Conjunctive Water Management is a holistic approach to water resources management in which surface water, groundwater, and other water cycle components are considered and managed as a single resource. This integrated approach aims to maximize the overall benefits of water in the short and long term.

Conjunctive management of surface and groundwater is essential for sustainable water resources management, particularly in regions facing water scarcity, climate variability, and increasing demand, such as the Mediterranean region. Coordinated use of surface water and groundwater resources optimizes availability and reliability by mitigating risks like seasonal variability, over-extraction, and water quality degradation. 

Effective implementation of Conjunctive Water Management relies on a good understanding of the hydrological cycle, robust institutional frameworks, effective governance structures, active stakeholder engagement and technical innovations.

In the framework of UNESCO’s component on “Management of Coastal Aquifers and Related Ecosystems”, Child Project 2.1 of the UNEP/GEF MedProgramme, UNESCO has successfully facilitated a series of national dialogues on Conjunctive Management of Surface Water and Groundwater in five Mediterranean beneficiary countries, being Lebanon (2023), followed by Morocco, Tunisia, Albania and Montenegro (2024).  The findings and recommendations from these multi-stakeholder consultations have revealed innovative approaches to sustainable water resources management that could serve as models for other geographies.

UNESCO is  distilling the insights from these national dialogues into a comprehensive policy brief, scheduled for publication in 2025. This forthcoming publication will provide a practical methodological framework to inspire another project in the GEF International Waters portfolio and other projects focusing on promoting Conjunctive Water Management through the organization of national consultation mechanisms. 

Words by Jose Luis Martin Bordes, Tatiana Dmitrieva, Simone Grego, Hong Huynh, Rita Marteleira. Photo cover: Qeparo, Albania by Xhiliana/Unsplash.