Integrated water resource management 

A holistic approach

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximise economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems. This demands sector reforms at conceptual, policy, institutional and operational levels, while making water use more effective within an overall poverty reduction framework. In line with this, COWI’s services focus on a balanced approach, recognising that water sector development must address water infrastructure and management of water resources concurrently. This means that capacity-building approaches accompany the development of enabling legislation. Capacity-building focuses on water to be managed at the lowest appropriate level, in support of decentralisation, and on water users (demand responsiveness) and on the management of water as a common good.

A leading contributor to innovation and reform

COWI is a leading innovator in the water sector, bringing new processes such as public-private partnerships, active participation by the poor and marginalised groups, gender mainstreaming, institutional development and decentralisation, social marketing of hygiene and sanitation as well as demand-responsive approaches.

Quality in a sound conceptual framework

COWI offers a range of services that have been developed to address water resources management issues within the overall IWRM framework, including:

• Development of national policies, strategies and legislative frameworks
• Planning and implementation of water demand management including institutional capacity building and awareness campaigns on water conservation and demand management,
• Development of integrated water resources management and water efficiency plans;
• River basin and catchment-based assessment, mapping, modelling,
• Analysis of surface and groundwater resources,
• Securing active stakeholder involvement in water research projects.