Since its inception in 2005, the Crossing Boundaries has sought to promote an interdisciplinary approach in analyzing and understanding water resource management issues. These include issues like inter-sectoral and inter-regional water resources allocation and use, institutional transformation and policy reforms, stakeholder participation in policy, planning and implementation of inclusive forms of governance, interdisciplinary analysis and modeling and incorporation of ecological sustainability and empowerment perspectives in water resources policy and practice.
The project works on these issues on a partnership basis through capacity building of water professionals on IWRM and gender and water. This is achieved through innovation in courses, focused research, knowledge-base enhancement, networking and outreach activities.
The key of Crossing Boundaries relevance to the water sector in the region lies in its interdisciplinary approach. Its ultimate goal is to stimulate a paradigm shift in water resources management in the South Asian region. The programme hopes to achieve this by emphasising on a longer duration of education input as it believes that shaping attitudes and perceptions and imparting skills of interdisciplinary and comprehensive analysis and intervention requires time. The project is implemented by a group of institutions (Link: Partners) with a proven track record and interest in integrated, interdisciplinary and gender-sensitive approach to water resources management.
SHORT TERM GOALS
The project aspires to equip water professionals in designated regions in South Asia with the discipline, technical expertise and sensitivity to apply interdisciplinarity in their work. Apart from direct educational initiatives, through funding and curriculum expertise to students of water resources management, it hopes to create a tangible body of easily accessible knowledge in the form of readers, academic papers, workshops and other short training programmes.
LONG TERM GOALS
The project, in the long term seeks to pave the way for setting up of a virtual water university that has specific South Asian relevance, while being pro-poor, pro-development in ideology. It ultimately hopes to bring about a paradigm shift in water resources management in South Asia.
DETAILED PURPOSES
- Educate a critical mass of South Asian water professionals trained in inter-disciplinary analysis and design of intervention strategies for integrated and gender-sensitive water resources management. It also aims to contribute to a more balanced gender composition in the South Asian water professionals' community.
- Conduct innovation and social learning focused research in concrete development intervention settings in partnership with water resource users and other stakeholders as the core element of capacity building.
- Develop a knowledge base for capacity building on IWRM and gender and water issues and provide a platform for exchange, discussion and collaboration at the South Asia level through networking, publications and workshops/ conferences.
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