ToolBox

The ToolBox is a free and open database with a library of background papers, policy briefs, technical briefs and perspective papers as well as huge sections of case studies and references in each tool. These are all available for use by anyone who is interested in implementing better approaches for the management of water or learning more about improving water management at a local, national, regional or global level.

The ToolBox is also an excellent place for you to engage with a broader community of interested practitioners and professionals around the world and to share your experiences. We hope that the ToolBox will increase your knowledge, improve your network of contacts, and help you in implementing ideas and solutions for water related problems.

There are altogether 59 different tools careful elaborated in the GWP ToolBox. The ToolBox is organised in a hierachial manner with each tool embedded in the wider perspective of IWRM. The characteristics of each tool are described in the GWP ToolBox so as to allow the user to select a suitable mix and sequence of tools that would work in a given country, context and situation. The problems faced by water managers are many and diverse, as are the political, social and economic conditions, so no blueprint for the application of IWRM can be given.

The Tools are illustrated by real experiences. The cases have been submitted by practitioners and professionals from all over the world and offer realistic lessons for others by giving examples of how a tool has worked in a given situation and context. Case studies are peer reviewed through the GWP knowledge management team. Cases are at varying levels of detail and include references to sources of further information.

Furthermore, all the Tools and Cases are linked to reference materials. These range from policy papers, training manuals, articles, briefing notes to results of research projects, and summaries of assistance programs. They also contain full documents or refer to external links and web sites of organizations working in the area of IWRM.

The ToolBox Partners are institutions and organizations that have played variety of roles: some have had a leading role in creating the knowledge that is housed in the GWP Toolbox. Others have added significant value to the existing content, while some have trained people in how to use the GWP ToolBox. And still others have been keen promoters of the Toolbox's usefulness. GWP is grateful for the contribution of each of these Toolbox Partners and would like to invite anybody to share their own interesting experiences by submitting cases and links. For that purpose, the ToolBox website carries to the top-right corner a special button "Contribute" where all details on how to contribute a case can be found.

GWP was created to foster IWRM with the aim to ensure the coordinated development and management of water, land, and related resources by maximising economic and social welfare without compromising the sustainability of vital environmental systems. In response to the requirement of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, a number of countries have developed IWRM and water efficiency plans and roadmaps based on each country priorities and strategic actions. All these plans, policies and water laws are collected this section.