The objective of the training is foster partnership and build capacity building for improved practices in transboundary water law and developing agreements for transboundary cooperation in Africa. Despite significant legal developments in international water law during the last few decades, several challenges remain. Some of the 64 transboundary rivers in Africa are still without legal arrangements for transboundary water cooperation while others are not operational across the entire basin due to important riparian states having been left out. In some cases, these arrangements lack the proper funding and devotion to face the intensifying global challenges on transboundary water resources while there is also a lot to be done in order to factor groundwater aquifers into the same equation.
This training seeks to bring participants from across Africa together in order to share lessons learned and deepen knowledge and understanding of water governance and international water law irrespective of differing backgrounds and disciplines. In doing so, the training will focus not only on the applicable legal rules and principles that shape how countries across the continent cooperate over their transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers; but also, the more practical challenges and experiences in the implementation of international water law.
The training will be delivered through three main elements, i) lectures and Q&A sessions delivered by leading experts in the field to promote “practitioner-to-practitioner” learning; ii) case study presentations from practitioners ‘in the field’; and iii) simulation exercises facilitated by the aforementioned experts.
Several core themes will run throughout the training. In its focus on international water law across Africa, the training will explore the rules and principles that are applicable to a diverse range of water bodies, including transboundary river basins and aquifers. Additionally, in not only looking at ‘law on paper’, but also looking at the practical challenges of implementation, the training will consider the national governance setting (laws, policies and institutions) in place to ensure that transboundary arrangements are implemented in an effective and efficient manner. A further theme that runs throughout the training is that of investment in transboundary water cooperation. Core facilitators will participate throughout the workshop to ensure that these key themes are considered throughout the lectures, case study presentations and simulation exercises.