MEF BAP AP028
Evaluating the Efficacy and Inclusivity of Water Diplomacy Frameworks in the Middle East: The Euphrates-Tigris Basin as a Case Study
Principal Investigator of the Project: Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Kibaroğlu
Project Team
About the Project
This project aims to examine the effectiveness of transboundary water resources management and diplomacy in the Middle East. Using the Euphrates-Tigris Basin as a case study, this research assesses how water diplomacy operates within formal and informal institutional structures, which stakeholders it involves and how it can be improved.
Most of the water resources in the Middle East are transboundary in nature, which leads to conflicts and diplomatic initiatives among the countries in the region over water management. Instead of possible scenarios such as “water wars”, diplomacy and cooperation mechanisms seem to play a more effective role in water management. At this point, the project questions the effectiveness and inclusiveness of water diplomacy institutions.
The research methodology adopts a qualitative approach to understand the functioning of diplomacy mechanisms. Fieldwork will be conducted in Turkey, Jordan and Switzerland and 20-30 semi-structured interviews will be conducted. Interviews will be conducted with diplomats, technocrats, academics, NGO representatives, municipal officials and private sector actors who play an active role in diplomacy processes. In addition, official and unofficial documents will be analyzed to reveal the current state of water diplomacy.
Research Question: The research question focuses on the effectiveness and inclusivity of water diplomacy institutions in the ET basin.
"How effective and inclusive are the formal and informal water diplomacy institutions in the ET basin, considering the adoption of informal water diplomacy initiatives by official riparian states and the interests involved in endorsing and participating in these initiatives? Additionally, what are the dynamics of stakeholder participation, including the motivations and interests of funding/donor agencies in initiating and supporting such water diplomacy initiatives?"
Hypothesis of the Research:
"Water diplomacy institutions in the ET basin are often technocratic and state-centric, lacking meaningful participation from a broad range of stakeholders such as civil society organizations, farmers, water user associations, municipalities, and industries. This lack of inclusivity, coupled with the varying interests of official riparian states and funding/donor agencies in endorsing and supporting informal water diplomacy initiatives, hinders the effectiveness of these institutions in addressing complex water challenges."
The Project Framework Focuses on Three Main Phases:
Determining the conceptual and methodological framework: The fundamental framework of the research will be established, and data collection methods will be determined.
Field research and data collection: Interviews will be conducted with diplomatic actors, and official documents will be analyzed.
Stakeholder analysis and engagement assessment: The inclusivity of the existing system will be examined, and power dynamics and deficiencies will be evaluated.
Expected Results and Impact
As a result of this study, the effects of water diplomacy on the management of transboundary waters in the Middle East will be better understood. The strengths and weaknesses of official and unofficial diplomacy mechanisms will be determined, and suggestions will be presented to increase the effectiveness of water diplomacy.
In particular, areas where stakeholder participation is limited will be identified and a more inclusive water diplomacy framework will be proposed. In this context, it will be evaluated how actors such as NGOs, water user associations, local governments and the private sector can be more effectively included in water diplomacy processes in addition to state institutions.
The research will produce policy recommendations and scientific publications. The ultimate goal is to contribute to a framework that fosters sustained stakeholder collaboration and addresses the region’s complex water challenges, driven by mismanagement, inequitable distribution, and climate change.