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INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON WATER SCIENCES AND RESEARCHInternational cooperation onwater sciences and researchRaya Marina Stephan, Chair, Publications Committee and Tom Soo,Executive Director, International Water Resources AssociationGood knowledge of water resources represents animportant basis for planning their management anddevelopment. This knowledge is often related to thelevel of science and research in a country, the available capacitiesand various factors such as financial means, objectives ofnational strategies and others. International cooperation onwater sciences and research occurs very often and contributesto filling gaps and developing and sharing knowledge, or enrichingknowledge with specific approaches.Various frameworks allow such exchanges and cooperation. Theseframeworks are more or less formalized and are mainly constitutedby networks of experts organized either in international scientificassociations such as the International Water Resources Association(IWRA), or in regional and international expert groups such asthe working groups under the European Union Water FrameworkDirective or the Arab Integrated Water Resources Network. Otherpossibilities for international cooperation are offered by water eventswhich allow multiple exchanges and meetings among experts fromacross the world. International water projects also allow such cooperation,often facilitated by international organizations. Finally,publications and communications about water sciencesand research strengthen international cooperation andtransfer of knowledge.A network of experts: IWRAAs in other fields, water experts have created andestablished scientific associations, offering variousmeans for exchange among their members. IWRArepresents a recognized platform for exchange amongexperts and has become a major organization in thefield of water. Established in 1971, when the worldwas just beginning to mobilize around the need tomanage water resources on a global scale, IWRAwas one of the first international and multidisciplinaryorganizations of the water sector. Since itsearly years, the association has responded to a risingcall for water resources policy and management tobe addressed on a global and multidisciplinary level.IWRA thus became an international network andglobal knowledge-based forum of multidisciplinaryexperts on water resources.Image: IWRA/SooIWRA representatives discussing a science and technology centre with local authorities in Qingdao[ 308 ]