Preamble
GWP is composed of two parts: (1) the GWP Organisation (GWPO); and (2) the GWP Network. The term GWP is used throughout this document to denote these two parts. The GWP day-to-day activities are managed by the Executive Secretary and the Secretariat, which form part of the GWPO, and is referred to below as the GWP Secretariat.
GWPO is an international organisation with legal status under international public law and is regulated by Statutes agreed by the Sponsoring Partners in 2002. GWPO is recognized as a legal entity under the national law of most countries. Consequently, GWPO can enter into contracts in most countries and can sue and be sued.
The GWP Network is an assembly of Partners. The GWP Statutes cover the Network and they clearly state that the GWP Network is not a legal entity. This is fundamental to the operations of GWP.
The Regional Water Partnerships (GWPs) and the Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) are not covered specifically in the Statutes of GWP. Article 5 (1) states: “The Network .... operates through relations with accredited Regional Water Partnerships, Regional Technical Committees and Country Water Partnerships, and other separate co-operating entities that have been given a role in the Network in accordance with these Statutes.”
Article 7(7)(1) of the Statutes notes that one of the functions of the GWPO SC is to “Establish links with and accredit Regional Water Partnerships, Regional Technical Committees and Country Water Partnerships, and authorise such and other entities to use the name “Global Water Partnership” as part of their name or in a similar manner to indicate stronger links than normal partnership.” This statement indicates that the RWPs and CWPs have a special link with the GWPO which takes many forms, including in practice the provision of core funding.
RWPs and CWPs are not Partners of the GWP Network in themselves. They are a grouping of Partners operating in a specific geographical area as the functional part of the GWP Network in that area.
Since its establishment in 1996, the GWP Network has developed from the concept of interim regional committees, to mature partnerships, the Regional Water Partnerships (RWPs). More recently Country Water Partnerships (CWPs) have been established as well as sub-national level partnerships in some countries. A consequence of this development is a broader buy-in by stakeholders as well as increased responsibilities for the RWPs and CWPs to ensure proper operation of their partnerships.
Following the establishment of the GWPO in 2002 and the External Evaluation in 2003, the governance arrangements for the GWP Network were reviewed by the Secretariat, which produced a paper in November 2003 entitled “Framework of the GWP Network Governance Gaps Requiring Guidelines of Engagement, Position Paper”. This set out the key gaps that needed to be filled to enable the GWP to operate effectively whilst maintaining its flexible modus operandi. In preparing the governance documents the aim has been to achieve homogeneity in diversity; this recognises that each region and country is different with specific political and cultural characteristics. The diverse and flexible nature of the Network gives GWP a comparative advantage and helps to make it relevant and responsive to local social/cultural conditions.
However, it is essential that the GWP establishes a minimum set of standards that are applicable to the GWPO and the Network. This policy document is based on earlier governance papers of GWP, including the GWPO Statutes, the GWP Policy on Partners and the Conditions of Engagement for the GWP Regional and Country Water Partnerships and Guidelines for Formation of RWPs, (Islamabad SC, December 2002). It also builds upon other documents such as the “Guidelines for the Formation of Regional Water Partnerships (RTACs to RWPs), (Stockholm SC, August 2003).
The Conditions for Accreditation set out a formal basis for relations between GWP entities on global, regional and national levels. They apply equally to existing RWPs and CWPs as well as any future partnerships. The remaining RTACs that are now changing to RWPs are required to adopt the Conditions for Accreditation when establishing the new RWPs.
The document comprises two parts: (1) formal conditions; and (2) an Appendix. The formal conditions are inviolable. These have been kept to a minimum commensurate with good governance and operational management of the GWP. The second part, the Appendix sets out guidelines on good governance and management practices in the region and countries and this part is advisory in nature.
The document was approved by the GWP Steering Committee at the meeting in Alexandria in November 2005 and enters into force on 22 November 2005.
Conditions for Accreditation for Regional and Country Water Partnerships (pdf, 148 kB)
Appendix: Guidelines on Good Governance and Management Practices (pdf, 89 kB)
Statutes for the Global Water Partnership Network and the Global Water Partnership Organisation (pdf, 25 kB)
Statutes for the Regional Water Partnership Network in Caucasus and Central Asia (GWP CACENA) (pdf, 20 kB)
GWP Strategy 2009-2013 (pdf, 2881 kB)
GWP CACENA Regional Strategy 2009-2013
GWP CACENA Regional Strategy 2004-2008
GWP Policy on Partners (pdf, 123 kB)
Application form (pdf, 257 kB)