ABSTRACT
Models that simulate water management decisions can be useful tools to facilitate water diplomacy. How models are designed and used in a negotiation process determines whether they can help parties build a mutual understanding or whether they become an obstacle to reaching a consensus. How models are conceived, the key elements of a water management model, and the characteristics that make models useful in negotiations are described. Three distinct types of models are identified – scientific models, decision support systems, and stakeholder engagement tools – and two development approaches – expert designed and participatory – are presented. Finally, the algorithms that models use to solve a system and generate outputs are described, along with their strengths and weaknesses when used in a negotiation context.
