Water Policy

 

InWent focusses on dialogue workshops on regional and international water policy and sector reform strategies, transboundary river management, and regional training courses on decentralisation and private sector participation.

The issues
Water is vital for sustainable economic and social development. The reform of water policy aims to establish a legal and institutional framework to enable government, civil society and the private sector to implement sustainable and integrated water resource uses. This includes the protection of wetlands and water from over-exploitation and pollution, the balance of different user interests, and to mitigate impacts of floods and droughts.

Water governance for inter-sector cooperation and public participation are key concepts concerning the implementation of water policy goals. Diverse interests of different user groups for domestic and industrial requirements, for sanitation and waste management need to be harmonized on the basis of laws and regulations as well as economic instruments and integrated planning procedures.

However, imminent political and administrative deficiencies, poor knowledge management and financial resources at local level, are amongst the main challenges to capacity building in most partner countries of German development cooperation.

An additional challenge is the fact that world-wide over 260 rivers are shared by at least two countries. They cross international boundaries with different legal regimes, administrative regulations, resource availability and social, economic and natural conditions. Transboundary water management and the establishment of shared watercourse institutions to plan and manage water and associated land resources are therefore vital to explore the potential to the benefit of all users.

InWEnt’s approach
Water Policy and integrated water resources management explicitly consider the complex nature of water resources. Furthermore, it implies the tight linkage "individual-organization-system". Thus, InWEnt’s activities follow a systematic approach, linking professional and methodical skills. In doing so, we aim to strengthen governmental institutions on national and local level as well as NGOs and enterprises.

Special attention is given on the transfer of knowledge and methodologies that guarantee the practice-oriented and sustainable use of water. Emphasizing regional cooperation and networking, we provide platforms of experience exchange to promote the development of joint and internal-driven strategies, of adequate problem-solving and the implementation of concepts. Thus synergies are emerged.

By conducting structured dialogue, we are ready to listen to our partners and to support the inter-sectoral cooperation.

InWEnt’s services

We apply a widespread set of instruments according to encountered capacity building needs that comprises dialogue workshops and seminars, short-term and long-term trainings as well as Training for Trainer seminars. It is our aim to reach (all) different levels of water-management in order to enable a sustainable development of this sector.

Thus, our capacity building measures are tailored for policy- and decision makers on highest level as well as for managers and junior professionals on the operational level.

In the context of Water Policy and Integrated Water Resources Management, we offer Capacity Building Measures in the following areas:

• Regional Water Policy
• National Water Policy
• Water Dialogues
• Capacity building for planning and management instruments in Water Resource Management.
• International / Cross-border Dialogues
• Management competences within institutions.

Herewith, we focus on improving organizational performance by enhancing individual skills. In doing so, we aim to contribute the creation of a climate of innovation and to strengthen implementing and decision-taking competences. Special attention is given to local, national, cross border (bi-, multilateral) or regional initiatives (such as Southern African Development Community (SADC) or the Arab Water Council), which are supported on policy and operative levels.

InWEnt’s experiences
The main contracting authorities are the Federal Ministry of development cooperation (BMZ), the European Union (EU), the World Bank and United Nations (UN) Organizations.

In intense cooperation with the Arab Water Council, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), the International Water Management Institute (IMWI), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank Institute (WBI), we try to join our forces and meet the needs of our partners.

The partners of our programs are Ministries, National Authorities, research institutions, NGOs and enterprises, acting within the water sector.

Combining professional, methodical, regional competence with policy advisory services is InWEnt’s unique feature. We cover complex water sector issues by applying a systemic approach and tailor it to the specific needs in different regional contexts.

InWEnt obtains significant competence realizing programs on water supply and sanitation in Mekong countries, Southern African Development Community (SADC) and MENA, our current focal regions.

Examples, standing for our experiences:

• Water Sector Reform in the MENA region, 2005 - 2008
• TRANSNET: Transboundary Natural Resources Management in Shared River Basins and Shared Ecosystems in Southern Africa, 2005 - 2007