GWP SAS Working Guidelines for 2012 - Global Water Partnership

GLOBAL WATER PARTNERSHIP – SOUTHASIA (GWP-SAS)Clause 1.Clause 2.PreambleWater is a renewable natural resource, but finite in quantity. Withthe runaway growth in population and rapid economicdevelopment, especially in the developing countries, demand forwater has increased steadily making it a scarce resource.Recognizing that water is essential for the very survival ofcivilization, GWP was created at the initiative of IWRA, WWCand WB. GWP is envisaged as a mechanism to follow-up thewater management principles adopted at the 1992 DublinConference and in chapter 18 of agenda 21 adopted at UNCED,Rio de Janeiro. GWP is a working partnership betweenorganisations concerned with water resources. Since problems ofwater resource management is country and region specific, GWPhas promoted regional WPs. One such is GWP-SAS, whichprovides an opportunity for the countries in the SAS region towork together to manage the region’s water resources sustainably.The mission of GWP - SAS is to promote a holistic approach andIWRD and to support the countries in their sustainablemanagement. GWP-SAS would be a regional network of Partners.ObjectivesSouth Asia Water Vision 2025 articulates the need for and goals ofwater resources development in the region. To achieve these goals,GWP-SAS will promote the principles of IWRM for sustainableand mutually beneficial water resources development in thecountries in South Asia.Clause 3. FunctionsGWP-SAS will strive toi. translate the general principles for sustainable water resourcesmanagement as evolved from the Dublin/Rio principles intofacilitative instruments for action including development ofeffective solutions to problems common to integrated waterresources management, suggestions for practical policies and bestpractices.ii. strengthen transparent mechanisms for sharing information andexperience;iii. co-ordinate its activities in water resources management with thoseof other organisationsiv. establish contacts through which to interact with GWP partners inother regions.v. identify the demands for strategic assistance for sustainable waterresources management and propose programmes to meet thisdemand and monitor such programmes.