PAULA HANASZ questions the effectiveness of 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 initiatives to bring water security to South Asia.
In the not too distant past, it seemed almost a truism that the wars of this century would be over water. While by a more nuanced understanding of the , an interest in addressing non-traditional security threats and collective action problems remains high on the international agenda.
Transboundary water governance is one of these increasingly important issues, and South Asia seems a petri dish full of factors and conditions that could add to an explosive mix: sociopolitical instability; rapidly rising populations; increasing demand for food, energy and water; high poverty rates; ecological degradation; and, of course, vulnerability to the most pressing of contemporary international concerns, climate change.
that climate change will have 鈥榗ascading impacts鈥� on South Asia and envisions extreme monsoon variability, increases in mortality rates, regional crop production failing to meet food demand, leading to malnutrition and stunting for generations to come. These bleak scenarios are part of the reason for the World Bank investing heavily in climate change resilience strategies and engaging in water security and transboundary river management issues in South Asia.
Other OECD countries鈥攃hiefly, Australia, Japan, Norway, and the UK鈥攁re jumping in on the action too. The dominant theory of change is that by improving cooperation over shared water resources, the likelihood of water conflict developing will also diminish.
While is a little more complicated than this, of interest here is not a critique of this theory of change, but rather an exploration of the strategic national interests that Australia in particular has vested in the transboundary water governance of South Asia鈥檚 rivers.
Increasing influence
In recent years Australia has been strengthening its diplomatic, foreign aid, and trade engagement in South Asia, and a significant manifestation of this is the work on water governance issues. The focus on strengthening the political relationship is a consequence of 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 strategy to increase influence in the region, and the relationship with India in particular is a bulwark against China鈥檚 power in South Asia. 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 development aid strategy for the region supports and strengthens the political goals, while the increasing trade partnerships bring economic benefits.
础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 growing interest and engagement in South Asia is part of its recent focus on Asia broadly. The strategy for this is outlined in the 2012 white paper. Although 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 strategic intention remains to 鈥榖uild trust and cooperation, bilaterally and through existing regional mechanisms鈥�.
This strategic intent applies equally to 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 increasing engagement in South Asia, and in the water governance of the region specifically. Indeed, water scarcity is identified in Australia in the Asian Century as a growing challenge for Asia generally, and India in particular. Australia is thus aiming to bring the region back from the brink of water insecurity.
This ambitious goal is primarily pursued through diplomacy, foreign aid and trade relations. On the soft diplomacy front, Australia has recently introduced a scholarship available only to citizens of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Pakistan to at Masters level.
Development aid
In terms of foreign aid, 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 development aid strategy for South Asia is based on : sustainable development (water, food and energy security), and regional connectivity (trade facilitation and infrastructure connectivity). The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade鈥檚 Sustainable Development Investment Portfolio targets the three major Himalayan river basins鈥攖he Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra鈥攁nd is quite the collaborative effort. Six partner organisations are working with Australia to assist South Asia: the , , the , the , and the World Bank鈥檚 .
In addition to building strategic partnerships, a significant part of 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 regional development strategy for South Asia lies in. But these commercial interests dovetail neatly with the political and development aid objectives when it comes to water governance in the region. Australia, for example, was the 2015, and sent to Delhi a large delegation of Australian companies and institutes showcasing their technology and know-how to Indian counterparts. This coincided neatly with .
础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 and expertise to India. And the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) too made an appearance at India Water Week 2015 and has been over matters of inter-jurisdictional water governance. The MDBA is very well regarded in South Asia, though its management of the Murray Darling basin in Australia Australia certainly in water resource management, sustainable agriculture and energy efficiency. And, as per the Australia in the Asian Century strategy, is 鈥榳ell placed to collaborate and share our experience of replacing centrally planned water allocations with a market鈥�.
Australian firms have developed valuable expertise through recent experiences of drought, which has prompted considerable technological innovation in water recycling and irrigation infrastructure. Australia, according to the Australia in the Asian Century strategy will continue 鈥榯o showcase our technology, providing commercial openings for innovative Australian firms鈥�.
With such strong national self-efficacy, Australia has embarked with India on the . The ostensible purpose of this initiative is to 鈥樷�� through technology transfer and scientific research partnerships.
This and the other Australian engagements in South Asia on water resource management may further 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 national interests, primarily commercial ones. But I question whether they will be able to achieve 础耻蝉迟谤补濒颈补鈥檚 stated ambition鈥攖he starting point for all this increased engagement鈥攐f bringing water security to the region through improved governance and water cooperation. The pursuit of of policy is not necessarily the most effective way of strengthening regional hydro-diplomacy. The dynamics of are complex, and Australia seems to have dived in without much consideration of factors other than the national interest.
Main photo:
River life in Bangladesh (Paula Hanasz).