Title: Fostering riparian cooperation in international river basins
First published: 1997
Description: This report describes the World Bank's successful interventions in three international river basins -- the Indus, the Mekong, and the Aral Sea -- to foster riparian cooperation and agreements. It discusses the key features of the Bank's role and the following strategies: intervening solely to promote development and peace; timing interventions when issues were serious, when riparians were not able to address them on their own, and when they needed and wanted Bank assistance; initiating dialogue with riparian countries at the highest levels to inspire confidence, playing a proactive role in exploring pragmatic solutions acceptable to all parties rather than pursuing ideal but unworkable solutions; using quiet diplomacy in negotiating sensitive issues; making the required long-term staff and budgetary commitment despite final outcome uncertainty; mobilizing donor countries support; and analyzing risks and taking appropriate measures to minimize them. The paper concludes that the Bank can succeed in other international river basin conflicts if it follows these same strategies.--Publisher's description.
Subjects: Economic aspects, Economic aspects of Watersheds, Economic conditions, Economic development, International relations, Watersheds, World Bank
Places: Aral Sea Watershed (Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan), Indus River Watershed, Mekong River Watershed
LC classification: JX1395 .K528 1997