Fit for purpose: taking integrated water resource management back to basics Mike Muller Published online: 24 November 2010 # Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2010 Abstract Integrated Water Resource Development and Management (IWRM) was the paradigm recommended for water resource management at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Subsequently, however, “development” disappeared from the IWRM lexicon and the Dublin Principles, a preconference lobbying product, were widely promoted instead. A review of case studies suggests that the normative approach of Dublin has constrained infrastructure investments in developing countries, often ignoring the context within which water resources are managed. As a result, its positive outcomes have been limited. Meanwhile, in countries following the Rio approach, water management has made significant contributions to broad development objectives. It is suggested that a return to the UNCED agreement is needed to address effectively the challenges to water management posed by economic transformation, population growth and climate change. Keywords Water . Development . Dams . Infrastructure . Policy . Management . Outcomes . Integrated water resource management (IWRM) . Politics Introduction At the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 “Integrated Water Resource Development and Management” (IWRD&M) was accepted by the governments of the world as the recommended paradigm for water resource management (UNCED 1992). However, subsequently, an approach that is significantly different (as described below) was promoted by many of the rich worlds development agencies and environmental organisations based on the “Dublin principles” which were developed at a pre-conference technical meeting (ICWE 1992). Irrig Drainage Syst (2010) 24:161–175 DOI 10.1007/s10795-010-9105-7 M. Muller (*) University of Witwatersrand Graduate School of Public and Development Management, PO Box 601, WITS 2050 Johannesburg, South Africa e-mail: mikemuller1949@gmail.com