Skip to main content

Eighth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention

10 - 12 October 2018
Nur-Sultan Kazakhstan

Highlights

Nur-Sultan.jpg


The eighth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (MOP8) serviced by UNECE took place on 10-12 October 2018 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The meeting was held back to back with the high-level workshop on financing transboundary basin development on 9 October.

Unprecedented interests from countries to accede to the Water Convention
This Meeting of the Parties was the first one held in Asia. Around 88 countries, Parties and non-Parties to the Convention, participated along with representatives of joint bodies, International  and Non-Governmental Organizations, Academia, the private sector and youth. Moreover, more than 15 countries from outside the Pan-European region announced their interest to ratify the Water Convention.

New programme of work and strategy to further strengthen water cooperation
The Meeting of the Parties reviewed progress achieved in the Convention’s implementation and past activities. Delegates addressed a wide variety of topics including supporting accession to and implementation of the Convention; assessing the benefits of transboundary water cooperation; promoting climate change adaptation in a transboundary context; assessing the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus in transboundary basins or improving water governance through the National Policy Dialogues under the European Union Water Initiative.

An ambitious programme of work for 2019-2021 was adopted in Astana including a new programme area on ‘facilitating financing of transboundary water cooperation’. The Meeting of the Parties also adopted a new strategy for the implementation of the Water Convention at global level that aims to strengthen cooperation and partnerships for the management of transboundary waters worldwide in order to promote sustainable development, peace and security.

Reporting and new publications:
The meeting saw the launch of the first report on implementation of the Convention. Furthermore, parties and non-parties shared their experience on reporting respectively under the Convention and under SDG Indicator 6.5.2, to which UNECE is a co-custodian agency together with UNESCO. In their statements, States underlined that the reporting exercises was a way of identifying the gaps in their transboundary cooperation and take them as opportunities to drive action.

The Meeting of the Parties also launched three other new publications : the Words into Action-implementation guide on addressing water-related disasters and transboundary cooperation prepared with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction; an updated methodology on assessing the water-food-energy ecosystem nexus and a brochure on identifying, assessing and communicating benefits of cooperation.

Other main decisions:
The Meeting of the Parties adopted the revised rules of procedure of the Water Convention as well as the decision on the designation and responsibilities of focal points. A decision on reporting including the adoption of the revised template for reporting under the Convention was also adopted. Finally, the Meeting of the Parties adopted the work programme for the International Water Assessment Center (IWAC) for 2019-2021.

Press release available here.

Documents

Documents ENG FRE RUS SPA
Post-session documents        
Report of the Meeting of the Parties on its eighth session
(ECE/MP.WAT/54)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Report of the Meeting of the Parties on its eighth session
Programme of work for 2019–2021
(ECE/MP.WAT/54/Add.1)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Report of the Meeting of the Parties on its eighth session
Rules of procedure of the Meetings of the Parties, Strategy for the implementation of the Convention at the global level, Programme of work of the International Water Assessment Centre for 2019–2021 and Decisions
(ECE/MP.WAT/54/Add.2)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
High-level segment
Item 1. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda        
Annotated provision agenda for the eighth session
(ECE/MP.WAT/53)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Organization of work PDF PDF PDF PDF
Item 2. Status of ratification of the Convention and its Protocols and report on credentials        
Informal document        
Status of ratification of the Water Convention, its Protocol and amendments
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/INF.1)
PDF      
Item 3. Adoption of revised rules of procedure        
Draft revised rules of procedure of the Meeting of the Parties
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/1)
PDF PDF PDF  
Item 4. Special session: Transboundary water cooperation: Sharing water for people, planet, prosperity and peace        
Informal document        
Concept Note of the Special High-Level Session
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/INF.2a)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Programme of the high-level segment
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/INF.2b)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
General Segment
Documents for all the following agenda items        
Report on the implementation of the programme of work 2016–2018, including partnerships
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/2)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Overview of contributions and expenditures in 2016–2018
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/3)
PDF PDF PDF  
Draft programme of work for 2019–2021
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/4)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Programme of work for 2016–2018
(ECE/MP.WAT/49/Add.1)
PDF PDF PDF  
Report of the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management on its eleventh meeting
(ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2016/2)
PDF PDF PDF -
Report of the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management on its twelfth meeting
(ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2017/2)
PDF      
Report of the second joint meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management and the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment
(ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2018/2-ECE/MP.WAT/WG.2/2018/2)
PDF
(advance version)
     
