Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition

Faced with increasing water stress in shared river basins and aquifers, more than 30 governments and organisations, including INBO, have decided that it is time to do more!

The terrible floods and droughts that have occurred this year in most parts of the world, and the impact they have had, illustrate the crucial importance of water in all aspects of society and our planet. As the second United Nations Water Conference was held from 22 to 24 March 2023, governments and institutions from around the world came together to form the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition.

The Coalition, a multi-stakeholder partnership made up of governments, intergovernmental organisations, regional integration organisations, international financial institutions, academic institutions and civil society organisations, will seek to highlight the crucial importance of cooperation on shared water resources, essential in our time, to ensure water security and sustainable development.

With a remarkably diverse membership supporting transboundary water cooperation in policy, governance, capacity development, technical support and funding, the Coalition aims to :

• make the voice of the transboundary water community heard in a unified way,
• demonstrate and communicate the benefits of transboundary water cooperation, both for upstream and downstream countries and for adapting to new climate challenges,
• give impetus to concrete commitments linked to transboundary water cooperation,
• catalyse support for initiating, sustaining and deepening transboundary water cooperation.

The coalition is encouraging countries and organisations around the world to make concrete commitments to support the advancement of transboundary water cooperation.

In an uncertain world and with a changing climate, strengthening cooperation in the management of the transboundary basins of our lakes, rivers and aquifers is essential if we are to achieve our common objectives in terms of water, energy, food and the ecological security on which our societies depend. Transboundary water cooperation is an accelerator for achieving our global sustainable development goals!

Eric TARDIEU – INBO General Secretary