ABSTRACT
The limitations of foreign-led initiatives for improving transboundary water governance in the Ganges–Brahmaputra problemshed are not insurmountable. This chapter examines some ways in which international actors could increase their effectiveness. Addressing historical grievances and power asymmetry between riparian states is critical, as is building trust and political will. Focusing on water justice outcomes rather than benefit sharing may also prove productive. Thinking in terms of a problemshed, rather than the whole basin, may facilitate contextually appropriate policies. International actors could also continue strengthening water sharing institutions and lead by example in moving beyond narratives of water scarcity and supply-side solutions.
