Presentation by Claudia Coleoni, Research Assistant at the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI), Latin America Centre.

“Water management is getting increasingly difficult. Growing demand and a changing climate are posing critical challenges for policymakers, who must grapple with both an uncertain future and competing interests, ensuring water security for people, cities, agriculture, and ecosystems is at risk. The status quo to addressing these challenges is Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM). While the past three decades have seen IWRM having a profound impact on water planning practices, it has not yet yielded sustainable water management outcomes.

Water management that is environmentally sustainable and equitable requires a better understanding of connections beyond the watershed, inclusive participatory approaches, and the water needs of ecosystems. The Stockholm Environment Institute's Water Beyond Boundaries initiative aims to deliver that knowledge and the tools to use it.

Our initiative is based on three pillars:

1. Water (tele) connections: Sustainable water management should reach beyond the watershed, with participatory processes based not only on place but also on impact.,

2. Early ecosystem consideration: Ecosystems should be considered throughout the water management and planning process.

3. Multi-interest, multi-scale participatory approaches: Collaborative and inclusive engagement in water management delivers more effective long-term outcomes.

We are working in two pilot studies to further explore these water management challenges: the Magdalena River Basin in Colombia and the Mekong River Basin in Southeast Asia. For additional information about the Water Beyond Boundaries initiative, please consult our website and social media (Twitter: @SEIResearch @SEIClimate @SEIenEspanol).”