Item 5. Reporting under the Convention and on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 6.5.2        
Draft decision on reporting and revised template for reporting under the Convention
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/5)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals
(E/2018/64)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Progress on transboundary water cooperation: Global baseline for SDG indicator 6.5.2 (ECE/MP.WAT/57)
see publication
Progress on transboundary water cooperation under the Water Convention (ECE/MP.WAT/51)
see publication
Sustainable Development Goal 6 Synthesis Report 2018 on Water and Sanitation PDF      
Informal document        
Report of the technical meeting on the template for reporting on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 6.5.2 and under the Water Convention, jointly prepared by ECE and UNESCO (Budapest, 16–17 January 2018)
(ECE/MP.WAT/WG.1/2018/INF.5-ECE/MP.WAT/WG.2/2018/INF.5)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Item 6. Opening of the Convention, promotion and partnerships        
Draft strategy for the implementation of the Convention at the global level
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/6)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Draft decision on the designation and responsibilities of focal points
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/7)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
The Economic Commission for Europe Water Convention and the United Nations Watercourses Convention: An analysis of their harmonized contribution to international water law
(ECE/MP.WAT/42)
see publication
The Global Opening of the 1992 Water Convention (brochure)
(ECE/MP.WAT/43/Rev.1)
see brochure
The Water Convention - Responding to global water challenges
(ECE/MP.WAT/52)

see brochure
Informal document        
GEF and the Water Convention
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/ INF.3)
PDF      
Information for non-Party States participating in the eighth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention PDF PDF   PDF
Item 7. Implementation and compliance        
Report of the Implementation Committee to the Meeting of the Parties and draft decision on implementation (ECE/MP.WAT/2018/8) PDF PDF PDF  
Report of the Implementation Committee on its sixth meeting
 (ECE/MP.WAT/IC/2016/2)
PDF PDF PDF -
Report of the Implementation Committee on its seventh meeting
(ECE/MP.WAT/IC/2016/4)
PDF PDF PDF -
Report of the Implementation Committee on its eighth meeting
(ECE/MP.WAT/IC/2017/2)
PDF PDF PDF -
Report of the Implementation Committee on its ninth meeting
(ECE/MP.WAT/IC/2018/2)
PDF PDF PDF -
Decision VI/1 on support to implementation and compliance
(see ECE/MP.WAT/37/Add.2)
PDF PDF PDF -
Informal document        
List of candidates for the Implementation Committee (ECE/MP.WAT/2018/INF.4) PDF      
Item 8. Supporting implementation and application of the Convention through projects on the ground and capacity development        
Principles for effective joint bodies for transboundary cooperation
(ECE/MP.WAT/50)
see publication
Item 9. European Union Water Initiative and National Policy Dialogues        
Item 10. Water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus in transboundary basins        
Methodology for assessing the water-food-energy-ecosystem nexus in transboundary basins and experiences from its application: Synthesis
(ECE/MP.WAT/55)

see publication
A nexus approach to transboundary cooperation: The experience of the Water Convention
(ECE/MP.WAT/NONE/12)
see publication
Reconciling Different Resource Uses in Transboundary Basins: Assessment of the Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus
(ECE/MP.WAT/46)

see publication
Item 11. Identifying, assessing and communicating the benefits of transboundary cooperation        
Identifying, assessing and communicating the benefits of transboundary water cooperation - Lessons learnt and recommendations
(ECE/MP.WAT/NONE/11)

see publication
Policy Guidance Note on the Benefits of Transboundary Water Cooperation: Identification, Assessment and Communication
(ECE/MP.WAT/47)

