Water institutional reforms in Namibia

Water Policy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piet Heyns
Keyword(s):  
Water Policy ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Arid Environment ◽  
Organizational Changes ◽  
Water Sector ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Emerging Country ◽  
New Nation ◽  
Water Administration ◽  
New Policies

After years of colonial rule and a long struggle to end external administration, Namibia became independent in 1990. The realization of political reform within a modern democratic framework has called for wide-ranging reforms in all sectors of the economy to which the water sector is not an exception. Institutional reforms in the water sector were undertaken with an overall aim of introducing integrated water resources management as a durable solution to the water challenges of the arid environment prevailing in Namibia. The reforms included the development of a new national water policy, the preparation of draft legislation, and new organizational changes to develop, manage and regulate activities in the water sector. Although institutional reforms in the water sector are necessary to meet the demands of a new nation, they cannot succeed without the required level of skill and capacity both within and outside water administration. While it is relatively easier to formulate new policies, promulgate legislation and create new organizations, it is very difficult for an emerging country to develop quickly the human capacity necessary to handle the reforms, especially when inadequate funding constraints create a conflict between resource development and capacity building.

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.

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.

Water institutional reforms in South Africa

Water Policy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard R. Backeberg
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Recent Literature ◽  
User Participation ◽  
Reform Process ◽  
Organizational Changes ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Major Reform ◽  
National Water

A comprehensive program of water institutional reforms has been implemented in South Africa since 1994. These reforms followed some major reform on the political and economic fronts. The institutional changes that occurred in the water sector covered the policy legal, and organizational dimensions of water allocation and management and affected all water sub-sectors including environmental allocations. The reform process has culminated in a new national water policy, a national water act and a national water resources strategy. Substantial organizational changes have also occurred with a focus on management decentralization, user participation and license-based allocation of water. This paper aims to provide an overview of these and other changes, especially from the perspective of irrigation and agriculture. It also attempts to explain the emergence and implementation of the water institutional reforms process in the light of the results reported in recent literature on water institutional reforms. The paper provides evidence for the role of transaction cost and political economy considerations as well as the use of reform design and implementation principles such as institutional sequencing and reform timing.

scholarly journals Roles of the Water Court and the State Engineer for water administration in Colorado

Water Policy ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 837-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
William C. McIntyre ◽  
David C. Mays
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Rights ◽  
The United States ◽  
The State ◽  
The Us ◽  
State Engineer ◽  
History Of ◽  
Water Administration ◽  
Civil Courts

Colorado manages water using an administrative structure that is unique among the United States following the doctrine of prior appropriation: Water rights are adjudicated not by the State Engineer, but by Water Courts – separate from and operating in parallel to the criminal and civil courts – established specifically for this purpose. Fundamental to this system is the notion that water rights are property, with consequent protections under the US Constitution, but with the significant constraint that changes in water rights must not injure other water rights, either more senior or more junior. Population growth and climate change will certainly trigger changes in water administration, to be guided by the recent Colorado Water Plan. To provide the foundation necessary to appreciate these changes, this paper reviews the history of Colorado water administration and summarizes the complementary roles of the Water Courts and the State Engineer. Understanding water administration in Colorado depends on a firm grasp on how these two branches of state government formulate and implement water policy.

scholarly journals Os limites políticos de uma reforma incompleta: a implementação da lei dos recursos hídricos na Bacia do Paraíba do Sul

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antônio A. R. Ioris
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Political Ecology ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Proper Solution ◽  
Economic Instruments ◽  
Institutional Reforms ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
Water Charges ◽  
Paraíba Do Sul River

Na última década, o uso e a conservação dos recursos hídricos no Brasil têm sido objeto de um amplo processo de reformas e reorganização institucional. A experiência da BaciaHidrográfica do Rio Paraíba do Sul foi selecionada como um exemplo paradigmático das reformas institucionais em andamento no país. Fazendo uso de métodos qualitativos de pesquisa, foram analisados os objetivos e as deficiências da nova decisória. O estudo identificou, como limitante fundamental, a afirmação de uma racionalidade tecnoburocrática, empregada tanto na avaliação de problemas, quanto na formulação de respostas. A expressão mais evidente é a importância estratégica atribuída à cobrança pelo uso da água, uma ferramenta de gestão altamente controvertida e que tem levado a uma polarização de posições políticas. Em larga medida, as reformas institucionais no Paraíba do Sul têm sido limitadas em si mesmas, uma vez que a nova estrutura ainda impede a incorporação das demandas da maioria da população local e a resolução efetiva de questões ambientais historicamente estabelecidas.Palavras-chave: hidropolítica; Ecologia Política; gestão integrada de recursos hídricos; cobrança pelo uso da água; instrumentos econômicos; Paraíba do Sul. Abstract: In the last decade, the use and conservation of water resources in Brazil have been the object of an ample process of reforms and institutional reorganization. The experience of the Paraíba do Sul River Basin was selected as a paradigmatic example of the institutional reforms ongoing in the country. Through qualitative research methods, the aims and the deficiencies of the new decision-making structure were analyzed. The study identified, as the crucial shortcoming, the affirmation of a technobureaucratic rationality, which is applied both to the assessment of problems and the formulation of responses. The most evident expression is the strategic relevance attributed to water use charges, a highly controversial management instrument that is leading to a polarization of political positions. The reforms in the Paraíba do Sul have been largely limited in themselves, given that the new institutional structure still prevents the incorporation of the demands of the majority of the local population and the proper solution to environmental questions historically established.Keywords: hydropolitics; Political Ecology; integrated water resources management; water charges; economic instruments; Paraíba do Sul.

