Bangladesh Water Partnership (BWP) was formed in a meeting held on September 30, 1998 in the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) H/Q Building, Dhaka among 26 Government, Semi-Government and Non-Government Organizations to translate the concept of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in practice under the auspices of Global Water Partnership.

The overall Vision of Bangladesh towards 2025 is a nation which is democratic, economically self-reliant, driven by coherent, secure, just and equitable principles, and consists of citizens whose capabilities and potentials are developed to a high degree.

The vision for the country's water postulates a high level of progress in the management of the country's water resources for uplifting the national economy and the living conditions of a/I its people on a equitable basis and maintaining ecological and environmental harmony.

Mission: To provide strategic support to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) through coordinated development and management of water. land and related resources in Bangladesh by maximizing economic and social benefits without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems.

The Guiding Principles stem from the Dublin and Rio Statements, the Millennium Assembly and the World Summit on Sustainable Development, among others, and adapted and elaborated over time to reflect the international understanding of 'equitable and efficient management and sustainable use of water'. These guiding principles are as follows:

• -Freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to sustain life, development and the environment.
• -Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach involving users, planners and policy makers at all levels.
• -Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water.
• -Water is a public good and has a social and economic value in its competing uses.
• -Integrated water resources management is based on the equitable and the efficient management and sustainable use of water and recognizes that water is an integral part of the ecosystem, a natural resource and a social and economic good, whose quantity and quality determine the nature of its utilization.

Objectives of BWP:

• -Help formulate and promote national policies and laws for integrated water resources management.
• -Facilitate efficient, equitable and sustainable use of water resources through advocacy, research and actions.
• -Promote environmentally sustainable water resources development.
• -Disseminate information and facilitate sharing of experiences and knowledge among users, policy makers, water professional, planners and civil societies for development and management of water resources.
• -Promote increased use of integrated planning approach.
• -Create neutral platform for dialogue on IWRM.
• -Ensure multi-stakeholders participation for IWRM.
• -Establish linkages and collaboration with government agencies, international agencies, local govt. institutions (LGIs), private organizations and NGOs and other civil society groups e.g media and various professional groups and promote partnership.
• -Capacity building for IWRM
• -Promote women participation in water resources development and management.

Areas of Work:

BWP works in the following key five strategic areas in line with GWP and GWP-SAS Strategy:

• -Facilitate water policy and strategies and preparation of national IWRM plans.
• -Develop programmes and tools in response to regional and county needs.
• -Ensure linkages between GWP and other frameworks, sectors and issues.
• -Establish and consolidate GWP partnership at relevant levels.
• -Network management & governance