scholarly journals Local participation in decentralized water governance: insights from north-central Namibia

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salma Hegga ◽  
Irene Kunamwene ◽  
Gina Ziervogel
Keyword(s):  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
African Countries ◽  
North Central ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Equity And Efficiency ◽  
Local Actors

Abstract Although several semi-arid African countries are decentralizing water services and attempting to increase the participation of local actors in water resource management, how effectively this is working, and whether it is improving water access, is not yet well researched. Little attention has been paid to the capacities (in terms of knowledge and resources) that local actors need to successfully influence the operation and management of water services they are made responsible for. In a qualitative study, we asked regional and local actors in the Omusati Region of north-central Namibia for their perspectives on how water reforms, initiated in the late 1990s, have impacted on their participation in water governance. Our analysis reveals that decentralized governance of water resources can be ineffective if governments do not allocate sufficient resources to support and enable local actors to participate efficiently and effectively in the governance system. In the context of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals, achieving greater equity and efficiency in the water sector while reducing climate risk will require that local actors receive more support in return for fuller and more effective participation. We suggest that policy and practice around decentralized water governance pay more attention to building the capacities of local actors to absorb the responsibilities transferred to them.

scholarly journals Improved Water Services Cooperation through Clarification of Rules and Roles

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2172
Author(s):  
Laura M. Inha ◽  
Tapio S. Katko ◽  
Riikka P. Rajala
Keyword(s):  
Institutional Economics ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Institutional Development ◽  
Nobel Laureate ◽  
New Institutional Economics ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Institutional Diversity ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Water Utility

Water services face global challenges, many of which are institutional by nature. While technical solutions may suit several situations, institutional frameworks are likely to vary more. On the basis of constructive research approach and new institutional economics we analyze and illustrate water services and the roles of various water sector actors in Finnish water utility setting using the “soccer analogy” by the Nobel Laureate D.C. North: Institutions are the “formal and informal rules of the game” while organizations are the “players”. Additionally, we assess the Finnish water governance system and discuss issues of scale and fragmentation and distinguish terms water provision and production. Finally, we elaborate the limitations of the soccer analogy to water services through ownership of the systems. According to the soccer analogy, inclusive institutional development requires skillful players (competent staff), team play (collaboration), proper coaching (education), supporters (citizens, media), managers (policymakers), and referees (authorities). We argue that institutional diversity and player/stakeholder collaboration are the foundation for enhancing good multi-level water governance, and that water management, although fragmented, should be seen as a connector of different sectors. For successful outcomes, scientific results should be communicated to public in more common language.

Wicked Problem and Gender Inequality in the Educational Sector

2021 ◽  
pp. 157-174
Author(s):  
Idris Olayiwola Ganiyu ◽  
Adeshina Olushola Adeniyi
Keyword(s):  
Gender Inequality ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Wicked Problem ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Inequality In Education ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
And Gender

Since the coinage of the term ‘wicked problem' in the 1970s, various dimensions of the concept have emerged. Various social ills such as inequality, political instability, terrorism, diseases, famine, poverty, and corruption are considered as wicked problem. Many of the wicked problems are so called because of their complexities and difficulties of finding solutions to the problems. A major wicked problem that is pervasive in many African countries is gender inequality in education. Universal access to education for girls and boys is one of the objectives of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In addition, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also emphasized quality education and gender equality as two of the main agendas that should be achieved by developed and developing countries. This chapter explores the gender inequality in the educational sector in selected Sub-Saharan African countries. A comparative analysis of the inequality on school enrollment in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa was explored. The implication for policy and practice is discussed in this chapter.

scholarly journals Practitioners' viewpoints on citizen science in water management: a case study in Dutch regional water resource management

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Minkman ◽  
Maarten van der Sanden ◽  
Martine Rutten
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Regional Water

Abstract. In recent years, governmental institutes have started to use citizen science as a form of public participation. The Dutch water authorities are among them. They face pressure on the water governance system and a water awareness gap among the general public, and consider citizen science a possible solution. The reasons for practitioners to engage in citizen science, and in particular those of government practitioners, have seldom been studied. This article aims to pinpoint the various viewpoints of practitioners at Dutch regional water authorities on citizen science. A Q-methodological approach was used because it allows for exploration of viewpoints and statistical analysis using a small sample size. Practitioners (33) at eight different water authorities ranked 46 statements from agree to disagree. Three viewpoints were identified with a total explained variance of 67 %. Viewpoint A considers citizen science a potential solution that can serve several purposes, thereby encouraging citizen participation in data collection and analysis. Viewpoint B considers citizen science a method for additional, illustrative data. Viewpoint C views citizen science primarily as a means of education. These viewpoints show water practitioners in the Netherlands are willing to embrace citizen science at water authorities, although there is no support for higher levels of citizen engagement.

scholarly journals A Socio-Ecological System Analysis of Multilevel Water Governance in Nicaragua

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1676
Author(s):  
Luis Montenegro ◽  
Jochen Hack
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
National Level ◽  
Ecological System ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Process Data ◽  
The Law

