These countries represent a broad spectrum of developing country contexts. Each is characterised by a semi-arid climate, or significant semi-arid regions, but their aspirations in terms of economic and social development, water availability and demand, and present levels of water development vary considerably. However, it was notable that in all the developing country situations, significant changes in the water sector were being instigated with the aim of addressing key water resource development management issues and to facilitate a move toward a more integrated approach. The driving forces behind the changes varied from country to country but were closely linked to addressing urgent needs or to pre-empting future conflicts.

A fifth case study was undertaken in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia. The Murray-Darling basin has had a well established river basin focus for planning and management of inter-state water resources for over a decade. Internationally recognised as achieving significant success in integrated water resource management, the Murray-Darling Basin provided valuable knowledge on workable frameworks for comparison with the four developing country contexts.

In all contexts, the case studies were undertaken in collaboration with the primary water resource development and management agencies at national and/or regional level. During the case studies discussions and interviews were undertaken with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure a balanced viewpoint was attained. Typically this included stakeholders representing agriculture, forestry, industry, municipal water supply. rural water supply, and environmental concerns at national and local levels. The aim was to reflect the multi-sectoral/inter-disciplinary nature of water resource development and management and to establish roles, responsibilities and input to the planning process.

An international workshop was held in Chennai (Madras) in India in collaboration with the Institute for Water Studies from 12 to 14 March 1997. The workshop provided feedback for the synthesis report on "Lessons Learned".

The keys to success include: integrating water policy with other sectors, and within different water activities, clear demarcation of roles and responsibilities, institutional stability and continuity and shift from "master plans" to management strategies.

Whilst the river basin offers scope as a planning unit, this will have to be reconciled with other administrative planning and management, and with environmental planning. The preponderance of transboundary rivers makes river basin planning politically sensitive in many countries. A basin wide water audit is needed to establish factual information on water use and availability.

A clear lesson is the need for knowledge driven solutions. Often, the knowledge base for water resources planning is weak in all disciplines, technical and non-technical. Information systems, better access and exchange and an open information policy can help to improve this. Similarly, enhancing education, communication and participation to facilitate community involvement will improve planning and management. This was a clear lesson from the experience gained in the Murray-Darling basin.