Most of the world’s freshwater sources are shared between two or more countries. These transboundary waters face significant pressures due to population growth, increasing water demand and the impacts of the triple-planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. The sharing of data and information across different levels as well as political, sectoral, environmental and institutional boundaries is essential to ensure the sustainable, integrated and peaceful management of transboundary waters. Data- and information-sharing forms a common basis for transboundary cooperation, enables informed decision-making and helps maximize the benefits of cooperation over shared waters, leading to increased water security and trust between riparian countries.

The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), provides a legal framework for monitoring, assessment and exchange of data and information in transboundary basins. It calls for all Parties to provide for the widest exchange of information, as early as possible, on issues covered by the provisions of the Convention. Furthermore, it requires Riparian Parties to establish and implement joint programmes for monitoring the conditions of transboundary waters and to exchange reasonably available data within the framework of relevant agreements or other arrangements.

Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Data-sharing in Transboundary Basins presents a global collection of case studies related to different aspects of data and information sharing, building on real-life experiences across all levels. The publication provides a wide array of examples showing how monitoring and data-sharing programmes can be implemented, and thus complements previously developed guidance materials on monitoring and assessment.

The publication is intended for all actors working on monitoring programmes and data- and information-sharing in transboundary basins at both national and transboundary levels. They include joint bodies such as basin commissions and other institutions for transboundary cooperation and their national representatives; developers of monitoring strategies, especially in transboundary basins; decision makers; specialists working on monitoring and assessment in ministries; and other authorities, scientists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The publication supports the implementation of the Water Convention and improved transboundary water cooperation worldwide.

ECE/MP.WAT/73