see publication
Item 12. Adapting to climate change in transboundary basins        
Strategy for future work on climate change adaptation in transboundary basins under the Convention (ECE/MP.WAT/2015/4) PDF PDF PDF -
Implementation Guide for Addressing Water-Related Disasters and Transboundary Cooperation (ECE/MP.WAT/56)
see publication
Water and Climate Change Adaptation in Transboundary Basins: Lessons Learned and Good Practices (ECE/MP.WAT/45) see publication
How to prepare bankable projects for climate change adaptation in transboundary basins        
Item 13. Water and industrial accidents        
Draft safety guidelines and good practices for the management and retention of firefighting water: general recommendations
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/9-ECE/CP.TEIA/2018/12)
PDF PDF PDF  
Draft safety guidelines and good practices for the management and retention of firefighting water: technical and organizational recommendations
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/10-ECE/CP.TEIA/2018/13)
PDF PDF PDF  
Item 14. International Water Assessment Centre        
Draft workplan of the International Water Assessment Centre for 2019–2021
(ECE/MP.WAT/ 2018/11)
PDF - PDF -
Item 15. Programme of work for 2019–2021, terms of reference of the bodies established to implement it and resources needed for its implementation        
Draft programme of work for 2019–2021
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/4)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Overview of contributions and expenditures in 2016–2018
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/3)
PDF PDF PDF  
Item 19. Presentation of the main decisions        
List of decisions PDF PDF PDF  

High-level segment

The Special High-Level Session “Transboundary water cooperation: Sharing water for people, planet, prosperity and peace” provided the opportunity to discuss the importance of transboundary water cooperation, and particularly the role played by the Water Convention, to guarantee that the sharing of water resources and their derived benefits contributes to the well-being of people and the planet and helps to improve prosperity and foster peace, in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

High-level discussions focused on two main topics:

- “Transboundary water cooperation and water allocation: Preventing conflict and ensuring peace and stability” (Part 1)

- “Sharing waters in the context of growing water scarcity: how can transboundary water cooperation make a difference?” (Part 2)
 

Documents ENG FRE RUS SPA
Concept Note of the Special High-Level Session
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/INF.2a)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Programme of the high-level segment
(ECE/MP.WAT/2018/INF.2b)
PDF PDF PDF PDF
Statements        
Opening session        
Opening by Mr. Peter Kovacs, Chair of the Meeting of the Parties PDF - - -
Video message of Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan - - Video -
Speech by Mr. Umirzak Shukeyev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan - - PDF -
Address of Mr. António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General PDF  - - -
Speech by Ms. Olga Algayerova, United Nations Under Secretary-General, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe PDF - - -
Speech by Mr. Péter Szijjártó, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary PDF - - -
Video message by Ms. Michelle Yeoh, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Video - - -
Special Session – Transboundary water cooperation: Sharing water for people, planet, prosperity and peace
An artist perception of transboundary water cooperation: introduction of the art installation by Ms. Carolina Caycedo, Artist PDF - - -
Part 1 – Transboundary water cooperation and water allocation: preventing conflict and ensuring peace and stability
Mr. Mansour Faye, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Senegal - PDF - -
Mr. Shavkat Khamraev, Minister of Water Resources, Uzbekistan - - PDF -
Mr. Khan Mohammad Takal, Deputy Minister of Water, Ministry of Energy and Water, Afghanistan PDF - - -
Mr. Danilo Türk, Chair of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace, former President of Slovenia, Lead Policy Advisor to the Geneva Water Hub PDF - - -
Mr. Mamman Nuhu, Executive Secretary, Lake Chad Basin Commission PDF - - -
Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Director for Global Sustainable Development, Directorate General for the Environment, European Commission PDF - - -
Mr. Pio Wennubst, Ambassador, Vice-Director General, Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation PDF - - -
Interventions from the floor (compilation) PDF - - -
Part 2 – Sharing waters in the context of growing water scarcity: how can transboundary water cooperation make a difference?
Mr. Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Kazakhstan - - PDF -
Mr. Mahamat Alifa Moussa, Secretary General, Ministry of Environment, Water and Fisheries, Chad - PDF - -
Ms. Tatiana Bokova, Deputy Head, Federal Agency for Water Resources, Russian Federation - - PDF -
Mr. Nuno Lacasta, President of the Environment Agency, Portugal PDF - - -
Mr. Lansana Fofana, High Commissioner, Organization for Gambia Development - PDF - -
Mr. Grigory Mazmaniants, Director for Central Asia, World Wide Fund for Nature PDF - - -
Interventions from the floor (compilation) PDF - - -

Implementation Committee

At its eighth session, the Meeting of the Parties considered the composition of its Implementation Committee and elected 5 members of the Committee to replace the members whose term ended at the eighth session.

