ABSTRACT Water resources development should be managed effectively for a sustainable regional development. Changing in management from fragmented to an integrated approach is recommended as a necessary undertaking. Changes will likely be wide-ranging, include institutions and policies at national, states, and river basin level, technology and infrastructure, and financial mechanisms. The areas requiring change, amongst others include: The role of the state in water resources development, management and use; Systems to reconciling water quantity and quality needs of all water users; and institutional reform and development to improve the effectiveness of management agencies. These changes in management required a capacity development at national level down to the river basin level. River basin has to be treated as a unit that should be consider for every development and management activities. Certain principles should be adopted, and the right instruments should be carefully selected in...