Iuris Dictio

Dossier II

No. 36 (2025)

Comparing IWRM Reporting: Can a Context-Specific Framework be Translated into a Universal Standard?

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18272/iu.i36.3976
Submitted
July 22, 2025
Published
2025-12-04

Abstract

This paper critically examines the implementation of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) as prescribed by Sustainable Development Goal 6. Despite its recognition as an essential solution to unsustainable water practices, progress has stagnated, with only 57% global implementation reported by 2023. This paper argues that the standardization of IWRM may conceal the complexities of water management across various contexts. An analysis of IWRM's evolution, evaluation metrics, and case studies of France, the United States, and Ecuador reveals how universal benchmarks may favor specific governance structures, leading to misleading assessments of progress and effectiveness in water management.

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