Cooperation on
Transboundary Waters:
A Challenge for Europe and
Other Regions of the World
Dr. Stephen F. Lintner
World Bank
World Bank
Our Mandate
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Poverty Reduction
Environmentally and Socially Sustainable
Development
Knowledge Sharing
World Bank - Environment Strategy
The Strategy sets three interrelated objectives:
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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
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Water is a Catalyst for Cooperation
Integrated Management – Freshwater, Coastal and
Marine Resources
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Preventive and Curative Measures
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Sharing Benefits Not Water
World Bank
Programs and Projects
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Mediterranean Sea
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Baltic Sea
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Danube River Basin
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Black Sea
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Caspian Sea
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Aral Sea
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Lake Ohrid
World Bank
Programs and Projects
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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 Bank
Exchange of Experience
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Petersberg Process
 Petersberg Declaration
 Berlin Recommendations
 Vilnius Recommendations
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Consultation on Transboundary Water
Management (Berlin)
Cooperation with GEF (Budapest)
Lessons Learned
Lessons Learned:
Key Factors for Success
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Shared Vision
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Sustained Political Commitment
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Strong Public Support
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Broad Based Partnership
Lessons Learned:
Important Considerations
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Program Design
 Clear and Realistic Objectives
 Adoption of a Long-Term
Timeframe
 Phased Implementation
 Performance Indicators
Lessons Learned:
Important Considerations
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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
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Integration of Priorities into Investment
Plans
 National and Local Level
 Use of Grant Resources
 Use of Loan Resources
Lessons Learned:
Important Considerations
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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
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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
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Often Political and Social Demands for Action
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Results Difficult to See Quickly
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Expensive
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Requires Long Time Frames
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Point Source Pollution
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Non-Point Source Pollution
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Restoration of Ecosystems
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Monitoring Systems
Lessons Learned:
Curative Measures
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Mobilization of Capital Investment
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Critical Need to Avoid Over Investment
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Operation and Maintenance
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Political Sensitivity of Tariff Adjustments
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Often Need to Change Institutional Structures
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Importance of Efficiency
Challenges
Four Major Challenges
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Making the Transition from Planning to Action
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Sustained Cooperation Over the Long-Term
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Increasing Self-Financing of Programs
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An Ability to Revise Programs to Meet Changing
Conditions
A New Challenge
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Integration of Transboundary Waters Programs
into Emerging Development Frameworks
 Millennium Development Goals
 Performance Based Aid (post Monterey)
 Comprehensive Development Frameworks
 Poverty Reduction Strategies
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Increases Importance of Broad Based Ownership
by Cooperating Countries and Internalization in
Their Priorities
Financing Water Services
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Link Infrastructure to Water Resources
Management
Treat Water as a Market Good
 Efficient Use and Delivery
 Appropriate Pricing
 Cost Recovery
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Support Regulatory Frameworks and
Policies
Financing Water Services
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Encourage Adoption of Affordable
Standards
Increase Dialogue with Industry and
Investors
New Approaches to Public-Private
Collaboration
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Innovative Financing
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Sub-Sovereign Guarantee Schemes