Options from beyond the water box

Dealing with risk and uncertainty has long been a routine challenge for water resources managers and policy-makers across sectors and the world. However, issues like climate change and demographic dynamics have made the risks greater and the task more complex. Risk management is now much more important - indeed essential - to analysis and decision-making. Drivers and policies outside the water sector have more impact on water management than do many policies championed and implemented by water-related ministries. Identifying trade-offs and synergies between water and other policy sectors can enhance policy impacts in all sectors and avoid some adverse effects on water. Because governments, civil society and business leaders make decisions every day that can affect water, it is important to identify where such decisions can also lead to improvements in water sector management and in water sector and environmental services. Examples of win-win situations abound - whether created by governments, communities or businesses - that point to promoting deliberate cooperation between water and non-water actors and integrating water issues into external decisions. International organizations, notably the UN system, can provide support and expertise to governments, help civil society build capacity and catalyse leadership in the private sector.