International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

5.4 - Form TDA development team and hire consultants

The TDA Development Team should be a broadly representative technical body that represents the countries participating in the project and that will participate in the key development steps for the TDA. It is likely that this team will also participate in early development steps of the SAP. Broad representation does not mean selection of the best academic scientific experts- academia generally represents one stakeholder group - it is important to ensure that the TDA Development Team is representative of all key stakeholders. There are 2 key reasons why it is important that all key stakeholder groups are engaged during the SAP process (either through consultation or direct participation):

  1. If the TDA or SAP development process is captured by a particular stakeholder group or groups, the consensus building process will be compromised
  2. SAP implementation can fail if stakeholders (for example, industries being regulated) are excluded from either the TDA or the SAP development.

Experts for the Development Team can come from a range of organisations, including:

  • Key ministries or government departments
  • Government agencies
  • Corporate entities
  • Trade organisations
  • NGOs
  • Civil society
  • Academia and research organisations
  • Regional Commissions

The make up of the Development Team should be as interdisciplinary as possible. It should include, or have access to:

  • Natural scientists –based on appropriate disciplines for the water system in question
  • Social scientists – including social assessment/participation experts
  • Economists – e.g. fisheries economists; environmental economists
  • Legal experts – water based legislation and regulations
  • Policy experts – Governance and institutions

If additional expertise is required, the Development Team and the Project Manager should recommend it.

It is important that the TDA Development Team is well represented by all the above groups. Often, it is difficult to find suitable economists. In contrast, it is usually easy to find willing natural scientists, and it is tempting to form the Development Team from this group. However, economists and social scientists play a key part in describing the socio-economic consequences of the transboundary problems.

In general the TDA Development Team will number between 10 and 20 participants (depending on the number of participating countries, the complexity of the project and the budget available), although it is likely that not all team members will be active at any one time.

An example of the expertise in the Black Sea TDA Development Team is given below. As can be seen, there is a disparity between the numbers of team members from each participating country, in part due to the level of political buy-in from the countries.

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