Nicaragua enacted its Water Law in 2007, with the Dublin Principles for sustainable water management and integrated water resources management as its guiding framework. Implementation of the law remains a challenge, but significant efforts have been made to roll out this new water resources framework, to improve water management by enhancing a multilevel water governance system. To analyze multilevel water governance in Nicaragua and diagnose stakeholders’ roles and compliance with the law, we applied a socio-ecological system framework and several methods of analysis to process data collected from 52 in-depth semistructured interviews conducted with key stakeholders in the water sector. We found that the major variables affecting multilevel water governance were social interests, administrative capacity, and political, economic, and legal arrangements. The results suggest that there is centralization at the national level, a tendency toward noncollective choice rules, little investment in water resources, and a lack of knowledge concerning conflict resolution mechanisms. For multilevel water governance, a lack of funds is the main social, economic, and political constraint, affecting interactions and outcomes. Nevertheless, there is great potential to improve water resource management in Nicaragua by enacting the self-funding schemes established in the law. Moreover, government institutions, users, and various networks are willing to participate and take action to implement the law.

scholarly journals Practitioners' viewpoints on citizen science in water management: a case study in Dutch regional water resource management

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen Minkman ◽  
Maarten van der Sanden ◽  
Martine Rutten
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Science ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Data Collection And Analysis ◽  
Regional Water

Abstract. In recent years, governmental institutes have started to use citizen science as a form of public participation. The Dutch water authorities are among them. They face pressure on the water governance system and a water awareness gap among the general public, and consider citizen science a possible solution. The reasons for practitioners to engage in citizen science, and in particular those of government practitioners, have seldom been studied. This article aims to pinpoint the various viewpoints of practitioners at Dutch regional water authorities on citizen science. A Q-methodological approach was used because it allows for exploration of viewpoints and statistical analysis using a small sample size. Practitioners (33) at eight different water authorities ranked 46 statements from agree to disagree. Three viewpoints were identified. Viewpoint A considers citizen science a potential solution that can serve several purposes, thereby encouraging citizen participation in data collection and analysis. Viewpoint B considers citizen science a method for additional, illustrative data. Viewpoint C views citizen science primarily as a means of education. These viewpoints show practitioners are willing to embrace citizen science at water authorities, although there is no support for higher levels of citizen engagement.

National Human Rights Institutions and Sustainable Development with Specific Reference to Selected African Examples

2020 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Mubangizi
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
African Countries ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
National Human ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
National Human Rights Institutions

That National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) play an important role in the protection and promotion of human rights is a well-known fact. This has been widely acknowledged by the United Nations (UN). Also well-known is the fact that several African countries have enacted new constitutions during the last two to three decades. One of the most salient features of those new constitutions is that they establish NHRIs, among other things. Given their unique role and mandate, these NHRIs can and do play an important role in the realisation of the sustainable development goals contained in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Adopting a case study approach, this article explores the role NHRIs have played in the promotion and protection of human rights in selected African countries and implications for sustainable development in those countries. The main argument is that there are several lessons African countries can learn from each other on how their NHRIs can more meaningfully play that role. Accordingly, best practice and comparative lessons are identified and it is recommended that NHRIs can contribute to sustainable development more meaningfully if they can make themselves more relevant, credible, legitimate, efficient and effective.

scholarly journals Strengths and Weaknesses of the Dutch Implementation of the Water Framework Directive

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 269-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Squintani ◽  
Ernst Plambeck ◽  
Marleen van Rijswick
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Functional Approach ◽  
Governance System ◽  
Member States ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
History Of ◽  
Dutch Experience ◽  
Regional Water

The Netherlands has a long and fascinating history of water management. The main features of the Dutch water governance system for the implementation of the wfd are its regional water authorities based on hydrological scales and powers to regulate, decide and raise taxes for their water tasks. Their functional approach and the decentralised character make the regional water authorities very efficient and effective. It is therefore understandable that eu institutions and other Member States consider the Dutch system an interesting potential source of inspiration for other jurisdictions. Yet, it is not all gold what shines. This paper highlights the strength and weakness elements of the Dutch water governance system under the wfd. It exposes several points of concern. When considering using the Dutch experience as a source of inspiration in other Member States, these concerns should be taken in due account.

scholarly journals Progress Assessment and Spatial Heterogeneity Analysis of Water Conservancy Modernization Construction in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3736
Author(s):  
Nan Lu ◽  
Jiwei Zhu ◽  
Hui Chi ◽  
Bing Wang ◽  
Lu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Spatial Heterogeneity ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Average Score ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Water Conservancy ◽  
Index Level ◽  
High Level

To achieve the sustainable development goals established by the United Nations in 2015, China has adopted a series of measures to promote the modernization of water conservancy. However, its construction in China is imbalanced across regions as the endowment of water resources and economic development are distinct. Consequently, it is important to assess the progress of and analyze the spatial heterogeneity of water conservancy modernization construction in China from the perspective of sustainable development goals (SDGs). In this study, 31 regions in China were selected, and data on water conservancy construction in these sampled regions (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) were collected in 2018. The results show that there exists an imbalanced development in terms of the overall level and the index level. About 60% of the regions scored below the overall average score for China’s current modernization of water conservancy. The eastern areas presented a high level of modernization, while the central, northeast, and western areas showed comparable modernization of water conservancy, all of which lag behind eastern areas of China. Furthermore, China’s water conservancy modernization also presented a strong spatial autocorrelation, and there was at least one deficiency in 55% of the regions, with the rate of deficiencies emerging in the West being much higher than in other regions. In a nutshell, this study provides a novel framework that can be extended to evaluate the SDGs and the effectiveness of water governance in other countries.

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