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A new video, produced by the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� BRIDGE team, aims to give an insight into the learning and dialogue that takes place during BRIDGE workshops. Entitled ‘BRIDGE: How to build water cooperation across borders’ is now available on .

BRIDGE, implemented by ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� and funded by , uses five strategic pillars to facilitate improved transboundary water governance: demonstration, advice and support, leadership, dialogue, and learning [see��]. Launched in 2011, the project has expanded its work from nine to fourteen transboundary basins across the world [������ٳҷ�����������.��

Around 60% of the world’s international river basins lack any type of cooperative management framework. "As part of ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s strategy for biodiversity conservation, we see as one of our key pillars is to help countries and stakeholders put in place good water governance” says Mark Smith, Director ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Global Water Programme.��

on the different BRIDGE basins, and thematic on topics such as ‘Water Diplomacy’ and ‘Treaties and Agreements’, have been developed and disseminated to support knowledge sharing. A dedicated web portal, the BRIDGE Water Law and Governance Support Platform (),��offers legal expertise and technical support on water governance.����

“A wealth of information and knowledge has been collected over the years through the BRIDGE project”, said Isabelle Fauconnier, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Water Policy and Sustainability Advisor, “however, what has been less evident is capturing the bounty of dialogue and learning that happens during the BRIDGE practical learning workshops.”

Masterminded by Alejandro Iza, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Environmental Law Director, the BRIDGE learning workshops rely on a set of fictional basins and conflict and cooperation scenarios, which participants use as practical exercises to hone newly acquired skills and knowledge in negotiations and benefit-sharing.

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BRIDGE workshops equip participants, who range from basin managers to government officials, business representatives to community leaders, with new skill sets needed for improving transboundary water governance. These exchanges also open new spaces for informal dialogue between stakeholders not usually gathered around the same tables. ��

“It will help us face the reality [in our basins] and move forward, accepting that this is our joint problem, and this is how we can solve it”;

“We the upstream country cannot say ‘we don’t care.’�� We need to think more broadly”;

“We learned how to negotiate, how to listen to the other, how to get to a shared common objective ”;

“We have a tendency to forget the environmental benefits in water resource planning, although they are actually really important […] and we can use BRIDGE tools to ensure they are shared equitably among all stakeholders”

These are but some of the participants’ testimonies captured in the new video, along with information on the project and international water governance. “Recording participants’ take-home messages and capturing how new learning influences knowledge and application of transboundary water management tools, gives us an invaluable insight into the impact of BRIDGE workshops”, said Raphaël Glemet, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� BRIDGE Coordinator for Asia. ������

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Links and more information:

BRIDGE video:

BRIDGE project: ��

Water Law and Governance Platform: