Logical Framework

This project has the strong support of the Secretariat of the Third World Water Forum to be held in Japan in March 2003. The findings and proposals of the Water for Peace project will be open for discussion as a component of the Virtual Water Forum for the duration of the project, and officially presented at the Third World Water Forum in 2003, the International Year of Freshwater.

Phase I of the project is underway and GCI and its regional partners have been gathering information, consulting experts, investigating the current state of affairs in the basins, and pursuing additional sources of funding. On 22-23 June 2001, all the working partners met in Geneva to consolidate activities and share initial findings and experience. Between July and September 2001, workshops and consultations were held with experts and organisations in the six basins to prepare the terms of reference of the project.

The overall project will be coordinated by the Green Cross International Water Conflict Prevention Proramme, based in Geneva, but each basin sub-project will be managed locally by Green Cross National Organisations and partners, with the continual involvement of regional and international consultants and experts. While all six basin sub-projects will follow the below structure and timeline, each will develop in a unique direction owing to the different realities, opportunities and constraints in the regions.

Phase 1: Planning

I. Project Development & Research: June - December 2001


Final selection of international basins (proposed: Danube, Jordan, Volga, La Plata, Okavango and Volta); initial investigation of situation; analysis of related work already done; additional fundraising; identification of partners and experts in the regions and internationally.

22-23 June 2001 - First project workshop with implementing partners, Geneva.

3 - 7 December 2001 - Water for the Poor – International Conference on Freshwater, Bonn. GCI will participate in the debate on transboundary issues, one of the main topics of the conference, and in collaboration with UNESCO-IHP will hold a parallel session on 5 December to launch the PCCP-Water for Peace programme.

Phase 2: Investigation, Consultations & Mediation

II. Experts Workshops: January - May 2002


Gatherings in each of the selected basins of top experts from Academic, Environmental, Government, Technical, NGO, Civil Society and Private sectors to analyse the potential for conflict and greater cooperation among the people of the basin, identify the challenges, and determine the precise parameters and objectives of the project.

May 2002 - Great Rivers conference focussing on transbourdary water issuess the GCI Water for Peace Project, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.

III. Public Hearings: June - September 2002
Invite local decision-makers, parliamentarians, private investors and representatives of stakeholder groups from the different countries of the Basins to share their ideas and concerns, and assess the real problems on the ground. Ideally, the participants at these Hearings will agree on a "Basin Declaration" and set of recommendations to be presented to the decision makers, stakeholders, institutes and other authorities in their region.

IV. Inter-State Mediation: January – September 2002

V. Initiation of Pilot Projects: January – December 2002

 

Phase 3: Information Dissemination

VI. Virtual Water Forum
Session entitled “From Potential Conflict to Cooperation Potential: Water for Peace” co-chaired with UNESCO, September 2001– March 2003; Water for Peace partners will also gather “Water Voices” particularly pertaining to conflicts in the six basins.

VII. World Summit on Sustainable Development, September 2002, Johannesburg

VIII. International Conference, "From Conflict to Co-operation: Challenges and Opportunities in Water Resources Management November 2002", IHE Delft, The Netherlands, held jointly by UNESCO and Green Cross.

IX. Preparation & Publication of Reports: October - December 2002
The findings and concrete proposals of the Delft conference, workshops, public hearings, pilot projects, research and analysis of each basin will be condensed into reports for publication (in English and the major languages of the regions) and be the basis of the preparation of an international report and list of recommendations on the subject of international watercourses to be endorsed by prominent persons and formally presented to the delegates at the Third World Water Forum. After the Forum, all documents will be widely distributed to concerned parties and used as a guide for mediation, cooperation and future basin agreements. Green Cross and UNESCO will collaborate closely in the documentation and distribution of the results and recommendations of the joint programme, both at and following the 3rd World Water Forum.

X. Preparatory Meetings: January - February 2003
Concrete preparations for the different events to be held at the Forum. Coordination with UNESCO.

XI. Participation at the Third World Water Forum: March 2003
As co-coordinators of the PCÕCP: Water for Peace session at the Forum, Green Cross will present the results of the above-described extensive work, and invite the most important experts and stakeholders to lead a range of debates on the peaceful and sustainable sharing of water resources between nations and people. Green Cross can be instrumental in inviting, and securing the presence of, a number of important dignitaries from all over the world. As well as our President, Mikhail Gorbachev, we are fortunate to have among our honorary Board members other former world leaders, Nobel Prize winners, media figures, celebrities, and leading academics and environmentalists.

Phase 4: Follow Up

XII. Activities in all six basins to achieve the specific goals identified, as described in the following chapters,monitor any adherence to recommendations, and ensure continuation of initiated projects and mechanisms.

Another goal is the extension and application of the findings to other regions through partnerships with relevant international organisations and networks, and encouraging governments in international basins to consider the results of the project and use them as a guide for their own negotiation processes. Green Cross will work closely with UNESCO to ensure effective follow-up of the programme, and wide distribution of the findings and recommendations.