Adapting to change in transboundary rivers: An analysis of treaty flexibility on the Orange-Senqu River Basin

Continuously changing patterns of water flow and utilization in the Orange-Senqu River basin hamper effective management of shared water resources, and the international agreements and institutions established for this basin must be equipped to recognize and respond to such changes. A review of international agreements and in-depth interviews with water managers throughout the Orange-Senqu basin, reveal a variety of flexibility mechanisms embedded within the existing treaties. Key to the process of adaptation are the broad institutional mandates that enable existing Commissions to recognize the need for change over time and advise the parties to adapt accordingly. While the existing institutions in the Orange-Senqu basin are young and have not been fully tested, the treaties do not restrict the adaptive capacity of the parties to manage water resources.