This document discusses identifying, quantifying, and communicating the benefits of transboundary water cooperation. It presents a draft typology of four categories of benefits: 1) benefits for the transboundary waters, 2) benefits from the transboundary waters, 3) benefits thanks to the transboundary waters, and 4) benefits beyond the transboundary waters. The document outlines UNECE's methodology for developing guidance on assessing these benefits through expert workshops and a guidance note. It also discusses challenges in quantifying both economic and non-economic benefits and integrating benefit assessments into policy processes.

1. Identifying, quantifying and
communicating the benefits
of transboundary water
cooperation
Chantal Demilecamps
Secretariat of the Water Convention, UNECE

2. Transboundary cooperation
under the Water Convention
• Protection of transboundary waters
by preventing, controlling and
reducing transboundary impacts
• Reasonable and equitable use of
transboundary waters
• Obligation to cooperate through
agreements and joint institutions
=> Objective: sustainable water
management, looking at economic,
social & environmental dimensions
of water

3. Identifying, quantifying &
communicating the benefits of
transboundary cooperation
• Background
Limited scope of cooperation
Willigness to cooperate depends on perception of potential
benefits
Need for more qualitative & quantitative data on benefits
• Objectives
 Support countries to understand and estimate the full
range of potential benefits of transboundary water
cooperation
 Encourage the broadening of cooperation

4. Identifying, quantifying &
communicating the benefits of
transboundary cooperation
• Methodology
Development of a Policy Guidance Note on Identifying,
Quantifying and Communicating the benefits of cooperation
• Activities
– Expert framing workshop (June 2013)
– Workshop to gather & share experiences (22-23 May
2014)
– Expert Workshop to finalize the policy guidance note
and discuss next steps (Nov. 2014, tbc)
 Contribute to the development of the Policy Guidance Note
 Share experience during the Workshop in May 2014

5. Structure of the Guidance Note
•
•
•
•
•
Executive Summary
Ch1 – Setting the Context
Ch2 – Identifying benefits
Ch3 – Quantifying benefits
Ch4 – Maximizing the policy impact of benefit
assessment
• Technical annexes

6. DRAFT TYPOLOGY OF BENEFITS
I. Benefits for the
transboundary
waters
Environmental benefits (avoided habitat
degradation and biodiversity loss)
II. Benefits from
the transboundary
waters
Improved human satisfaction (recreation, cultural
values), improved health (reduced water-borne
diseases), and direct economic benefits
(increased economic production in sectors, reduced
costs of carrying out productive activities, avoided
losses from floods & droughts, increased value of
properties) as a consequence of managing water
better
• Reduced costs (managing water, complying with
treaties, defense spending) and improved benefits
(in other policy areas) as a consequence of
building trust between countries
III. Benefits
thanks to the
transboundary
waters
IV. Benefits
beyond the
transboundary
waters
• Economic growth and poverty reduction
generated by more cross-border investment and
open markets for goods, services and labor (as a
second order consequence of direct economic
benefits and increased trust)

7. Challenges of the work on benefits
of cooperation
• Need to build on existing knowledge and to bridge
science and policy
• Need to develop a policy-makers oriented guidance
note, based on concrete experience (GEF projects)
• Not all benefits can be valued: qualitative and
quantitative information
• Many tools and methodologies available for economic
valuation, to be communicated in an easy way to
influence the policy process
• High request to develop guidance on valuation of
benefits related to trust building

8. Which benefits of transboundary water
cooperation have you identified in your
project?
DRAFT TYPOLOGY OF BENEFITS
I. Benefits for the
transboundary waters
Environmental benefits
II. Benefits from the
transboundary waters
Consequences of managing water
better, direct economic benefits
III. Benefits thanks to the
transboundary waters
Consequences of building trust
between countries
IV. Benefits beyond the
transboundary waters
Economic growth and poverty
reduction generated
Have some benefits of transboundary water
cooperation already been quantified?
(in a qualitative or quantitative way)

9.  In your projects, have benefits of
transboundary water cooperation
been communicated to influence
the policy process? How?
 How could we better communicate
the benefits? How can the
assessment of benefits be
integrated into the policy process?

10. Thank you!
More information
http://unece.org/env/water
On the activities on quantifying the benefits of transboundary
cooperation
http://www.unece.org/env/water/ benefits_cooperation.html
Chantal.Demilecamps@unece.org