Abstract
Southern Africa is at a pivotal point in time for transboundary water cooperation. The number and extent of coverage of existing international water agreements and joint management institutions merits cautious optimism about future water management in the region. Yet, taken alone, a numerical account of water treaties reveals little about the context in which the agreements were negotiated, the nature of the rules and regulations adopted, or the influence of the agreements in addressing problems or enhancing joint governance. Drawing on a database containing all the international freshwater agreements entered into between South Africa and its neighbours since 1910, this article examines trends in the articulation of these treaties and discusses the implications of the rules and regulations they embody. Specific consideration is given to issues of information sharing, water allocation and organizations. This analysis is a first step towards understanding the impact of existing agreements, identifying opportunities for the negotiation of new treaties and enhancing existing systems.
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Notes
This includes the Chiloango, Congo, Pagani, Umba, Rovuma, Zambezi, Pungwe, Buzi, Save-Runde, Cunene Cuvelai, Okavango-Makgadikgadi, Limpopo, Incomati, Orange-Senqu, Umbeluzi, Maputo, Thukela and Nile rivers as well as the drainage basins of the endorheic lakes Natron and Chilwa.
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Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Water Research Commission of South Africa for funding the initial study (Project K5/1515) into South Africa’s transboundary water treaties, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for funding research on shared river basins and aquifers in southern Africa. Comments from two anonymous reviewers helped to improve an earlier version of this manuscript.
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Kistin, E.J., Ashton, P.J., Earle, A. et al. An overview of the content and historical context of the international freshwater agreements that South Africa has entered into with neighbouring countries. Int Environ Agreements 9, 1–21 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-008-9086-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-008-9086-2