Publication

This paper addresses the question of how the concept of benefit sharing in managing transboundary water resources can be operationalized. The author points out that a transboundary river basin should be treated as a single unit to maintain the physical integrity of the system and to internalize externalities. Benefit sharing has been proposed as one approach to bypass the contentious issue of property rights. The paper focuses on steps for putting the concept into practice. The point of departure is lessons learned from existing cooperative efforts. The author draws on case studies and on literature from various disciplines.