A Framework for Financing Water Resources Management A lack of finance for water resources management is a primary concern for most OECD countries. This is exacerbated in the current fiscal environment of tight budgets and strong fiscal consolidation as public funding provides the lion’s share of financial resources for water management. The report provides a framework for policy discussions around financing water resources management that are taking place at local basin national or transboundary levels. The report goes beyond the traditional focus on financing water supply and sanitation to examine the full range of water management tasks that governments have to fulfill; when appropriate a distinction is made on distinctive water issues. The report identifies four principles (Polluter Pays Beneficiary Pays Equity Policy Coherence) which have to be combined. In addition it identifies five empirical issues which have to be addressed on a case by case basis. Finally it sketches a staged approach that governments might wish to consider to assess the financial status of their water policies and to design robust financial strategies for water management. Case studies provide illustrations of selected instruments and how they can be used to finance water resources management.