Hydro-strategic research project for FAO

Filippo Verre - June 10, 2023

As part of a collaboration with the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), AB AQUA carried out a research project aimed at analyzing the complex and successful hydro-strategic cooperation between India and Bhutan. The study, developed within a broader FAO program on water diplomacy and the shared management of natural resources, focused on evaluating the institutional models, bilateral agreements, and geopolitical dynamics shaping water governance between these two Himalayan countries.

The project stemmed from the understanding that, in the South Asian context—where water-related issues are often a source of competition and tension—the Indo-Bhutanese case represents a positive exception. Since the 1960s, India and Bhutan have developed a strategic relationship centered on water cooperation, particularly through the joint construction and integrated management of hydropower plants. This partnership has evolved into a model of virtuous interdependence, where Bhutan generates hydroelectric energy from transboundary rivers and exports it to India, which in turn invests in infrastructure, technology, and rural development. In this context, water is not only a physical resource, but also a channel for political trust, shared development, and regional stability.

Through in-depth analysis of technical data, interviews with government officials, local operators, and international stakeholders, the study traced the key phases of the Indo-Bhutanese partnership, identifying the drivers behind its success and the lessons it offers for other global contexts. The research also addressed emerging challenges related to climate change, environmental sustainability, and growing energy demand, proposing guidelines for strengthening future cooperation.

AB AQUA’s contribution proved especially relevant for FAO in the context of promoting integrated approaches to water governance and natural resource diplomacy, demonstrating how the water-energy nexus can evolve from a potential source of conflict into a driver of peaceful development and strategic cooperation. This project stands as a concrete example of the think tank’s commitment to connecting geopolitics, sustainability, and peacebuilding through the most vital resource of the 21st century: water.

Collaboration between AB AQUA and Mountain Partnership: Glaciers, Mountains, and Water Resilience

In line with its mission to promote a strategic and sustainable vision of water resources, AB AQUA has established a structured collaboration with the Mountain Partnership, the global alliance led by the FAO for the sustainable development of mountain regions.

This collaboration focuses specifically on the study of glaciers, mountain basins, and their strategic role in global water security. Mountains, which provide water to over half of the world’s population through their river and glacier systems, are among the ecosystems most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The accelerated melting of glaciers, the alteration of hydrological cycles, and growing human pressure threaten not only local communities but also vast plains and urban centers that rely on these vital sources.

Through a series of joint projects, AB AQUA contributes its expertise in hydro-strategy and the transboundary governance of natural resources, analyzing the geopolitical implications of the glacial crisis, with a particular focus on regions such as the Himalayas, the Andes, and the European Alpine basin. The study of glaciers is approached not only as an environmental issue, but as a strategic concern linked to food security, energy production, and territorial stability.

The partnership with the Mountain Partnership also allows AB AQUA to enhance the multi-level and community-based dimension of mountain governance, promoting dialogue among institutions, local populations, and international cooperation actors. In this way, the think tank helps to advance the vision of a water diplomacy that begins in the mountains and, as it flows downstream, builds bridges between peoples and territories.