Context
An ever increasing demand for fresh water resources has led to rise in issues related to water scarcity and inequities in distribution that have intensified into water conflicts across geographical scales. More than 50 countries across five continents would face water conflicts unless water sharing agreements are clearly recognized. Water has been a cause of political tensions between Arabs and Israelis; Indians and Bangladeshis; Americans and Mexicans; and all ten riparian countries of the Nile River. Water, being the only scarce resource with no substitute and the international laws on it being poorly developed, issues of transboundary conflicts are increasing.
Meanwhile water conflicts have been rising at the local and national level. India, is already witnessing various types of water conflicts, namely, rural-urban, pollution induced conflicts, inter-state and transboundary water conflicts, development versus ecology and environmental needs of water, conflicts between head and tail reaches, hydro-power generation versus riparian needs, agriculture versus industry, water privatisation and so forth. These conflicts are by and large unattended on account of various factors: most important being the `development’ oriented/ centralized water governance and increasing commercialization of valuable water resource. Despite the existence of laws in place, poor enforcement and monitoring mechanisms have increased vulnerability to the already aggrieved sections of the population. The civil society which includes academic and research institutions, students, development practitioners, legal fraternity and media is a very important player in the stressed water sector and conflicting scenario.
It is with this background that The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India (Forum), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) propose to conduct a four day training workshop aimed at enhancing the capacities of the participants in understanding different types of water conflicts and the possible ways to engage with them.
About the workshop
The training workshop will cover the following aspects relating to water conflicts:
- Bio-physical and socio-cultural dimensions of water
- Traditional bases for control and access to water
- Different frameworks to understand water conflicts
- Inter-state and transboundary conflicts
- Pollution induced conflicts
- Privatisation related conflicts
- Urban – Peri-urban conflicts
- Agriculture - Industry conflict
- Water laws, agreements and conflict resolution
- Cases of water negotiations
The workshop will include class room lectures, interactive sessions, panel discussions, filed visit and screening of films.
Collaborating institutions
Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India (Forum)
The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India (henceforth Forum), is a network of more than two hundreds activists, academics, organizations and social movements. Committed to values of equity, social justice, environmental sustainability, livelihood assurance and democratization processes, the Forum have already accomplished an extensive number of publications on water conflicts.
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
TERI is a dynamic and flexible not-for-profit research organisation with a global vision and local focus deeply committed to every aspect of sustainable development. TERI is actively engaged in multi-disciplinary research on natural resource management and conservation for more than three decades and has been assisting governments, industry and local communities’ alike.Committed to protecting the environment and promoting efficient use of depleting water resources, the Water Resources Division of TERI is undertaking services such as research, training, consultancy and implementation related to water use efficiency, water energy nexus, governance and regulatory aspects of water, water related conflicts etc.
Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)
ATREE is an academic think-tank which has been ranked in the top three environmental think-tanks in Asia and in the top twenty globally by a University of Pennsylvania survey for the last four years. ATREE runs an acclaimed interdisciplinary PhD programme in Conservation Science and Sustainability Studies and routinely engages in taking its research beyond the academia, to the civil society and policy makers. The Water, Land and Society Programme at ATREE has been engaging in long-term research that aims to understand the trajectory and drivers of change occurring in water and land resources and how these in turn affect people. The goal of ATREE's "problem driven” research in the water sector is to identify appropriate practical/ policy strategies to achieve environmental sustainability and human wellbeing.
The Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India is collaborating with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment (ATREE) in jointly offering this training workshop. The venue will be TERI, Bengaluru. The boarding and lodging would be taken care of by the organizers.The participants are requested to arrange for their own travel, since this workshop is being conducted on a low budget. Exceptions can be made on a need basis.
Venue: The Energy and Resources Institute, 4th Main, 2nd Cross, Domlur II Stage, Bengaluru -75
Date: 4-7th October, 2016
Eligibility
This training workshop will accommodate around 20 participants selected from open call. It is aimed at students, academics, activists, media persons and corporate entities working in the water sector.
How to Apply?
For application to this training programme please e-mail a copy of your resume, along with a covering letter to waterconflictforum@gmail.com, detailing your background and reasons for attending the workshop and also a nomination letter from the head/senior functionary of the organisation/insitution. The last date for receiving applications is the 10th of September and the applicants will be informed about the outcome of their application by 18th September 2016.
For professionals, a nominal registration fee of Rs. 1000 will be charged. There is no charge for students and full time activists.
Accommodation for outstation participants would be arranged near the venue itself. Please note that all rooms are on shared occupancy basis. Participants are requested to indicate the request for travel reimbursements and registration fee waiver, if needed, in the application. Travel reimbursement would be limited to 3 tier AC train or its equivalent.
For further details, please contact
1. Craig Dsouza, Forum
Phone: +91(20)2588 6542, 20251168
Email: waterconflictforum@gmail.com
2. S Jyothi, TERI
Phone: +91(80)25356590
Email: sjyothi@teri.res.in
