Effective Governance of Transboundary Aquifers Through Institutions – Lessons Learned from River Basin Organizations

Abstract

While international institutions governing transboundary surface waters have been established in a large number of international river and lake basins, transboundary aquifers remain widely neglected. Only recently, the international community has acknowledged the need for establishing institutionalized governance mechanisms and is moving ahead in some regions. Experiences from transboundary surface waters, however, show that the mere existence of such institutions is insufficient for effective management of water resources. Instead, the effectiveness of these institutions matters. The paper therefore draws lessons from RBO effectiveness and applies findings on their institutional design to groundwater institutions – aiming at ensuring the sustainable management of shared aquifers through institutions from the very beginning.