What does it take to build peaceful water cooperation? 3 questions to Julienne Ndjiki and Katie Goldie-Ryder
Julienne Ndjiki and Katie Goldie-Ryder are part of the Water Cooperation and Diplomacy team, focusing on advancing water diplomacy processes. They both coordinate the Women in Water Diplomacy Network, in the Nile and Central Asia & Afghanistan respectively. In this interview, Julienne and Katie share their vision for peaceful cooperation across borders.
What are the obstacles that you foresee to peaceful cooperation that includes water? What would be a first step in solving these obstacles?
JN: In my opinion, the main obstacles to peaceful cooperation are as follows: lack of coordination in the efforts, lack of sovereignty of states, political instability, silo approach in decision making processes, lack of understanding and integration of other countries’ visions and priorities.
Countries ought to be willing to compromise a little more and at higher level (strategic vision level) to better understand the other countries plans, integrate them into their own to create a perfectly synchronized cooperation model where some countries will be given priorities and support for their planned development over a set period of time. And vice versa.
KGR: Climate change poses unpredictable and volatile challenges for shared water resources which can raise tensions within a basin or region. Especially where water scarcity is already a challenge.
The impacts of climate change can exacerbate existing economic challenges and environmental degradation, which affects prosperity, stability, and peace. The effects of climate change are primarily felt through the water cycle. Improved water governance and well-planned water-related mitigation and adaptation measures can reduce tensions, mitigate conflict risks, and contribute positively to peace.
Such measures should be more inclusive and engage women, young people, and other marginalized groups. Involvement of women and civil society organizations in peace processes has been shown to make peace more durable and long lasting.
“Countries ought to be willing to compromise a little more and at higher level to better understand the other countries plans, integrate them into their own to create a perfectly synchronized cooperation model.”
How do your projects support peaceful water cooperation now and in the future?
KGR: Through the Shared Waters Partner, SIWI supports peaceful water cooperation by creating a safe dialogue space where a broad range of actors sharing a water resource can advance knowledge and understanding on shared climate-related risks and discuss solutions. SIWI’s approach focusses on building trust between actors in a basin.
JN: Our approach is also to foster cooperation beyond the border of the respective river basin supported by the SWP. For instance, when it is possible to combine funding, initiatives are organized to have a variety of stakeholders involved in diplomatic processes in several capacities.
KGR: SIWI also promotes the inclusion of women water professionals and young water professionals in our activities. This includes mainstreaming across all activities and basin dialogues as well as targeted support such as the Women in Water Diplomacy Network in the Nile and the Women Water Management Network in Central Asia and Afghanistan.
“Water cooperation can be an entry point for dialogue where other grievances have existing or will emerge in the future.”
What does the future of water cooperation look like to you?
JN: The future of water cooperation will require countries to work together more closely and to be willing to compromise for the benefit of all. Tradeoffs will need to be at play and the value of water brought forward in a more prominent way in order to break silos and foster partnerships among the various sectors for which water is critical.
KGR: SIWI will continue to support the strengthening of networks and open dialogue processes, for both formal and informal communication amongst actors in a basin, including countries and other stakeholders.
Water cooperation can be an entry point for dialogue where other grievances have existing or will emerge in the future. So, water cooperation processes will need to anticipate and respond to the challenges posed by climate change and focus on ensuring water security, protecting livelihoods and maintain regional stability. This includes better information and stat sharing and over all increased transparency. Cooperation over shared water resources will require that countries face future challenges collectively and support shared solutions.
