importance of coordination and strengthen governance.

Improved regulation, adaptation and coordination between countries

Take into account water as a basic need and ingredient of economy (tourism).

Groundwater is a key resourcesGroundwater is a key resources

The main challenge is to interest different island The main challenge is to interest different island governments on the importance of coordination and governments on the importance of coordination and strengthen governance.strengthen governance.

Improved regulation, adaptation and coordination Improved regulation, adaptation and coordination between countriesbetween countries

Take into account water as a basic need and Take into account water as a basic need and ingredient of economy (tourism).ingredient of economy (tourism).

Islands

PERMANENT CONSULTATION MECHANISM

THANK YOU

Project web site:• http://www.groundwatergovernance.org/

PERMANENT CONSULTATION PERMANENT CONSULTATION MECHANISMMECHANISM

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Project web site:Project web site:•• http://www.groundwatergovernance.org/http://www.groundwatergovernance.org/