In a world faced with mounting water-related challenges, many countries have opted to instigate reforms within their water sector, in a bid to manage water in a more sustainable manner whereby a degree of water security is obtainable. The integration of imported water management models with traditional knowledge is proving to be of paramount importance in such efforts. This is especially true, in regards to finding solutions for water-related problems that occur in a trans-boundary water context, for these situations hold the potential to serve as a source of further conflict and tension or as a means for effective cooperation to take root. The crossroads, where choosing between conflict/tension and cooperation is most apparent, is in the most water scarce regions of the world, where basins are closing hydrologically at an alarming rate and as a result becoming more securitized. The severe water stress experienced in these regions is creating further competition for fresh water, and the overexploitation of the transboundary water resources is quickly becoming the prevailing trend.

In order to begin to counter this distressing trend, and provide, implement and support better solutions 'on the ground' to water-related problems in areas faced with persistent conflict and tension, it is increasingly essential to incorporate the local context. However, in a changing world, where a noticeable shift away from traditional intra and inter-state conflicts to conflicts between state, transnational, and or non-state entities at the local, regional, and international level has occurred, recognizing upfront the serious challenge this poses to traditional conflict resolution techniques is vital. The complexity of such a scenario is further exacerbated by dwindling resources and environmental problems whereby many groups are left marginalized and without access to basic services, such as water and sanitation. Identifying pragmatic solutions to water-related problems in areas where there is enduring conflict and tension is made all the more difficult by the absence of a legal, policy and institutional framework or joint management mechanism, which happens to represent  the situation that exists today in a majority of transboundary basins.   

Understanding the local context, using the local knowledge, and ensuring the inclusion of all of the various actors involved are essential elements in deriving sustainable solutions that hold the potential for encouraging broader transboundary cooperation. The challenge however, in terms of interventions, remains in creating a conducive environment to create and sustain effective cooperation. In this regard, identifying shared problems and shared risks amongst the various actors to a conflict/tension could enable a shared vision of effective cooperation through enhanced dialogue. To this end, the realization of shared solutions can be analyzed through a counter paradigm to the status quo, whereby both effective cooperation and benefit sharing are looked at in terms of their potential to enable sustainable water management solutions. This in turn not only allows for further development of local concepts and institutions but also the adoption of useful and innovative elements of imported management models. In the end, it is local groups that will have to deal with the outcomes of regionally or internationally negotiated agreements to a conflict, potentially in the absence of water related provisions. It is therefore challenging but crucial to upscale local concepts and institutions, while adopting and adapting useful and promising elements from imported management models.  

The goal of this target is to assess the potential of traditional/indigenous knowledge in the form of water management practices and conflict resolution techniques to help provide sustainable solutions and contribute to an environment conducive for enhanced dialogue, which can potentially lead to effective cooperation as part of an effort to resolve certain aspects of a conflict/tension.