Story | 10 Jun, 2020

BRIDGE: Transboundary water cooperation in East and Southern Africa

Two new visual story features on the BRIDGE ‘Building River Dialogue and Governance’ project were published on the occassion of World Environment Day. BRIDGE works in fourteen transboundary river basins worldwide.

Photo: ©Shutterstock/Toby Grayson

Globally, over 310 lake and river basins stretch across national borders. Around 60% of international river basins lack any type of cooperative management framework. Good transboundary water management is crucial for peace, security, economic development and environmental sustainability.

The BRIDGE programme works towards building river dialogue and governance in transboundary river basins. Implemented by IUCN and regional partners, BRIDGE works at the interface of hydrodiplomacy and local governance to promote new approaches in transboundary water management. Launched in 2011, the programme has expanded its work from nine to fourteen transboundary basins across Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Photo: ©IUCN Water

World Environment Day 2020 focused on #TimeForNature (see blog), spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic and its reminder of our close ties with nature and our reliance on healthy ecosystems. Access to water supply and soap are key allies in the fight to stem the spread of the virus (see article).

Cooperatively managing water whilst sharing water resources equitably - particularly in view of a changing climate - is vital for the health and wellbeing of people and the stability and prosperity of countries.

The two new BRIDGE stories feature in particular the Sio-Malaba-Malakisi basin shared between Kenya and Uganda, and the Buzi-Pungwe-Save basins shared between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Enhancing capacity for improved water cooperation between Zimbabwe and Mozambique: The Buzi-Pungwe-Save basins