There is something to be learned from every country. These lessons have been consolidated into a framework for action that can be implemented in the region as a whole, and can significantly advance the movement towards truly sustainable water resources management in support of poverty reduction and improvement in people’s wellbeing and livelihoods. The remainder of the technical report draws together and presents, from the lessons learned:

• a conceptual basis for sustainable management of water resources, which rests on three key principles, namely

• recognition of the environment as the resource base from which water is derived,

• the need to identify and fully value all the goods and services provided by aquatic ecosystems, not just the water, and

• the need to mainstream environmental criteria into water resources policy and operational contexts;

• a framework for operationalizing sustainable water resources management that includes supporting policy and legislation, a suite of appropriate technical management tools, and the development of effective institutional structures and processes for implementation;

• a plan for actions to be taken at regional and national level which should ensure tangible progress towards environmentally sustainable management of water resources.