IMPLEMENATION OF MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS AND INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: WHAT DOES NATIONAL COORDINATION ACHIEVE?

This paper investigates how Bangladesh has approached the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) in conjunction with integrated water resource management (IWRM). It analyses coordination mechanisms across ministries, donor agencies, and civil society, asking whether national processes have translated into improved water governance. Case studies of Ramsar sites, biodiversity strategies, and water-sharing treaties are examined. The article finds that while donor-driven projects create islands of progress, the lack of sustained national coordination limits systemic change. It argues that mainstreaming MEAs into sectoral plans and budgets, supported by data sharing and monitoring, is essential for effective IWRM. The study concludes that strong institutions and political ownership are as critical as financial and technical support.

The body opens with a conceptual overview of MEAs and IWRM, highlighting synergies in goals and instruments. Section One traces Bangladesh’s treaty commitments and implementation record, including Ramsar, CITES, and the UNFCCC. Section Two reviews national coordination mechanisms, from inter-ministerial committees to donor–NGO task forces, assessing capacity gaps. Section Three presents case studies of river basin management, wetland restoration, and groundwater regulation, identifying both progress and persistent challenges. Section Four analyses financing and monitoring, noting reliance on external funding and the need for transparent indicators. The conclusion synthesises lessons: coordination improves when responsibilities are clear, data is shared, and communities are involved; without this, MEAs risk remaining symbolic rather than transformative.