United Nations Development Programme Bratislava Regional Centre – Europe & CIS Human Right-Based Approach to Water Governance Juerg Staudenmann Water Governance Advisor SIWI-Seminar “The Right to Water and Sanitation: Approaches and Practical Implications” World Water Week – Stockholm 20 August 2008

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 2 Scope / outline Why applying a Human Rights-based Approach (HRBA) to Water Governance ? –WSS matters (for Human Development) … –… but Water Governance is the key ! What does it imply ? How: A new programme for Europe & CIS –Objective & approach –The 4 thematic “areas of concern” Conclusions (NOT: What’s HRBA)

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 3 Access to Water Supply & Sanitation matters ! Human Development strongly linked to WSS “The successfully tackling of the WSS crises could trigger the next leap forward in human development!“ (UNDP HDR 2006)

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 4 Why a HRBA to Water Governance ? Fact –1.1 billion people without water, 2.6 billion without sanitation –WSS a key driver to achieve the MDGs (child mortality / maternal health; poverty & food security; healthy work force; education …) The growing “Water Crisis” is foremost a problem of Water Governance, not of lacking water resources –A crisis of the poor and marginalized (incl. ethnic, gender or rural-urban disparities) –Low political commitment to sanitation and hygiene –Climate Change will add more complexity & additional burden The way forward –Focus on support to countries to develop national strategies & plans towards integrated water resources management (IWRM) –Promote international aid & financing –But also make water a human right – and mean it ! (UNDP HDR 2006)

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 5 Applying a HRBA to “Water Governance”: What it may imply Prioritizing human and/or household allocation/consumption over all other uses (especially in crisis situations) Ensuring & guaranteeing allocation of a minimum volume of (affordable) drinking water for everyone Providing (legal) instruments, e.g. for inhabitants to –Claim their water rights –Get access to info and political decisions BUT: Choosing an integrated approach to Water Resources management (e.g. IWRM) –not focusing on WSS only (“pipes and pumps”) –To ensure sustainability !

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 6 Linking HRBA to “Water Governance” Opportunities Promoting (increased) state budget allocations towards WSS Possibility to hold state accountable / responsible for –prioritizing & implementing WSS –Participatory, non- discriminatory, inclusive approach “Sensible prioritization” while balancing between different water users (incl. the natural environment!) Challenges Other user groups (industry, energy sector, agricultural industry…) often have stronger influence (financially, politically, socially) Finding the right balance between WSS and other “development priorities” like –food security (irrigation / agriculture), –livelihoods (production / industry), energy (e.g. hydropower for heating), –environment

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 7 The UNECE Protocol on Water and Health: A unique opportunity for Europe & CIS The UNECE Protocol on Water and Health: A unique opportunity for Europe & CIS Parties shall … take all appropriate measures for … ensuring: (a) adequate supplies of wholesome drinking water…; (b) adequate sanitation... … principles and approaches: … equitable access to water, adequate in terms of both quantity and of quality, should be provided for all members of the population, especially those who suffer a disadvantage or social exclusion. How: A new UNDP programme

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 8 UNDP regional HRBA-to-Water Programme for Europe & CIS Objective: –Use momentum to develop concrete new projects (at national and local level) –Mobilize partnerships and funds for projects and (mainstreamed) interventions Approach: –Analyze specific country situation, gaps and opportunities –Verify needs with stakeholders and set priorities –Develop and launch concrete projects (or mainstreamed interventions)

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 9 4 Thematic “Areas of Concern”  Accessibility – Infrastructure Physical accessibility, primary focus on quality of the (WSS) services Physical accessibility, primary focus on quality of the (WSS) services Dev. priority: provide access to poor, marginalised and vulnerable groups Dev. priority: provide access to poor, marginalised and vulnerable groups  Affordability – Water Pricing Economic accessibility, water tariff system that provides standard volume of water to everyone at affordable prices (or free if necessary) Economic accessibility, water tariff system that provides standard volume of water to everyone at affordable prices (or free if necessary) Special consideration to poor, marginalised and vulnerable groups Special consideration to poor, marginalised and vulnerable groups  Allocation & Quality – Water Resources Management Supplied water needs to be safe and suitable for all different uses Supplied water needs to be safe and suitable for all different uses Balance among competing needs (incl. natural environment) while prioritizing human consumption Balance among competing needs (incl. natural environment) while prioritizing human consumption  Transboundary Cooperation – Joint management of the resource Adequate cooperation between neighbour countries / communities sharing water resource/body (at national, basin or local level) Adequate cooperation between neighbour countries / communities sharing water resource/body (at national, basin or local level) HRBA to prioritize human water consumption HRBA to prioritize human water consumption

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 10 Accessibility – Infrastructure (connectivity and service provision) Potential priority action: Ensuring accessibility for vulnerable groups, including rural areas Prioritisation and targeting of vulnerable and marginalised groups in water policy including service provision Avoiding negative impacts of WSS infrastructure and facilities design on vulnerable and marginalised groups Ensuring public participation of vulnerable and marginalised groups in decision-making

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 11 Affordability – Water Pricing (water tariffs and ability to pay) Potential priority action: Integrating affordability into planning for financing water services Ensuring equitable pricing policies (and cross-subsidies as needed) Ensuring affordability of services in WSS concessions Public participation, transparency and accountability (redress mechanisms and procurement)

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 12 Allocation & Quality – Water Resources Management (production, supply, demand management) Potential priority action: Prioritising water for domestic uses Managing natural water resources to ensure water quality and quantity (and sustainability) Monitoring water quality safe for use Responding to climate change and natural disasters Public participation and transparency

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 13 Transboundary Cooperation (equal opportunities and shared benefits) Potential priority action: Promoting and facilitating transboundary cooperation on water resource management Enabling dialogue towards conflict resolution Public participation

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 14 The role of UNDP in Europe & CIS Through its new pan-regional “HRBA-Water” programme, UNDP is utilizing the regional & legal context to: Support EECCA-countries –Recipient signatory states: implementing the Protocol on Water & Health provisions (national analysis, gap assessments, target setting, strategy & project development…) –Donor signatory states: identifying needs and priorities, and direct their ODA/investment towards interventions in the sense of the Protocol on Water & Health Technically support development and implement of concrete projects and interventions to improve people’s life!

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 15 Conclusions: The role of Development Actors Identify momentum & opportunities and design new programmes –To promote the Right to Water –To implement it: Focus / prioritize / mainstream “Access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water, and basic sanitation” in(to) the national development agenda Focus / prioritize / mainstream “Access to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water, and basic sanitation” in(to) the national development agenda

SIWI-Semiar "Right to Water" - WWW Stockholm, 20 Aug 2008 UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre 16 The role of Development Actors (cont.) Support countries –Identifying national needs and opportunities (“entry-points”) for concrete interventions –Advocate for WSS as priority area (towards achieving the MDGs) –Taking a comprehensive approach (IWRM) to ensure long-term sustainability Mobilize partners and financial resources to prioritize and implement concrete WSS, RtW and Water Governance activities

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