The current approach to managing water resources in accordance with the World Bank Water Resources Policy Paper (1993) and the World Bank Water Resources Sector Strategy (2003) includes the adoption of a comprehensive policy framework, the treatment of water as an economic good, combined with decentralized management and delivery structures and fuller participation by stakeholders. In addition, there is increasing recognition worldwide that individual water resources projects and policies have implications for other water users within the river basin, both upstream and downstream, and for the health or condition of the general environment. Increased stresses on a basin’s natural resource base caused by development pressures are leading to degradation that is felt well beyond the immediate area of a particular project. Integrated river basin management has been the primary mechanism to addressing these issues and impacts. The World Bank promotes several initiatives, contributes to, and facilitates the adoption of river basin management approaches, where relevant. This section provides useful information on key characteristics of basin management arrangements, and their corresponding physical and institutional environments, including historical, administrative and cultural factors, and mechanisms to engage in cooperative action, conflict mitigation, and allocation of river basin resources. It also contains information on best practice cases, projects and publications. Research:
Projects:
Africa Region
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