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Changing the behaviour of water users and water managers towards more sustainable practices is a necessary step in achieving water security. However, this requires changes of deeply held attitudes in individuals, institutions, professionals, and social organisations to encourage a more water-oriented society. By definition, social change instruments are not neutral: the positive aims that one person might pursue with their behavioural change could be considered destructive by others. Therefore, it is important to be clear on the goal (what to change) and on the method (how to change).

In contrast to prescriptive and rather rigid master water plans, an IWRM-oriented planning process takes a more flexible and dynamic approach to planning the development and management of water resources. Planning reflects the total activity in the system, whether defined as river basin, catchment, or watershed, including for example agriculture, forestry, mining, and other land uses. IWRM plans can be used to strengthen good governance within a strategic water management framework of goals, policies, and planned actions to achieve the goals. Since participation is one of the key pillars of integrated water management, stakeholders should be involved in the planning and implementation process.

The first step of working towards water security is to understand the nature and the scope of the resource itself. That means taking a holistic view of the water resources in a given country or region and relating those to their use by society and the environment. For that, demand and supply need to be assessed and data on the physical and the socio-economic aspects of the resource gathered. It is also important to understand how policies are performing, which is why indicators for IWRM should be developed and used for monitoring and evaluation.

10 years status of IWRM implementation in Southeast Asia.

Two countries from the Caribbean region, Jamaica and Antigua were selected for a United Nations (UN) Water Resources Report which looks specifically at the application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources.

Ambassador of Sweden H. E. Ann Dismorr to Kenya stressed the importance of water resources management as a fundamental pillar of the Green economy.