1st Edition

Water Governance for Sustainable Development Approaches and Lessons from Developing and Transitional Countries

Edited By Sylvain Perret, Stefano Farolfi, Rashid Hassan Copyright 2006
    318 Pages
    by Routledge

    318 Pages
    by Routledge

    Good management of water resources - universally identified as a key aspect of poverty reduction, agriculture and food security - has proven, in practice, as difficult to achieve as it is eagerly sought. This book, edited and authored by leading authorities on water resource management, examines the recent changes in governance, institutions, economics and policies of water, covering developing, transitional and developed countries, with special emphasis on southern African case studies. The book examines how water policies, institutions and governance have shifted in recent years from supply-driven, quantitative, centrally controlled management to more demand-sensitive, decentralized, participatory approaches. Such a move often also implies cost recovery principles, resource allocation among competing sectors, and privatization. The case studies demonstrate that the new policies and legal frameworks have been difficult to implement and often fall short of initial expectations. Using an accessible multidisciplinary approach that integrates economics, sociology, geography and policy analysis, the book untangles the issues and presents best practices for policy- and decision-makers, governments and regulators, NGOs and user groups, service providers, and researchers. The overall aim is to show how good water governance structures can be developed and implemented for the benefit of all.

    Introduction * Part I * Understanding Water Institutions: Structure, Environment and Change Process * Public Private Partnership in Irrigation and Drainage: The Need for a Professional Third Party Between Farmers and Government * Part II * The Possibility of Trade in Water Use Entitlements in South Africa under the National Water Act of 1998 * Redressing Inequities through Domestic Water Supply: A 'Poor' Example from Sekhukhune, South Africa * Local Governance Issues after Irrigation Management Transfer: A Case Study from Limpopo Province, South Africa * Water Management on a Smallholder Canal Irrigation Scheme in South Africa * Emerging Rules after Irrigation Management Transfer to Farmers * Crafting Water Institutions for People and Their Businesses: Exploring the Possibilities in Limpopo * Part III * Conflict Analysis and Value-focused Thinking to Aid Resolution of Water Conflicts in the Mkoji Sub-catchment, Tanzania * Determinants of Quality and Quantity Values of Water for Domestic Uses in the Steelpoort Sub-basin: A Contingent Valuation Approach * Water Resources and Food Security: Simulations for Policy Dialogue in Tanzania * How More Regulated Dam Release Can Improve the Supply from Groundwater and Surface Water in the Tadla Irrigation Scheme in Morocco * Impact of Institutional Changes within Small-scale Groundwater Irrigated Systems: A Case Study in Mexico * Local Empowerment in Smallholder Irrigation Schemes: A Methodology for Participatory Diagnosis and Prospective Analysis * Role-playing Game Development in Irrigation Management: A Social Learning Approach * Support to Stakeholder Involvement in Water Management Circumventing Some Participation Pitfalls

    Biography

    SYLVAIN PERRET is Visiting Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development, University of Pretoria, South Africa, and Senior Researcher at Cirad in France. STEFANO FAROLFI is Visiting Senior Lecturer in the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy for Africa, University of Pretoria, and Senior Researcher at Cirad. RASHID HASSAN is Professor in the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy for Africa, University of Pretoria.

    'This book eloquently demonstrates the various tasks institutions have in improving water management, by taking a wider definition of what institutions may consist of. Having multi-sectoral and international case analyses, the book appeals to a wide range of readership. In particular, introducing several approaches to be considered by readers makes the book much more handy to those who are interested in the topics and their implementation.' Ariel Dinar, Agriculture and Rural Development Dept, World Bank 'This authoritative volume shows that, in recent years, water policies, institutions and governance have shifted from technical, quantitative, supply-driven, centrally controlled management to more demand-sensitive, qualitative, decentralized, participatory, integrated approaches.' Bookshelf