Analysis of water governance in Malawi: towards a favourable enabling environment?

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 313-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinex W. Chiluwe ◽  
Bimo Nkhata
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Enabling Environment ◽  
International Water ◽  
Effective Water ◽  
National Water

This paper examines the enabling environment for effective water governance in Malawi by specifically determining the extent to which the water acts and policies of Malawi reflect international water governance principles of participation, accountability and transparency. It is argued that governance issues determine the extent to which sound and equitable water sharing is achieved among competing uses. Despite the fact that Malawi has vast freshwater resources, the country experiences chronic water shortages in some parts; this is due to disparities in water distribution to the extent that the country has been classified to be going towards water stress by 2025. In this study, it was found that the Water Resources Act of 1969, which is currently being used by the country has not clearly set the scene for good water governance. This is despite a number of treaties on water resources management that the country has ratified. However, despite the failure to update the archaic Act of 1969, the country has taken some important strides such as the development of the National Water Policy of 2005. This policy attempts to espouse key governance prerequisites required to improve the country's capacity to deal with the impeding water crisis situation.

scholarly journals A review of the design and implementation of Ghana's National Water Policy (2007)

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josephine Frimpong ◽  
Ronald Adamtey ◽  
Anders Branth Pedersen ◽  
Esther Wahaga ◽  
Anne Jensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Institutional Capacity ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Governance Practices ◽  
National Water

Abstract Access to water is a matter of daily survival for people around the world. Water is crucial for human survival and also central to the development of every nation. The recent literature on world water suggests that the water crisis being experienced is related to governance and not a real crisis of scarcity and stress. This paper aims at identifying water governance practices and the challenges associated with water governance in Ghana. The paper reviews the literature on the implementation of policy directives and actions with specific focus on water resources governance aspects of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Ghana. Ghana's National Water Policy is expected to turn the fortunes of the country around in terms of water resources management. Concerning water resources management, the policy advocates for an IWRM approach. Since its implementation, certain setbacks have been challenging the effectiveness of the policy, such as inadequate institutional capacity, inadequate funding, ineffective enforcement of existing regulations, inadequate legal framework, and lack of adequate data. The paper suggests, among other things, the building of both human and institutional capacity, and making the environment a government priority, as ways to contribute to the effective implementation of the National Water Policy.

Good water governance and IWRM in Zambia: challenges and chances

Water Policy ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 845-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Uhlendahl ◽  
Pritam Salian ◽  
Claudia Casarotto ◽  
Jakob Doetsch
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Sector ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Hydropower Production

The implementation of principles for water governance is widely accepted but challenging for the whole water sector of a developing country like Zambia, because of the legal and administrative changes and organizational requirements involved. In February 2010, a revised water policy for Zambia was approved by the Cabinet. The revised National Water Policy 2010 aims to improve water resources management by establishing institutional coordination and by defining roles as well as responsibilities for various ministries. Taking into account the previous political and administration changes, this paper points out the problems and challenges of the implementation of good water governance mechanisms in Zambia. Focusing on the Kafue River Basin, from which water is abstracted for a variety of conflicting purposes (like municipal supplies, industrial use, mining, irrigation of agricultural land, fishery activities, wetland reserves and hydropower production), the gaps in implementing good water governance and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Zambia are identified, as well as the factors causing these gaps in the Zambian water sector. The paper finishes with a overview of the opportunities given by the new water policy through Water User Associations (WUAs) at a local level.

Rationalising water policy and the institutional and water governance arrangements in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Water Policy ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 1353-1366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Costa Barbosa ◽  
Shahbaz Mushtaq ◽  
Khorshed Alam
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Sao Paulo ◽  
São Paulo ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Paulo State ◽  
Governance Arrangements

Integrated water resources management approaches have been developed worldwide to improve water resources management practices. There are however, lingering issues with reference to the applicability of its integrated principles, especially when shifting from policy to practice (action). By conducting an exploratory case study in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil, this paper explores different stakeholders' perspectives regarding the water policy (Water Act of 1991). Through analysing institutional and water governance arrangements, the research assesses if current water policy is being translated into practice. Analysis suggests that the water policy and proposed principles are aligned with international approaches for water resources management. However, results also indicate that the principles by themselves are not sufficient to guarantee successful practice of a decentralised, participatory and integrated water resources management system. In a complex water management system, such as the one in the Sao Paulo State, coordination among different government levels and sectors is considered to be a key element to improve the likelihood of water policy implementation.

