scholarly journals Water governance challenges in rural South Africa: exploring institutional coordination in drought management

Water Policy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugine Makaya ◽  
Melanie Rohse ◽  
Rosie Day ◽  
Coleen Vogel ◽  
Lyla Mehta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Drought Risk ◽  
Drought Management ◽  
Drought Resilience ◽  
Water Management Institutions ◽  
Management Institutions

Abstract Droughts have severe direct impacts on the livelihoods of rural populations. Thus, the management of water for communal agriculture and water supply should be well coordinated to enhance drought resilience. Notwithstanding the interrelations among water management institutions in South Africa, there are complexities in the way these institutions work together, both in preparation for, and during drought times. In this article, we examine the governance of water resources in South Africa with a view to understanding institutional coordination in drought management at different operational scales. Using a qualitative approach, the roles and relationships between water actors at the local and regional level were analyzed for their adequacy in building local level drought resilience in a village in the Limpopo province, South Africa. Key informant interviews conducted revealed operational drought management challenges that emanate from communication barriers, coordination inconsistences, and undefined, unclear actor roles and responsibilities during disasters. The top-down approach to disaster management, while of some value, currently constrains the effectiveness of the local-level institutions implementing local drought risk reduction efforts. Achieving more successful water and drought governance endeavors could be enhanced by greater and wider engagement with community-based actors and water management institutions.

Empirical assessment of water management institutions in northern China

2010 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 361-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuqiong Huang ◽  
Jinxia Wang ◽  
K. William Easter ◽  
Scott Rozelle
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Empirical Assessment ◽  
Water Management Institutions ◽  
Management Institutions

Reflections on evolving water management institutions and institutional bricolage: a case of irrigation schemes in Iringa Rural and Kilombero districts, Tanzania

Water Policy ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Mosha ◽  
P. Vedeld ◽  
G. C. Kajembe ◽  
A. K. P. R. Tarimo ◽  
J. Z. Katani
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Formal Institutions ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Water Users ◽  
Water Institutions ◽  
Focus Group Data ◽  
Water Management Institutions ◽  
The Government ◽  
Management Institutions

Over the past 40+ years, evolution of water institutions responsible for allocation and distribution of water has been enormous. This paper analyzes the evolution of both formal and informal water management institutions and how they affect today's processes of allocating and distributing water in farmer-managed irrigation schemes (FMISs). It also assesses how farmers translate and modify introduced formal institutions in the rights of the existing informal institution while trying to solve water management challenges based on the local conditions. In-depth and focus group data for the study were collected using a checklist of questions administered to 40 informants, one group discussion per village in Itunundu, Mboliboli, Mkula and Magombera villages, Tanzania. The basic argument of this paper is that water institutions have changed over time. Drawing from study findings, the evolution process of water institutions might be understood as an outcome of the government efforts to address emerging challenges with respect to increasing water demand and multi-use. However, institutional evolution is accompanied by some negatives outcomes, as they weaken social norms and threaten sound water management. The experiences from the irrigation schemes highlight the need to include locally evolved institutions while re-crafting formal institutions. Such interventions may well have significant outcomes for efficient, equity and power relations among water users.

scholarly journals Analysis of public policies and programmes towards water security in post-apartheid South Africa

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kwame Adom ◽  
Mulala Danny Simatele
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Private Equity ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Governance Capacity ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
The Government

Abstract Many countries in the world, including South Africa, are water-stressed with increasing pressure on their water resources due to population growth, climate change, and inadequate funding. Post independence in 1994, many policies and programmes were introduced by the government with the aim of promoting water management. While these policies and strategies achieved much in terms of water provision to communities and households, they failed to establish a water-conscious country with sufficient knowledge and expertise in water management. In addition, these policies and programmes are outdated, compartmentalised, complex, and lack robust water governance with resilient stakeholder partnerships that advance the more explicit second phase of the NDP to achieve water security under the threat of climate change. Using data collection tools inspired by the traditional method of participatory research, this paper analyses the structural and systematic factors hindering the implementation of comprehensive policies to achieve water security in South Africa. There is, therefore, an urgent need for South Africa to establish an independent water regulator to ensure coordination between different government departments, including the National Treasury, to strengthen weak governance capacity and to make it independent to attract private equity into the sector and to recover fiscal deficits in the water sector.

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