Target 9 is one of nine targets that fall under the Priority for Action (PfA) 1.5: Contribute to Cooperation and Peace, which in turn falls under the Strategic Direction of Ensuring Everyone’s Wellbeing. The diagram below illustrates how this target fits into the broader scheme of the Forum’s thematic framework.

Managing water that crosses boundaries belongs to the most vexing challenges of the coming decades. If done properly transboundary water management can and will contribute to peace, but this requires that all involved are well-informed and aware of the cooperation potential of water.

Transboundary water is water that is shared by multiple users across a boundary. This boundary may take the form of an international border, a regional administrative designation, a within-state provincial division, or a local government municipality. Boundaries are also cultural, ideological and economical; and may manifest at an international, regional, state or local level. Transboundary water management therefore requires a multidisciplinary and integrated approach. Moreover, water that crosses boundaries raises the question of who has the legitimate mandate to convene, decide, resolve issues and enforce agreements. These are non-trivial issues and training can enhance our understanding, which, it is believed, will contribute to better decision-making.

There is a pressing need for increased water education and adequately trained and informed human resources in the water-related sciences, engineering and negotiation and mediation. Based on preliminary estimates, globally the number of trained professionals needs to double if the world is to achieve the water-related MDGs.

Apart from the water users themselves, there are a number of different groups that are involved and influence transboundary water management, namely decision-makers (politicians); senior and high level water professionals; junior water professionals; media professionals; and the public at large. Appropriate and high quality training allows these different groups to understand the challenges of transboundary water management and achieve their organizational objectives. This includes enhancing their understanding of key concepts in support of cooperation in transboundary water resources such as: issue-linking, benefit-sharing, water ethics, hydrosolidarity, law and management. In addition, training can impart skills, such as communication, negotiation and mediation techniques; organising, convening and structuring consultation / public participation processes that incorporate all stakeholder perspectives; and methods of information and data assimilation and integration, critical thinking skills and appropriate writing techniques for reports, papers and communiqués for a variety of audiences.

Not only should the training be relevant and of a high quality but it should also be appropriate to the group being trained. Differing forms of training delivery should be explored and enhanced to improve the reach of training centres; these could take the form of master’s programmes, specialised short courses (in country or regional hub), online courses or virtual classrooms; discussion and support forums; mentoring programmes etc.