Water Governance and Management in Indus Basin - Challenges & Threats

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marium Sara Minhas Bandeali
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
The State ◽  
Indus Basin

Water governance and management are important challenges for the River Indus Basin in Pakistan. Water governance refers to social, political and economic factors that influence water management. The water scarcity and water security are a major concern for the state to control its water resources. The study aims to give Sindh water policy by exploring the challenges to Indus Basin in managing water resources and to identify opportunities Indus Basin can look to improve water management. Interviews were conducted from water experts and analysts having 5 years’ experience or more in the water sector of Pakistan through a semi-structured self-developed questionnaire using purposive sampling technique and transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The findings show that increasing population, climatic change and rising demand of water are major challenges Indus is facing and Indus with time is getting water-scarce therefore need strong institutions, civil society and legislatures to ensure equitable distribution of water and maintain the ecosystem. The study emphasizes that water governance and management are necessary for sustainable use of water. Pakistan, the water stress country needs to address ‘governance’ at a wider scale to solve problems in the Indus Basin for the livelihood of people. The research will benefit the state, water experts, institutions as well as civil society to promote efficient use of water in Indus Basin.

scholarly journals An Inexact Inventory Theory-Based Water Resources Distribution Model for Yuecheng Reservoir, China

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Meiqin Suo ◽  
Fuhui Du ◽  
Yongping Li ◽  
Tengteng Kong ◽  
Jing Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Diversion ◽  
Distribution Model ◽  
Inventory Theory ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Resources Distribution ◽  
Multiple Uncertainties ◽  
System Benefit ◽  
Decision Alternatives

In this study, an inexact inventory theory-based water resources distribution (IIWRD) method is advanced and applied for solving the problem of water resources distribution from Yuecheng Reservoir to agricultural activities, in the Zhanghe River Basin, China. In the IIWRD model, the techniques of inventory model, inexact two-stage stochastic programming, and interval-fuzzy mathematics programming are integrated. The water diversion problem of Yuecheng Reservoir is handled under multiple uncertainties. Decision alternatives for water resources allocation under different inflow levels with a maximized system benefit and satisfaction degree are provided for water resources management in Yuecheng Reservoir. The results show that the IIWRD model can afford an effective scheme for solving water distribution problems and facilitate specific water diversion of a reservoir for managers under multiple uncertainties and a series of policy scenarios.

An appraisal of water resources of India and need for national water policy

GeoJournal ◽  
1981 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 563-572
Author(s):  
S. L. Kayastha
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
National Water

scholarly journals Towards sustainable utilisation of water resources: a comprehensive analysis of Ghana's National Water Policy

Water Policy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Monney ◽  
Kafui Ocloo
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Oil Spills ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Gender Mainstreaming ◽  
Sea Waves ◽  
Water Sector ◽  
Water Scarce ◽  
National Water

In the years ahead, meeting the challenges of food security in a water scarce world will require drastic changes in the way water resources are managed. Accordingly, Ghana's water sector has seen tremendous changes over the years culminating in the 2007 National Water Policy. This paper evaluates the policy to highlight its strengths and weaknesses, to inform possible future review and guide new policy development in developing countries or troubleshoot existing policies. It draws on a framework based on three thematic areas distilled from global water policy development guidelines. Using a 3-point Likert scale, sub-thematic components are ranked and used to quantitatively compute the theme-specific scores (TSS) and the overall performance (OP) of the policy. Per the study findings, cross-cutting water policy issues including integrated water resources management, climate change adaptation and gender mainstreaming are more highlighted (TSS = 67%) than country-specific water management issues (TSS = 50%). Specifically, the policy neglects key national issues including protection of coastal regions from the onslaught of sea waves, and water resource protection against oil spills, and its institutional framework for implementation excludes key sector institutions. Generally, the policy addresses most pertinent issues in the water sector (OP = 64%) and areas for improvement are further discussed in the paper.

scholarly journals Assessing Water Shortage through a Balance Model among Transfers, Groundwater, Desalination, Wastewater Reuse, and Water Demands (SE Spain)

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Jodar-Abellan ◽  
Patricia Fernández-Aracil ◽  
Joaquín Melgarejo-Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Distribution ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Wastewater Reuse ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Se Spain ◽  
Water Demands ◽  
Interbasin Transfers ◽  
Increasing Demand

Currently, water demands are increasing notoriously, spreading the pressure on available water resources around the world in both quantity and quality. Similarly, the expected reduction of natural water inputs, due to climate change, depicts a new level of uncertainty. Specifically, Southeast Spain presents water scarcity due to its aridity—irregular and scarce precipitation and high evapotranspiration rates—combined with the competition between several water demands: environment, agricultural dynamics, urban-tourist activities, and industry. The study area of this work is the most relevant functional urban area of Alicante province (SE Spain), where the administration of water management is carried out by a range of authorities at different levels as the consequence of a complex historical development of water governance schemes: at the national, regional, and local levels. This study analyzes 21 municipalities and proposes a conceptual model which was developed by including different origins of water inputs—surface resources, groundwater, desalination, wastewater reuse, or interbasin transfers—and water demands with information obtained from 16 different sources. Our main results denote a relevant water deficit of 72.6 hm3/year even when one of the greatest rates of desalinated water and reused wastewater in Europe are identified here. This negative balance entails restrictions in urban development and agricultural growth. Thus, presented results are noteworthy for the water policy makers and planning authorities, by balancing the demand for water among various end users and providing a way for understanding water distribution in a context of scarcity and increasing demand, which will become one of the most challenging tasks in the 21st century.

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