Groundwater Governance, Conjunctive Management, and Cooperation on Transboundary Aquifers

Work Load

The programme consists of four modules, each running over two weeks.

This course will be delivered through presentations, reading materials, videos, and quizzes. Each module will require 4 hours each.

Course structure

The modules that will be presented are listed below:

Module 1: International Water Law and Transboundary Aquifers: Global Insights and the NB-ITTAS Case

This module examines the principles and regulations of international water law with a specific focus on transboundary aquifers on a global scale. It presents cases of established cooperation on transboundary aquifers. It concludes by focusing and examining cooperation on water and groundwater in the Niger Basin and ITTAS.

Module 2: Domestic Water Laws Pertaining to Groundwater and their interaction with International Water Law: A Comparative Study with Emphasis on the NB-ITTAS Region

This module presents the main features and trends of domestic water laws pertaining to groundwater from across a range of countries in the world and will gain an understanding of the diversity and commonality in approaches to groundwater management, use, development and protection, including ways in which domestic water laws interact with international water law. The module will pay special attention to the NB-ITTAS region.

Module 3: Groundwater Governance: Global Perspectives and Adaptation to Local Context

This module aims at familiarizing participants with the concepts and guiding principles of groundwater governance worldwide and with the processes and best practices for applying them to strengthen groundwater governance at the local level. It then delves into brainstorming exercises aimed at gauging the level of the participants’ understanding of the subject matter and jumpstarting an assessment of groundwater governance in their respective countries.

Module 4: Conjunctive Management of Surface and Groundwater: Global Practices and Relevant Features of the NB-ITTAS Region

This module intends to familiarize the participants with the main principles and ideas behind conjunctive management of surface water and groundwater, and with the diversity and practicalities of their applications. Examples of conjunctive management in different forms and in different parts of the world are presented for illustration purposes. In addition, some relevant information on the NB-ITTAS region is provided that may help in defining whether, where and how to apply conjunctive management in this region.