The Strategic Foresight Group, a Mumbai-based think-tank, doesn’t look for water-sharing formulas as the solution to transboundary river negotiations. Instead they facilitate a stakeholder process based on shared principles (ethics?) of how to share water, rather than how much water to share. It’s a fine distinction but the theory is that the agreements will be more resiliant in the face of future shortages. At least SIDA (Sweden) and SDC (Switzerland) feel it’s a promising approach, and are supporting two “Blue Peace” initiatives in the Tigris-Euphrates Basin and the Nile. See the Strategic Foresight website for details of both initiatives.
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