Stockholm International Water Institute » Johanna Sjödin http://www.siwi.org Water Wise World Tue, 12 Feb 2013 15:26:27 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Options for cooperative action in the Euphrates and Tigris Region http://www.siwi.org/publication/options-for-cooperative-action-in-the-euphrates-and-tigris-region/ http://www.siwi.org/publication/options-for-cooperative-action-in-the-euphrates-and-tigris-region/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:57:16 +0000 admin http://www.siwi.org/publication/options-for-cooperative-action-in-the-euphrates-and-tigris-region/ For the Euphrates and Tigris (ET) riparian countries of Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey we have undertaken a macro-level baseline characterisation to visualise current water resources management practices and a hydroeconomic simulation model to illustrate possible marginal benefits of cooperative action at a system level. The riparian countries in the ET region are connected by the water resources flowing across borders within one system.

Paper, published 2012.

]]> http://www.siwi.org/publication/options-for-cooperative-action-in-the-euphrates-and-tigris-region/feed/ 0 The Human Right to Water and Sanitation http://www.siwi.org/publication/the-human-right-to-water-and-sanitation/ http://www.siwi.org/publication/the-human-right-to-water-and-sanitation/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2012 16:48:38 +0000 admin http://www.siwi.org/publication/the-human-right-to-water-and-sanitation/ Access to water and sanitation as human rights has gained growing attention over the last few years at a global level, increasingly engaging the water sector and the international community in discussions regarding its content and implications. Human rights standards help orient policy-making towards focusing on the poorest and most marginalised groups in society and towards ensuring fair and equal access to water. By establishing a legal framework, defining who is responsible for fulfilling the right, and promoting pro-poor and non-discriminatory service provision, human rights standards can effectively strengthen poverty reduction efforts.

This Policy Brief aims to identify basic challenges in implementing the human right to water and sanitation, and to guide decision-makers in some of the priorities that need to be agreed to secure safe, acceptable and accessible water for domestic purposes for everyone.

]]> http://www.siwi.org/publication/the-human-right-to-water-and-sanitation/feed/ 0 Building a framework for collective action in the management of the transboundary waters in Kaliningrad, Russia; Lithuania and Poland http://www.siwi.org/project/twm-kaliningrad/ http://www.siwi.org/project/twm-kaliningrad/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2012 11:38:55 +0000 Nora http://www.siwi.org/?post_type=project&p=562 Pressure from agriculture, fisheries, industries, and the maritime sector have severely compromised the health of the Baltic Sea, with most areas now affected by eutrophication, hazardous substances, and degraded biodiversity. Collaboration between the EU and Russia is critical to tackle the deteriorating state of the common Baltic Sea. Much cooperation on the numerous transboundary river basins in the Baltic Sea region is on-going. However, there are still some areas where cooperation and collective action is lagging behind due to different political and economic reasons. The transboundary Neman (Poland, Lithuania, RF Kaliningrad Oblast, and Belarus) and Pregola (Poland and RF Kaliningrad Oblast) are two such rivers systems draining into the Baltic Sea Region where multilateral cooperation is poor.

In previous work undertaken by SIWI and partners in Russia (Kaliningrad), Lithuania and Poland, (2009-2011) the need for improved water management in this part of the Baltic was clearly identified. The potential for improved ecosystem services, increased economic gains and longer-term regional cooperative gains were also shown.

Civic action through NGOs and academic institutions can play a major role in building the political commitment needed for collective action. NGOs and academic institutions can bring skills and knowledge into pre-planning processes and provide a safe space for dialogue together with government officials. Such dialogue is non-committing and non-binding and should be based on sound knowledge and expertise.

This project aims to build an informal and professional partnership to formulate water and environmental management priorities into an economic framework, recognising green and smart growth potential. The intention is to facilitate official dialogue, cooperation and investment on the shared river basin systems between the Kaliningrad Oblast, Poland, Lithuania and the broader Baltic Sea Community of actors, providing incentives for stakeholders to seek more information on how to transform degraded water resources into opportunities. Both EU and Russian regulations offer opportunities for joint management. Further arguments and clear investment frameworks needs to be developed to stimulate formal cooperation based on best practise and good data.

The project is funded by Swedish Institute and will be implemented over 3 years (2012 – 2015) by SIWI (Sweden, coordinating institution), Northern Dimension Foundation (Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia), Institute of Economy of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia), Global Water Partnership (Poland and Lithuania) and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (Sweden).

Project Info

 

 

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