Integrated Water Resources Management
Through an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) - which aims at adopting a holistic approach and inclusive process to address the highly interconnected nature of hydrological resources - SDC is promoting sustainable practices and solutions that address root causes of mismanagement and misuse of water. The goal is to ensure fair and efficient water distribution for people, agriculture, nature, and industry, to prevent conflicts and turn tensions into opportunities for dialogue while integrating human rights, environmental protection, and market needs.
IWRM is an overarching topic for SDC, being operationalized through the principle of sustainable water resources management. The key challenge is balancing an increasing water demand with constant water availability, use the resource within the regeneration capacity and allocate water equitably and efficiently, whilst avoiding internal/intrastate conflicts for its different uses: water for people, for food, for nature and for industrial use. At the same time, a balance has to be found between human rights, protection of the environment and market forces, whilst triggering the potential of cooperation for transforming tensions on water uses into peace building.
Key documents
RésEAU Brief no. 5 - Water management solution pathways under climate change in the Middle East region
This edition addresses water management solution pathways under climate change in the Middle East region, with a focus on Jordan, highlighting water use efficiency.
Thematic Integration Brief on Climate, DRR & Environment and Water Management Systems
Past events
Webinar «On thin Ice: adapting water resource management to a vanishing cryosphere» (May 2021)
This webinar highlighted the second Trend Sheet of the Trend Observatory, an initiative led by SDC’s Global Programme Water to anticipate new themes and emerging opportunities for development cooperation in the water sector. The objective of this webinar was to give an overview of the state of research on how climate change effects on the mountain cryosphere impact water resources, and to provide insights on why and how water resources management should adopt more risk-based and transformative approaches to deal with related uncertainties and rapid change.
Related pages
Water Diplomacy
The Blue Peace Initiative (BPI) enhances water cooperation across borders, sectors and generations, fostering peaceful, cohesive, and sustainable societies. RésEAU supports regional water networks where BPI is active.
Trend Observatory on Water
Analysing challenges and opportunities for development cooperation The Trend Observatory on Water of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) aims at informing RésEAU members, Cluster Green affiliated networks, and partners about relevant emerging trends and innovative approaches.