Evaluating the Efficacy of the Albufeira Convention in a Time of Water Uncertainty: The Case of the Guadiana Basin

This study evaluates the Albufeira Convention’s effectiveness in managing transboundary water resources in the Guadiana River Basin under increasing water scarcity. The primary objectives are to assess the Convention's capacity to balance ecological preservation with competing agricultural and municipal water demands, and to identify areas for improvement in its implementation. The research uses a qualitative methodology, relying on a systematic review of media, policy, and academic sources, supplemented by a structured SWOT analysis to organize findings and provide actionable insights. The analysis reveals that while the Convention fosters cooperation between Portugal and Spain, it falls short in addressing evolving hydrological realities for the Guadiana Basin, such as more frequent and intense droughts and intensifying agricultural pressures. In particular, agricultural intensification in the Alentejo region, driven by large-scale irrigation projects like Alqueva, exacerbates water scarcity and ecological stress in the Guadiana Basin. Despite progress made in the 2024 amendment, including improved flow regulations and equitable water tariffs, significant weaknesses persist, such as insufficient ecological protections, limited monitoring systems, and a lack of stakeholder inclusion. These findings underscore the need to revisit and refine the Albufeira Convention as an essential tool for sustainable and equitable transboundary water management in an era of increasing climatic and socioeconomic pressures.