INTERNATIONAL WATERS GOVERNANCE RESEARCH INITIATIVE (IWGRI)
The IWGRI is an independent, collaborative platform committed to advancing cooperation, understanding, and effective governance of shared international waters.
With a focus on international water law and governance, IWRGRI brings together an experienced, multidisciplinary network of scholars, practitioners, and policy professionals. Through collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and training, we examine how law, policy, and institutions can foster equitable and sustainable management of shared water resources.
IWGRI’s work focuses on three interconnected areas:
IWGRI links research to real-world governance challenges, reflecting the belief that collaborative, informed, research-based understanding is essential to advancing peaceful, sustainable, and adaptive governance of international water resources. By combining the insight of scholarship with the experience of practice, IWGRI supports effective decision-making and helps build resilient institutions.
The IWGRI is an independent, collaborative platform committed to advancing cooperation, understanding, and effective governance of shared international waters.
With a focus on international water law and governance, IWRGRI brings together an experienced, multidisciplinary network of scholars, practitioners, and policy professionals. Through collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and training, we examine how law, policy, and institutions can foster equitable and sustainable management of shared water resources.
IWGRI’s work focuses on three interconnected areas:
- Research: conduct and disseminate interdisciplinary studies on international and comparative water law, transboundary water governance, cooperative frameworks, treaty implementation, and dispute resolution. Our research also explores emerging and cross-cutting issues such as the governance of non-traditional water resources, stakeholder engagement, indigenous and community rights, and the links between water, environmental protection, and human rights law.
- Capacity-Building: design and share knowledge resources, methodologies, and tools that strengthen institutional and professional capacity for water diplomacy and governance.
- Education and Training: develop learning approaches that translate research insights into practice, empowering current and future leaders in international water governance.
IWGRI links research to real-world governance challenges, reflecting the belief that collaborative, informed, research-based understanding is essential to advancing peaceful, sustainable, and adaptive governance of international water resources. By combining the insight of scholarship with the experience of practice, IWGRI supports effective decision-making and helps build resilient institutions.
OUR HISTORY
The International Waters Governance Research Initiative (IWGRI) builds on more than fifteen years of collaborative work at the intersection of international law, policy, and water governance.
Its origins trace back to the Global Transboundary International Waters Governance Initiative, founded in 2007 under the leadership of Richard Kyle Paisley at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This initiative evolved from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-implemented project “Good Practices and Portfolio Learning in Transboundary Freshwater and Marine Legal and Institutional Frameworks” (2008–2011), executed by UBC and El Colegio de México in association with the international law firm White & Case LLP. The project—directed by Richard Kyle Paisley—was among the first global efforts to systematically examine the legal and institutional frameworks governing transboundary waters. It sought to strengthen international cooperation through research, policy analysis, and the development of experiential and negotiation-based learning tools. Working with partners across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, it helped establish one of the earliest global platforms for sharing best practices in transboundary water governance and created an enduring network of professionals and practitioners in the field.
Following the completion of the UNDP/GEF project, the initiative’s work continued under the International Waters Governance (IWG) platform, established in 2012 as a knowledge-sharing and capacity-building hub. Over the past decade, IWG and its team have contributed to education and training efforts worldwide and helped negotiate and implement governance arrangements, supporting governments, regional organizations, and institutions in strengthening cooperative legal and institutional frameworks for shared water resources.
The establishment of IWGRI represents the next stage in this evolution—returning to the initiative’s original focus on research, education, and capacity-building in international water law and governance, while drawing upon its extensive practical experience in transboundary water governance. Today, IWGRI continues this legacy as an independent, multidisciplinary research initiative dedicated to advancing cooperation and understanding in the governance of the world’s shared waters.
The International Waters Governance Research Initiative (IWGRI) builds on more than fifteen years of collaborative work at the intersection of international law, policy, and water governance.
Its origins trace back to the Global Transboundary International Waters Governance Initiative, founded in 2007 under the leadership of Richard Kyle Paisley at the University of British Columbia (UBC). This initiative evolved from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-implemented project “Good Practices and Portfolio Learning in Transboundary Freshwater and Marine Legal and Institutional Frameworks” (2008–2011), executed by UBC and El Colegio de México in association with the international law firm White & Case LLP. The project—directed by Richard Kyle Paisley—was among the first global efforts to systematically examine the legal and institutional frameworks governing transboundary waters. It sought to strengthen international cooperation through research, policy analysis, and the development of experiential and negotiation-based learning tools. Working with partners across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, it helped establish one of the earliest global platforms for sharing best practices in transboundary water governance and created an enduring network of professionals and practitioners in the field.
Following the completion of the UNDP/GEF project, the initiative’s work continued under the International Waters Governance (IWG) platform, established in 2012 as a knowledge-sharing and capacity-building hub. Over the past decade, IWG and its team have contributed to education and training efforts worldwide and helped negotiate and implement governance arrangements, supporting governments, regional organizations, and institutions in strengthening cooperative legal and institutional frameworks for shared water resources.
The establishment of IWGRI represents the next stage in this evolution—returning to the initiative’s original focus on research, education, and capacity-building in international water law and governance, while drawing upon its extensive practical experience in transboundary water governance. Today, IWGRI continues this legacy as an independent, multidisciplinary research initiative dedicated to advancing cooperation and understanding in the governance of the world’s shared waters.
