Draft UNCCD Water Policy Advocacy Framework

Following the adoption of the 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance the implementation of the Convention (2008-2018) (The Strategy) , the Secretariat is taking initiatives to enhance the role of water resources in sustaining the natural ecosystems and human well-being in the context of the UNCCD. A document discussing Securing water resources in water scarce ecosystems was elaborated and was a subject of review by country Parties and the international stakeholders. Subsequently, a Water policy advocacy framework was developed on the understanding that, although Parties to the UNCCD have water policies in place, special attention needs to be paid to the impacts of DLDD imperatives on the availability, accessibility and management of water resources in light of:

1. Potential future global water crisis associated with climate change
2. Current and emerging challenges – poverty eradication, food insecurity, etc. as they relate to the millennium development goals (MDGs)
3. The Strategy’s one of the strategic objectives: Improving the livelihoods of the populations of the drylands (water scarce ecosystems)

Parties and stakeholders are cordially invited to review the draft Water policy advocacy framework and submit their views and comments to the Secretariat before 14 September 2009 to

Mr. Emmanuel Chinyamakobvu
Policy and Advocacy
on Global Issues and Platforms
UNCCD Secretariat
e-mail: echinyamakobvu@unccd.int

Summary: Water Policy Advocacy Framework

DLDD is a global problem affecting more than 2 billion people in more than 100 countries with direct and negative consequences on water resources and costing the world economies more than 40 billion dollars a year. Already, one third of the global population lives under water stress conditions, with DLDD imperatives exacerbating the situation, in spite of the considerable progress made since 1990. As the world’s population has swollen to well over 6 billion people, some countries have already reached the limits of their water resources. Thus it becomes necessary to seriously consider appropriate water policies that improve water resources management in the face of DLDD imperatives.

The Water Policy Advocacy Framework for the UNCCD is proposed in recognition of the significance of the water crisis in exacerbating DLDD imperatives in the drylands in particular and the reciprocal negative impacts DLDD imperatives have on water resources as well as the broader effects of the resultant water scarcity on ecosystem functioning, environmental sustainability, economic production and the stability of social systems, among others.

The UNCCD advocacy for water policies is meant to assist countries to respond to DLDD challenges through addressing a broad array of laws, regulations and programmes that are intended to support, fund and regulate water resources availability for human and animal consumption, industrial, agricultural and environmental purposes among others. This water policy advocacy document aims to provide a framework for the UNCCD Secretariat to advocate to countries’ policy makers to develop water resources management policies at country level.

It is not intended to provide any content or any specific recommended policy position. The specifics of water resource management policies are country dependent and need to be worked out by the countries concerned with the full participation of all interested and effected stakeholders taking into consideration the legal implications of the proposed water policies and the consistency between the emerging water policies and the policies of other sectors.

It should be noted that this is primarily a UNCCD Secretariat framework for advocating for the development of water resource management policies at country level, through promoting water as a socially vital economic good that needs increasingly careful management to sustain equitable economic growth and reduce poverty. It is envisaged that, the UNCCD water policy advocacy framework, through advocating a participatory approach in meeting the challenges of water conservation and protection, sets of decisions will be made ultimately by the highest political level in affected countries through a bottom-up process of dialogue and consultation, that would determine what and how things will be done in water resources management in the face of desertification, land degradation and drought issues.