The TWO Analysis: Introducing a Methodology for the Transboundary Waters Opportunity

Abstract

"This report represents the output from one component of a broader initiative addressing the development and management of shared river basins. The initiative seeks to enhance the management of fresh water resources in transboundary basins (i.e. fresh water catchments including surface waters and/or aquifers, crossing international borders). The component of the initiative presented in this report involves the generation of a conceptual framework for identifying development opportunities. Options to realise those opportunities, through attaining the necessary social and political agreement amongst the involved riparians, are also indentified. In subsequent development of the methodology, quantitative aspects using indicators will be developed, and case studies will be generated. The conceptual framework presented here has been developed to be a flexible tool to support decisionmaking at the level of basin States, within Regional Economic Communities, and for potential investors engaged in the identification and implementation of the development opportunities. It can be used in a developing country context, and in any transboundary basin. The conceptual framework is also configured in a way that is useful for training purposes. For developing regions, it can be of value in determining the preferred and/or optimal uses of fresh waters, especially in relation to the primary driver of the desire to eliminate poverty and hunger."