As water is often scarce in many developing countries, conflicts about its use can arise. Watershed management plays a crucial role in such situations. The goal is to gear management to the needs of the riparian states and water users.

In the case of trans-boundary rivers such as the Mekong in south-east Asia, watershed management is particularly important. About 60 million people live along the lower part of the Mekong. They produce food for a total of 300 million people. Deforestation and the intensification of agriculture are increasingly threatening the provision of clean water.

Better conditions of life and sustainable agriculture depend on the sustainable management of the watershed region as a whole. The interests of the riparian states must be reconciled with this.

GIZ advises its partners, such as the Mekong River Commission, primarily on framing policies, but also on knowledge management. We support capacity building at the water authorities and river commissions, and thus promote a process which resolves conflicts about water use and results in sustainable protection of watershed regions.

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