This Summary Handbook on Water Allocation in a Transboundary Context (Summary Handbook) contains the key information from the Handbook on Water Allocation in a Transboundary Context (Handbook) adopted by the 9th Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) to the Water Convention in 2021, covering the global practice of transboundary water allocation. It seeks to be a shorter and targeted practical resource for policy and decision-makers providing a snapshot from the Handbook of the key elements, frameworks and modalities to consider in the application of transboundary water allocation, while recognizing that every allocation context is unique. A wide array of case studies from different continents and geographical regions are noted under the relevant sections for further reading – these are listed in full in the Handbook.

Numerous issues related to preserving water and its allocation in a transboundary context such as climate change adaptation, preservation of freshwater ecosystems, transboundary legal frameworks to name just a few, have also gained recognition during recent UN global processes and platforms. Most notably the UN Water Conference in March 2023 and the Water Action Agenda for achieving SDG6, but also the inclusion of freshwater ecosystems in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Hence, this publication may provide a valuable resource for policy makers to tackle these pressing issues.

The Summary Handbook is a timely update to the Handbook given the increasing prevalence of water scarcity and drought since the Handbook was adopted at MOP9. Severe droughts have developed or intensified in various regions of the world such as Western Europe, the Horn of Africa and South America, among others. Equitable and sustainable allocation of scarce surface and ground water in transboundary basins is thus even more important in the effective management of shared freshwater resources, along with allocation’s complementary approaches.

Download the Summary Handbook on Water Allocation in a Transboundary Context (Summary Handbook) here.

More information on the Handbook on Water Allocation (2021) can be found here.

More information on the Water Convention’s work on water allocation in a transboundary context can be found here.