What is water diplomacy?
In the context of this initiative, water diplomacy is defined broadly to include all measures that can be undertaken to prevent or peacefully resolve conflicts related to water availability, allocation or use between and within states. Among these measures are early warning of potential conflict, conflict prevention through better water governance and water management, Track-II facilitation, more formal mediation and arbitration, legal procedures, training and capacity building, knowledge development, and good practice documentation.
Goals
Collectively, the WDC partners combine capacities in diplomacy and conflict resolution, international (water) law, water systems, water governance, and water management. These cover the spectrum of water diplomacy broadly defined from both an academic and a practical perspective. The WDC thus serves as global hub for water diplomacy in theory and practice, and offers the following services to governments and public entities at all levels, intergovernmental organizations, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders that need assistance in the field of water diplomacy:
- advisory services to governments and public entities at all levels on improving water governance and management systems
- training and capacity building on a broad range of water diplomacy issues
- knowledge exchange and partnerships among water diplomacy stakeholders
- advice on conflict resolution methods, from facilitation to mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and adjudication
- direct assistance as an honest broker in conflict resolution
- advice or direct assistance on post-conflict peace building in and through the water sector
- research and publications, including case studies and good practices, on water conflict prevention and resolution issues
- organization of conferences and other events, including online activities, on water diplomacy for experts or the broader public