The following are the Implementation Committee Members for 2018-2021:

• Mr. Kari Kinnunen
• Mr. Johan G. Lammers
• Mr. Stephen McCaffrey
• Mr. Martins Paparinskis
• Ms. Anne Schulte-Wülwer-Leidig
• Mr. Pedro Cunha Serra
• Mr. Attila Tanzi
• Mr. Ivan Zavadsky
• Ms. Dinara Ziganshina
 

Information on the role and responsibilities of the Implementation Committee can be found here.

Presentations

Presentations ENG FRE RUS SPA
Item 1. Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda
MOP 8 opening song
Item 2. Status of ratification of the Convention and its Protocols and report on credentials
Item 3. Adoption of revised rules of procedure
Item 4. Special session: Transboundary water cooperation: Sharing water for people, planet, prosperity and peace
Item 5. Reporting under the Convention and on Sustainable Development Goal indicator 6.5.2
Integrated Monitoring Initiative for SDG 6 -
Data for reporting and policy
William Reidhead, UN-Water
PDF - - -
Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation -
Global baseline for SDG Indicator 6.5.2
Sarah Tiefenauer-Linardon, UNECE
Aurélien Dumont, UNESCO
PDF - - -
Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation under the Water Convention -
Report on Implementation of the Water Convention prepared by the Secretariat
Alistair Rieu-Clarke, UNECE
PDF - - -
Decision on reporting and revised template for reporting under the Water Convention
Francesca Bernardini, UNECE
PDF - - -
Item 6. Opening of the Convention, promotion and partnerships
Activities on the global opening of the Convention
Sonja Koeppel, UNECE
PDF - - -
Strategy for implementation of the Conventin at the Global level
Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland
PDF - - -
Cooperation with the UNECE-WHO/Europe
Protocol on Water and Health
Dragana Jovanovic, Serbia
PDF - - -
Regional Cooperation for Sound Water Resources Management in the Asia-Pacific Region
Aneta Nikolova, UNESCAP
PDF - - -
Item 7. Implementation and compliance
Item 8. Supporting implementation and application of the Convention through projects on the ground and capacity development
Projects on the ground
Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa, UNECE
PDF - - -
Item 9. European Union Water Initiative and National Policy Dialogues
European Union Water Initiative and National Policy Dialogues
Alisher Mamadzhanov, UNECE
Matthew Griffiths, OECD
Eric Tardieu, EU MS Consortium
PDF - - -
Item 10. Water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus in transboundary basins
Water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus in transboundary basins
Seppo Rekolainen, Finland
Annukka Lipponen, UNECE
PDF - - -
Water allocation in transboundary basins
Seppo Rekolainen, Finland
PDF - - -
Item 11. Identifying, assessing and communicating the benefits of transboundary cooperation
Assessing the benefits of transboundary water cooperation
Harry Liiv, Estonia
Chantal Demilecamps, UNECE
PDF - - -
A Benefit Opportunity Assessment Dialogue in the Sio Malaba Malakisi Basin, East Africa
Callist Tindimugaya, Uganda
PDF - - -
CORB Benefits Analysis
Tracy Molefi, OKACOM-OBSC
PDF - - -
Item 12. Adapting to climate change in transboundary basins
Task Force on Water and Climate
Sibylle Vermont, Switzerland
Niels Vlaanderen, The Netherlands
PDF - - -
Supporting Adaptation in transboundary basins
Francis Bougaire, AWF/AFDB
PDF - - -
The Sendai Framework: Recent Developments on water and transboundary cooperation
Paola Albrito, UNISDR
PDF - - -
Implemetation Guide for Addressing Water-Related Disasters and Transboundary Cooperation
Jos Timmerman, The Netherlands
PDF - - -
Item 13. Water and industrial accidents
Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents
Progress achieved in the last 20 years
Peter Kovacs, Hungary
PDF - - -

Joint Ad Hoc Expert Group (JEG)
Draft guidance on firewater retention -
Workplan and Future Activities
Peter Kovacs, Hungary
Gerhard Winkelmann-Oei, German Environment Agency
Heide Jekel, Germany

