INTERNATIONAL WATERCOURSES - THE WORLD-BANK LOOKS TOWARD A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO MANAGEMENT

This paper examines transboundary water resources management challenge s currently being faced across the globe. Lessons learned from Europe, Africa, Asia and North America are outlined on the need for more inte grated, ecosystem-based management of these international watercourses and on institutional arrangements for improving management. The World Bank's new Water Resources Management Policy is presented with an emp hasis on elements related to a more comprehensive approach that consid ers integrated land-water management, proper pricing for water service delivery, nonpoint pollution abatement, aquatic ecosystem restoration , and institution building. Also described is a key international fund ing mechanism for more comprehensively managing international watercou rses known as the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Restructured and replenished in 1994, GEF can play a catalytic role in building institu tions for better water resources management and in fostering cooperati ve actions among nations in a basin toward the ultimate goal of making development more environmentally sustainable.