SDG6 on water and sanitation includes a specific indicator  to assess cooperation over transboundary waters. While the methodology for measuring this indicator is debated, it is clear that its composition will influence international and national water policy and law  and possibly help build an environment of trust among riparian states. Moreover, although the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development  makes it clear that without the participation of local communities  and women , the SDGs will not be met; the involvement of these actors in formal water governance processes and water management is still limited . This is due partly to the absence, in many regions of the world, of adequate legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for effective stakeholder participation, partly to the influence of local social and cultural contexts, which can discourage inclusive water governance . Yet, inclusion and effective participation in bottom-up decision-making processes of those disproportionately affected by climate change-including women and Indigenous Peoples-is particularly important to ensure the legitimacy and inclusiveness of the decision-making process and the design of socially just adaptation actions . Moreover, incentives for bottom-up and participative decision-making in the water sector can facilitate effective stakeholder engagement , which helps build public confidence and trust in water governance.
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report