14 February 2013: UN-Water has released six video interviews that present case studies on water cooperation from around the world. UN-Water interviewed participants at the International Annual UN-Water Zaragoza Conference, which took place from 8-10 January 2013 in Zaragoza, Spain.

In the interviews, Faith Livingstone describes the Mt. Kenya East Pilot Project for Natural Resources Management, which has supported the formation of water user associations to facilitate the participation of women and farmers in water resources management. Alice Bouman, President, Women for Water Partnership, highlights the potential for integrated water resources management (IWRM) in Mynamar’s Irrawaddy river, including its potential for women’s empowerment and civil society involvement. Tamsir Ndiaye, Organization for the Development of the Senegal River, discusses cooperation among different stakeholders within the Senegal River basin.

Pedro Serra, Former Director of the Water Institute of Portugal, explaines how Portugal cooperated with Spain to develop a convention on transboundary water management. Andriamalina Fenomanantsoa, responsible for a micro-irrigation project in Madagascar, outlines the challenges faced by the project, which aims to improve the living conditions of surrounding smallholders. Robina Wahaj, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), highlights water cooperation in irrigation systems, and notes that these systems contribute to improved water productivity and improved health and income of the populations.

The videos were produced with the support of the UN Office to Support the International Decade for Action “Water for Life” 2005-2015/UN-Water Decade Programme on Advocacy and Communication (UNW-DPAC). [YouTube Videos] [Conference Website]