This target will review governance tools in countries that have been successful in implementing innovative and effective IWRM mechanisms. A series of concrete experiences and case studies will be presented and illustrated to address the following questions (among others):
•    How to build a common vision on good governance mechanisms at the regional level?
•    How many water-related agreements include specific governance tools?
•    How do legal instruments help in achieving true IWRM?
•    What kind of solutions lead to an effective performance of legislation and regulations?

This target will look into the diversity of definitions governance definitions in the field of water resources management and service delivery. Despite such a variety of situations and contexts, it is possible to identify several principles that are functional to good water governance. A particular attention will be given to the different characteristics of surface and groundwater. Among others: the Ostrom’s principles, UN Conventions (i.e. UNECE Helsinki Convention, UNCCD, UNFCCC, etc.), Regional instruments such as the European Water Framework Directive and the SADC Water Act., and other non-binding global instruments such as the 1992 Rio Declaration, the UNGA Resolution on the “Law on Transboundary Aquifers”, etc.
There are relevant environmental benefits deriving from good water governance. This is why the Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNESCO-International Hydrological Programme (IHP), FAO, the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) and the World Bank have joined forces and initiated a project on Groundwater Governance. Through regional consultations the objective come to a shared vision on groundwater governance and a Global Framework for Action with clear recommendations that will help countries set up and implementing good governance tools.
There is also a need to give full consideration to the value of aquifer system services. Within the concepts of groundwater governance and IWRM, the potential of the groundwater component should be recognized and emphasized also considering the lack of information, data, legal frameworks, etc. that is still affecting many regions in the world. The problem of sharing information within an effective integrated water resources management should be also addressed. By acknowledging the interdependencies of global changes including climate change and the hydrological cycle, more attention should be drawn to the concept of adaptive water management. A closer and more frequent monitoring of our policies will be required to cope with such fast-paced global changes and legislation and regulation may need to be somewhat more flexible to deal with uncertainties.