Non-Governmental Organizations Transboundary Water Resources October 20, 2005 Tyler Jantzen.

Non-Governmental Non-Governmental OrganizationsOrganizations

Transboundary Water ResourcesTransboundary Water Resources

October 20, 2005October 20, 2005

Tyler JantzenTyler Jantzen

The World of NGOsThe World of NGOs

6,000 NGOs Worldwide (some estimates 6,000 NGOs Worldwide (some estimates as high as 40,000)as high as 40,000)

~10% of Global ODA or ~$8B~10% of Global ODA or ~$8B Range in size from Red Cross to just a few Range in size from Red Cross to just a few

employeesemployees Target a variety of issuesTarget a variety of issues

• PovertyPoverty• HungerHunger• HealthHealth• The EnvironmentThe Environment

Less pressure from change in politicsLess pressure from change in politics Small scale projectsSmall scale projects

• More community involvementMore community involvement• Can be individually tailored to meet Can be individually tailored to meet

specific community needsspecific community needs• Higher “success” rateHigher “success” rate• Less bureaucraticLess bureaucratic

A more “human” faceA more “human” face

Advantages of NGOsAdvantages of NGOs

Disadvantages of NGOsDisadvantages of NGOs

Constant funding difficultiesConstant funding difficulties Possible lack of legitimacyPossible lack of legitimacy Difficult to regulateDifficult to regulate

• Can lack transparency and accountabilityCan lack transparency and accountability Can be ineffective due to lack of Can be ineffective due to lack of

coordinationcoordination

Types of NGOsTypes of NGOs

Water Resource Related NGOs

Water Resource Related NGOs

Environmental/Ecological

Focus

Environmental/Ecological

Focus

Water Supply And Sanitation

Focus

Water Supply And Sanitation

Focus

TransboundaryWater Issues

TransboundaryWater Issues Many OthersMany Others

Policy and Government

Lobbying

Policy and Government

Lobbying

Implementation of Community

Projects

Implementation of Community

Projects

Network of other NGOsNetwork of other NGOs

ProfessionalMembershipOrganization

ProfessionalMembershipOrganization

Research andData CollectionResearch and

Data Collection EducationEducation

Development OrganizationDevelopment OrganizationInter-relationshipInter-relationship

NGOs

InternationalFinancial

Institutions

GovernmentAgency

Specific ProjectOr Issue

Example: Green CrossExample: Green Cross

Green Cross InternationalGreen Cross International• Promotes legal, ethical and behavioral norms Promotes legal, ethical and behavioral norms

that ensure basic changes in values, actions, that ensure basic changes in values, actions, and attitudes of government, the private and attitudes of government, the private sector, and civil society, necessary to build a sector, and civil society, necessary to build a sustainable global communitysustainable global community

• Prevents and resolves conflicts arising from Prevents and resolves conflicts arising from environmental degradationenvironmental degradation

• Provides assistance to people affected by the Provides assistance to people affected by the environmental consequences of wars and environmental consequences of wars and conflictsconflicts

Green Cross ProgramsGreen Cross Programs

Conflict PreventionConflict Prevention Addressing Environmental Impact of Addressing Environmental Impact of

ConflictConflict• Promotes environmentally-safe Promotes environmentally-safe

elimination of weapons elimination of weapons Promoting Values and Behavior Promoting Values and Behavior

ChangesChanges Right to Water CampaignRight to Water Campaign

Conflict Prevention: Conflict Prevention: Water for PeaceWater for Peace

Working directly with governments in Working directly with governments in transboundary watersheds to remove transboundary watersheds to remove obstacles to integrated and cooperative obstacles to integrated and cooperative water managementwater management• The JordanThe Jordan• Parana- La PlataParana- La Plata• VolgaVolga• OkavangoOkavango• VoltaVolta• DanubeDanube

Water for Peace:Water for Peace:The Jordan River Basin- Phase IThe Jordan River Basin- Phase I

Studies and assessments of the Studies and assessments of the current extent of the conflictcurrent extent of the conflict

Strategy developmentStrategy development• Increase water use efficiencyIncrease water use efficiency• Develop new sourcesDevelop new sources• Bring water policy decision makers Bring water policy decision makers

togethertogether Pilot educational projectsPilot educational projects Recommendations to governmentsRecommendations to governments

Example: Water for PeopleExample: Water for People Supports sustainable Supports sustainable

drinking water, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene sanitation and hygiene projectsprojects

Vision: A world where Vision: A world where all people have safe all people have safe drinking waterdrinking water

Targets goal 7, target Targets goal 7, target 10 of U.N. Millennium 10 of U.N. Millennium Development Goals:Development Goals:““Reduce by half the Reduce by half the

proportion of people proportion of people without sustainable access without sustainable access to safe drinking water…”to safe drinking water…”

Water for People: ProjectsWater for People: Projects

Projects in: Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Malawi, India, Vietnam

Partner with local NGOs and communities• Provide cultural expertise• Increases ownership

Requires first step by community: community initiative

Funds workshops, health and hygiene education Funds technical and managerial training for local

water committees.

Water for PeopleWater for People

Funded by private individual Funded by private individual donations, EPA, foundations, donations, EPA, foundations, American Water Works AssociationAmerican Water Works Association

2004 working expenses: $2M, of 2004 working expenses: $2M, of which $1.6M spent directly on which $1.6M spent directly on projects in developing countriesprojects in developing countries

Solicits grassroots participation for Solicits grassroots participation for fundraising and publicityfundraising and publicity

Questions for DiscussionQuestions for Discussion

How does the overlap of NGOs hinder or How does the overlap of NGOs hinder or help their goals? help their goals? How can these How can these organizations collaborate and better share organizations collaborate and better share information and resources beyond creating information and resources beyond creating just another NGO networking website and just another NGO networking website and organization? organization?

How does the involvement of NGOs in How does the involvement of NGOs in transboundary water negotiations and transboundary water negotiations and agreements complement the work of the agreements complement the work of the various governments involved? various governments involved?