Challenges

Managing transboundary waters is crucial for sustainable development and climate resilience, as over 60% of the world’s freshwater flows across borders. Effective cooperation ensures shared resources are used equitably, preventing conflicts and fostering regional integration. Acceding to and implementing the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), serviced by UNECE, is key, as it offers a robust legal and institutional framework to support countries in developing agreements, joint bodies, and coordinated action. Since the Convention’s opening for global accession in 2016, more countries from all continents are joining and implementing it. However, countries face legal, technical, and capacity challenges. To address these, the Water Convention’s Twinning Initiative connects experienced Parties, new Parties and acceding countries, enabling peer learning, exchanges of experience, and the transfer of knowledge and good practices between countries facing similar challenges.

Toward a Solution

The Twinning Initiative under the Water Convention fosters peer-to-peer cooperation to increase the capacity of, and support for, ‘Incoming/New Parties’ to undertake the necessary legal, technical, and other actions to accede to and implement the Convention successfully. The Convention Secretariat serves as a facilitator to connect potentially interested Parties and countries, support initial discussions and develop a common understanding of the specifc objectives of the Twinnings. The initiative directly supports  SDG 6, particularly Target 6.5 on water cooperation, and contributes to SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).

The Twinning Initiative uses a practical, flexible methodology based on mutual learning and technical exchanges. Participation is central, with countries fully co-designing a tailored workplan and jointly implementing activities, ensuring strong ownership and relevance to the specific needs and priorities of the countries involved.

One notable example is Twinning between Hungary, Ghana, and Zambia that fostered mutual learning and strengthened South-South and triangular cooperation, supporting countries at different stages of Convention implementation. For Zambia, which initiated its accession process in 2022, the Twinning provided practical peer support on implementing the Convention’s principles and preparing for accession. Ghana, a Party since 2020 and Bureau member, brought recent experience, while Hungary, an established  Party, contributed extensive technical expertise. The Twinning focused on transboundary water allocation, monitoring and assessment, hydrodiplomacy, developing agreements and institutional mechanisms, sanitation and water infrastructure; pollution prevention and mitigation.

Key milestones included a joint planning meeting in Budapest (November 2023) where  a Concept Note and plan was developed for a 12-month twinning, a kick-off meeting and site visits in Accra (December 2023), and technical exchanges in Livingstone, Zambia (April 2024), alongside a major regional workshop hosted by Zambia. The initiative concluded with a final onlime meeting (July 2024), and its outcomes were shared at the 10th Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention.

A major success was Zambia’s accession to the Convention on 4 September 2024, becoming the 55th Party and 12th from Africa. The Twinning also strengthened cooperation between Ghana and Zambia, and expanded technical collaboration between Ghana and Hungary on water management technology.

Other Twinning Initiatives are under way, such as between Finland and Namibia, and o a South-South Twinning between Kazakhstan and Iraq is being established.

The Twinning Initiative has proven innovative by filling a gap  and complementing other assistance and technical cooperation activities under the Water Convention, and offering a systematic framework for South-South cooperation. Importantly, it recognizes that all partners, including new Parties, bring valuable knowledge and experience.

Sustainability is embedded in the initiative’s design: by building national skills, processes, and institutional relationships, benefits are likely to last beyond the duration of individual twinnings. Furthermore, the Water Convention continues to support these partnerships through its regular programme of work, ensuring continuity and also the opportunity for countries which have benefitted from a Twinning to accede to the Convention to in turn support other countries engaged in this process.

The Twinning Initiative is also highly replicable. Similar partnerships can be established in other regions, provided there is political commitment, sufficient institutional capacity, and initial facilitation to build trust and define cooperation areas. Its flexible, adaptable model allows countries to determine activities, timelines, and resources according to their needs.

A key lesson is that before embarking on a Twinning, countries should consider additional factors that enhance success: existing bilateral agreements on water or related issues, historical ties that facilitate collaboration, and similarities in legal or governance systems. These elements help create strong, effective partnerships.

Overall, the Twinning Initiative has demonstrated that peer-to-peer learning is a highly effective model to accelerate accession, strengthen technical capacity, and promote effective implementation of the Water Convention. Its flexible, country-driven approach makes it adaptable, sustainable, and an important tool for expanding cooperation on transboundary waters worldwide.