On the Strategy of Integrated Water Resources Management in Kazakhstan

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1821
Author(s):  
Menlibay MYRZAHMETOV ◽  
Sholpan M. UMBETOVA ◽  
Klim Sh. ASHIRYAYEV ◽  
Aigul K. KOZHAKHAN ◽  
Asel U. KANARBAY
Keyword(s):  
Water Resources ◽  
Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Management Strategy ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Resources Management ◽  
State Water ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Current Stage

The article outlines the concept and presents some proposals for the implementation of the integrated water resources management strategy of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The purpose of the article is to analyze the strategy of integrated water resources management in Kazakhstan. In particular, the principles for achieving a qualitatively new state of the water sector, the main components of the state water policy at the current stage, the main mechanisms for its implementation and the stages of implementation are indicated. The novelty of this article lies in the fact that the integrated water resources management at the current stage has been analyzed, and it will be interesting for other countries.

Improving effectiveness and efficiency in the water sector: institutions, infrastructure and indicators

Water Policy ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (S1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eduardo Araral
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Water Reuse ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Water Sector ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Econometric Analyses ◽  
Donor Agencies ◽  
Meta Analyses

This special edition is devoted to the theme of water institutions, infrastructure and performance indicators and how they matter to the effectiveness and efficiency of the water sector. It explores many questions which have not been adequately addressed in the literature. For example, what do we know about institutional reforms in the water sector? Can regulation improve the performance of government-controlled water utilities? What explains the choices amongst governance mechanisms in the water sector? How do political institutions affect water sector performance? How do we construct an index of drinking water adequacy? Can the media influence the formation of beliefs about the “yuck” factor in water reuse? Empirical examples are drawn from various countries and regions around the world. Contributors include economists, sociologists, political scientists, consultants, water policy professionals and staff of donor agencies. The methodological approaches employed range from meta-analyses, comparative analyses, content analyses, statistical and econometric analyses, as well as single case studies.

scholarly journals Data management for integrated water resources management in Central Asia

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1425-1440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iskandar Abdullaev ◽  
Shavkat Rakhmatullaev
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Data Management ◽  
Central Asia ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Water Sector ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Institutional Settings

Information technologies can act as technical artifacts and can facilitate stakeholder communication, supporting decision making in a complex societal context. The water sector is one such example where limited water resources are threatened by climate change and growing competition for resources between sectors, regions and countries. Attempts to improve water governance and management through information technologies have been made by international, regional and national water agencies for the last 20 years in Central Asia. However, early attempts were focused on collection, systematization and analysis of the generic data related to the water sector in the region. There are still significant gaps (technical, human and financial capacities) for application of such technologies at the lower operational levels of water management, i.e. where the full dimensions of variables, interactions and complexities are observed and, most importantly, everyday politics of water are performed. The aim of this paper is to present practical results on improving water management in Central Asia through the application of better data management tools at the operational level across diverse institutional settings, i.e. transboundary, watershed levels in the region.

scholarly journals What SDG6 is about: ‘sustainable management’ or ‘rational use’?

Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1015-1023
Author(s):  
Andriy Demydenko
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Integrated Water Resources Management ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Rational Use ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Russian Version ◽  
Development Goals

Abstract The paper describes the Global Water Partnership partner experience in the introduction of risk-based Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) into the Ukrainian water policy. We concluded that some proper ‘expressions’ and concepts have already been introduced into Ukrainian legislation, but not the accepted ‘meanings’ of such concepts as IWRM, Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and water security. The concept of ‘sustainable management’, in the Russian version of Water SDG6, is translated as ‘rational use’ but no one can explain why. We suggest that such a misunderstanding happened since Ukrainian decision-makers still perceive themselves only as water users who are not obligated to achieve any development goals. Therefore, they are quite comfortable with the existing normative approach to water management where the objectives are compliance with defined norms and ensuring water security, which is understood as an absence of any water risk solely to humans, rather than the environment at large. Keeping in mind that true science starts with measurable values, and recognizing that you cannot manage if you cannot measure, we propose to change this false understanding of water security and sustainability that is inherent in the outmoded concept of ‘rational use’. Such a shift is only possible by switching to a measurable goal-oriented approach and risk management in water policy.

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