PDF - - -
Item 14. International Water Assessment Centre
International Water Assessment Centre in Kazakhstan
Roles, Objectives and Programme of Work
Serik Akhmetov, IWAC
PDF - - -
Item 15 - Programme of work for 2016–2018, terms of reference of bodies established to implement it and resources needed for its implementation
Draft Programme of work of the Water Convention for 2019-2021
Francesca Bernardini, UNECE
PDF  

Side events

Overview of side events
Event title Room Languages Flyer
Wednesday, 10 October, 1.30-2.45 pm      
Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystem Nexus: Benefits for resource security across borders Syr Darya
(1)
ENG FRE RUS  
Special Event: Learn more about the Water Convention Amu Darya
(2)
ENG FRE RUS SPA ENG
FRE
Opportunities for Water Diplomacy in Conflict-prone Regions Esil
(3)
ENG RUS  
Thursday 11 October, 8.30-9.45 am      
Transboundary Water Governance in Africa  Syr Darya
(1)
ENG FRE  
Transboundary Water Governance in Latin America Amu Darya
(2)
ENG SPA  
National Policy Dialogues under the EU Water Initiative: Achievements, lessons learned and benefits for transboundary cooperation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Esil
(3)
ENG RUS  
Thursday 11 October, 1.30-2.45 pm      
The GEF7 Replenishment – Enhancing cross sectoral cooperation Syr Darya
(1)
ENG RUS  
Hot topic: Sharing experiences on climate change adaptation in transboundary basins Amu Darya
(2)
ENG FRE RUS PDF
Youth in transboundary cooperation Esil
(3)
ENG RUS  
Results of the Summit of the Heads of State of Central Asia: Practical solutions and prospects for regional water cooperation main room (4) ENG RUS PDF
Friday 12 October, 8.30-9.45 am      
Biodiversity and Transboundary Water Cooperation Syr Darya
(1)
ENG RUS  
Enhancing the implementation of the Water Convention – The role and relevance of the Implementation Committee Amu Darya
(2)
ENG FRE RUS PDF
Kick-starting Transboundary Cooperation: Establishing sound institutional and legal frameworks Esil
(3)
ENG FRE RUS PDF
Friday 12 October, 1.30-2.45 pm      
Transboundary Water Cooperation and the Global Observatory on Water and Peace Syr Darya
(1)
   
An impactful relationship: Fostering Source-to-Sea of Management of Transboundary Basins Amu Darya
(2)
ENG RUS PDF
Side Event for the Parties to the (1997) UN Watercourses Convention (by invitation only) Esil
(3)
ENG FRE  

Pictures

Please follow the link.

Art installation

'One body of water’ to symbolize cooperation among States

Art installation 1.jpg

The installation ‘One Body of Water’ (2018) was created at the 8th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention by the artist Carolina Caycedo, with
objects contributed by delegates participating to the meeting (Astana, 10 - 12 October 2018). Each participating country and organization was invited to bring an object connected to the topic of the special high-level segment “Transboundary water cooperation: Sharing water for people, planet, prosperity and peace”.

 

Art installation 2.jpg

The diversity of objects gives an account of the different global perspectives over water issues, raising awareness about scarcity and the need for working together towards equitable and sustainable water management.  From artisanal crafts and tools, animal and boat figures, water vessels, drawings and maps, to a Water and Peace symphony, the objects are arranged so that they flow together in river form, representing transboundary water cooperation and the sharing of water for people and the planet, for prosperity and peace.

Ms. Caycedo’s recent work has been strongly connected to the challenges inherent to the development and joint use of rivers, such as access to water, environmental impacts and cooperation. Ms. Caycedo has developed publicly engaged projects in Bogota, Quezon City, Toronto, Madrid, Sao Paulo, Lisbon, San Juan, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Mexico DF, Tijuana, and London. Some of her most prominent projects are A Gente Rio [The People River] (2016) created for the 32nd São Paulo Biennale, and YUMA, or the Land of Friends (2014) created for the 8th Berlin Biennale. The video To Stop Being a Threat and To Become a Promise (2017), which was also exhibited in Astana during the 8th session of the Meeting of the Parties, combines footage from diverse hydrographies such as the Colorado, the Yaqui, the Xingu, the Spree and the Magdalena Rivers, weaved together, juxtaposing encountered perspectives and understandings of what a territory is, and how it may be inhabited.

List of participants

3392 _ List of participants _ 395299 _ English _ 773 _ 423633 _ pdf