Managing water scarcity effectively and fairly is one of the great imperatives of governance today. In more prosperous countries, water scarcity curtails economic growth and diminishes quality of life. In poorer countries, it breeds sickness, blocks development, deepens inequalities, and undermines the survival of entire societies.

This In_Focus Web site assembles a variety of resources on local water management. Including slide presentations, short stories, case studies, research reports, books, etc., the site presents an overview of the issue, results of IDRC-supported research, and the important lessons that have been learned.