Water Conflict, Cooperation and Diplomacy
In this course, participants will learn about the complex linkages between water and conflict, and how to overcome challenges of governing shared waters in a cooperative way.
For whom?
Mid-career water professionals with a technical/engineering/natural science background interested in advancing their skills on water conflict, cooperation and diplomacy.
Prerequisites
The course is targeted towards water specialists who are well familiar with the water sector and want to deepen their knowledge on the particular aspects of transboundary waters, and ways to foster cooperation. We expect sufficient English language skills and some academic or professional experience with water-related conflict and/or cooperation.
Learning objectives
- Understand and apply different approaches to negotiation and conflict transformation
- Explain and assess institutional arrangements for transboundary water governance at basin level, including their effectiveness in addressing water conflicts and ensuring cooperation
- Explain and analyse the key principles of international water law
- Compare and critically appraise different tracks, scales and actors of water diplomacy
- Understand key concepts and approaches to analyse water-related conflict and cooperation at transboundary level, including the complex causal chains between water-related risks and conflicts
Many countries in the world share water resources – be it rivers, lakes or aquifers – with their neighbours. In light of increasing pressure on water resources due to raising demands, we often hear warnings that disagreements about using shared water resources might lead to increased tensions or, in the worst case, to conflict.
To prevent such situations, it is crucial to reflect on how to govern shared waters in a sustainable way. Indeed, there are many examples of peaceful cooperation on shared waters around the world. In this course, participants will learn about the complex linkages between water and conflict, and how to overcome challenges of governing shared waters. It will familiarize participants with different tracks and tools of water diplomacy, using examples from different basins in the world and practical experience of involved experts.
Participants will learn to critically engage with the key principles of international water law and different institutional arrangements for transboundary water cooperation. At a more practical level, the course will introduce the basics of practical skills of negotiation. Participants will learn about multiple perspectives, cultures, and spiritualities and how they are expressed in water conflict transformation; and will practice a range of conflict transformation tools through in-class exercises.
Course Topics
- The complex linkages between water, conflict, and cooperation
- Key approaches to water conflict and cooperation
- International water law
- Institutional arrangements for transboundary water governance
- Multi-track water diplomacy, including role of third parties, media and affective aspects
- Gender dynamics in water cooperation and diplomacy
- Stakeholder and public participation
- Basics of negotiations
- Role Play/Negotiation Simulation
- Conflict Transformation
Course lecturers
Course lecturers include:
Course Coordinator
Jenniver Sehring
Associate Professor of Water Governance and Diplomacy
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