Integrated Water Resources Management: Perspectives from Bangladesh and the Netherlands

Is Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) just a cliche, which does not adequately address the growing complexity of water resources management, or is it an operational approach toward making rational decisions regarding the use of these essential resources? This book aims to contribute to efforts in Bangladesh to make IWRM an effective approach. It does so by focusing on two crucial issues in IWRM: institutional arrangements and participatory approaches. Moreover, it applies a planning technique to appraise the contribution of the water resources system to agreed national development objectives. The book results from a seminar organized by EGIS and WARPO in the context of signing an agreement between the governments of Bangladesh and the Netherlands to share their experience in integrated water resources management. Both these countries view IWRM to be an appropriate approach to sustainable water resources management. Although there are large differences between the two countries in certain aspects of IWRM, commonalities are found in the importance of local organizations and the need for integrated planning. WARPO The Water Resources Planning Organization (WARPO) is an agency of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh under the Ministry of Water Resources. WARPO, established under Act No. XII of 1992, is a key organization dealing with nationwide water resources planning and management. It institutionalizes the experience gathered through earlier efforts of the Master Plan Organization (MPO) and Flood Plan Coordination Organization (FPCO). The vision of WARPO is to effectively contribute to national development through an integrated management of the water resources of the country. EGIS The Environment and Geographic Information System Support Project for Water Sector Planning (EGIS) is an initiative of the Government of Bangladesh, which is funded by the Government of the Netherlands.