INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Multi-stakeholder Dialogues as a tool for Negotiation at the River Basin Level

Ganesh Pangare, Coordinator, Water and Wetlands Program, IUCN, Asia

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Example : Mekong Region Water Dialogues

• National multi-stakeholder platform for river basin management in the Mekong• Legal, policy and institutional framework for river basin infrastructure development • Challenge: benefit sharing, overcoming conflict and strengthening civil society’s voice

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Mek

ong

Regi

on W

ater

Dia

logu

es (M

RWD

)Cr

eate

–Con

nect -

Chan

geMekong Region Water Dialogues: Approach

GovernmentBusiness

Civil Society

(10-14 people)

(National issues, national

consultation meetings, case-

studies)

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

IUCN WD Coordinator

WD Working Group

8 persons

Water Dialogue Network

Agriculture and Irrigation

Energy and Hydropower

Fisheries

Navigation

Water Supply and Pollution control

Flood management

Tourism

Watershed and Wetlands

Roles, Risks and Responsibilities

Government, Non-Government, Private sector, Communities

Decision makers

Private sector developers

DGs

National Assembly members

National Water Dialogue Meetings

Briefings and communications

Communication Strategy

Meets 1 – 2 x per yr

Meets 3 – 4 x per year

Receives Dialogue training

Information sharing through network

and internet

Preparation of issues papers and

case studies

Regional Water Dialogue

Ministers

Finance institutions

Donors

IUCN RWWP Coordinator

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Multi-stakeholder Dialogues as a tool for Water Governance

• Increases the participation of water users in decision making, • Build consensus on how to manage water resources to achieve

sustainable development goals. Mobilize stakeholders and build partnerships to facilitate a

common understanding of issues and solutions Address issues of policy, law, strategy and technology at national,

trans-boundary (bi-lateral) and regional (multi-lateral) level. Provide science-based and reasonable policy recommendations

for bridging gaps between policy makers and grass root issues. Create opportunities for stakeholders to discuss, share and

exchange their perspectives at national and regional level and identify water governance issues.

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concluding question: what are the key steps in a successful multi-stakeholder dialogue that builds national consensus on river basin development?