Sharing transboundary waters
in the context of asymmetrical power relations:
lessons from the MENA region
ANA ELISA CASCÃO UNESCO-IHP HELP PROGRAM SEMINAR
KCL /London Water Research Group Évora, 24-26 June 2009

MENA region: 3 major
transboundary river basins
NILE BASIN
10 riparian states
JORDAN BASIN
Nile 5 riparian states
Jordan
Tigris-Euphrates
TIGRIS-EUPHRATES
BASIN
3 riparian states
COMPLEX
COMPLEX
[HYDRO]
HYDROLOGY
POLITICS

MENA river basins:
Power Asymmetries
4 PILLARS OF POWER
Material Bargaining Ideational
Geography
power power power
Zeitoun and Warner, 2006
London Water Research Group

MENA river basins:
Asymmetric power relations
Nile Basin
ETHIOPIA SUDAN EGYPT
Material Ideational Ideational
Geography
power power power
Bargaining Material Bargaining
Geography
power power power
Material Bargaining Ideational
Geography
power power power
Tigris-Euphrates Basin
TURKEY SYRIA IRAQ
Material Ideational Material Bargaining Ideational
Geography
power power power power power
Bargaining
Geography
power
Material Bargaining Ideational
Geography
power power power

MENA Basins: Hydropolitics vs. IWRMA
Strong power asymmetries

Asymmetric water control, distribution and allocation

Political conflicts/volatility

Militarisation/Securitisation of water resources

“Resource capture” strategies

Basin-wide water negotiations and agreements

Inter-riparian confidence and dialogue

Comprehensive transboundary water cooperation

Integrated Water Resources Management and Allocation
(IWRMA) 

MENA Basins: Hydropolitics and Knowledge
Knowledge, information and institutional [wide] gap

Integration and harmonisation of knowledge and information

Information sharing and exchange across borders

Sanctioning of knowledge, discourse and agenda

Multiple stakeholders involvement

Scientific collaboration across borders

Politicisation of science, models and decision support tools

Decision-making controlled by politicians, not scientists or
technicians 
Basin-wide, integrated knowledge and decision-making systems


MENA Basins:
Science, Policy and Management
Science
OVER-POLITICISATION
Policy
POWER OF TRANSBOUNDARY
ASYMMETRIES WATER MANAGEMENT
Management
AND ALLOCATION

Some conclusions...
POWER OVER-
ASYMMETRIES POLITICISATION
Strong obstacles to:
 Meaningful and effective
cooperation
 Sound science, policies, and
management
 Information and data sharing
systems
 Development of dialogue and
linkages between epistemic and
decision-making groups
 Comprehensive stakeholders
involvement
 Fair negotiations of legal
agreements based on
international water law principles

Thanks for your attention!
ana.cascao@kcl.ac.uk