This is generic and yet formative - it explains what we want to do - but not how we do things nor how we help others to carry out and support substantive actions related to more efficient and effective water resources and ecosystems management. That is also where you come in - providing us with the feedback as to what we can help with and where knowledge and communication gaps exist - to implementing and to understanding how to make this integrated approach work better. Because we know it can - but it is not easy and it takes committment!
PLEASE keep the feedback coming. We are endeavouring to soon - have this site and organization better able to act as a focal point to exchange ideas and knowledge [supplementing perhaps what the GWP Toolbox is doing]. We would like to help having the ability to portray the reality of what is happening associated with the public's and perhaps underrepresented stakeholders' [the watershed consituents]. We want to solicit the views of the water bodies and ecosystems that are linking them to their catchments and watersheds and sub-basins and aquifers. For the excellent principles and concept of IWRM to work - we all need to support the interchange of concerns and issues. we cannot just hear the common 'feel-good' rhetoric and publicity that makes it all look 'fine' Instead we should be able to air the issues and concerns that perhaps are too difficult for agencies and entities to voice. After all - is that not what NGOs do, in provideing more voice for the not as well represented and the not as popular or lobby-supported positions??
From our By-Laws - the following: ------------------------------------------------------------ The organization shall pursue the following aim(s):
Within the context of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the UN Global Compact Initiative (1999) and the Principles of Sustainable Development (UNCED, 1992, and in UNDESA CSD resolutions established through 2004 and continuing):
To advocate, build capacity and implement in-country policy and mechanisms for:
1. Fair and equitable sharing of lands and resources and their benefits, 2. Understanding mankind’s vital dependency on ecosystems and the critical environmental and societal functions they provide. 3. Building awareness of the range of applicable dispute resolution and mediation methods and applying this capacity internally and in transboundary settings particularly at the local stakeholders (civil society) and user association levels, 4. Creating and maintaining enhanced local capacity and knowledge 5. Taking full advantage of the synergy from donor contributions and in-country capacity to carry out effective integrated management of financial, social and technical conditions to optimize a nations or shared-basins’ resources and their benefits.
[ Integrated Water Resources Management Organization (IWRM.org) ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION - 8 July, 2004 approved by the founding membership]
