North-South or South-South?: Projecting the Australian experience in water reform

Water reform is well advanced in Australia, with extensive restructuring of administration and management under way directed towards efficient and sustainable management of the country's water resources. However, reservations have been expressed about the relevance to developing countries of the water management experience of Australia, and other parts of the developed world. Contrasting and variable conditions of water availability and use call for caution in pursuing North-South transfer of water experience without qualification and adaptation. In the process of capacity building and institutional strengthening, South-South exchange of knowledge and expertise in water resources management between developing countries is seen as the preferred approach.