1. Managing Water Locally: An essential dimension of community water development
- Author:
- Lisa Bunclark, Richard Carter, Vincent Casey, St John Day, and Daphne Guthrie
- Publication Date:
- 11-2011
- Content Type:
- Book
- Institution:
- Oxfam Publishing
- Abstract:
- He relative roles of nation states, private companies and local institutions in managing water resources have long been debated by economists, anthropologists and water sector professionals. Each of these disciplines offers a different perspective on water management. The Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) model has been widely promoted as the only option for managing nations' water resources since the 1990s, yet the debate has been clouded because there has been a lack of serious alternative options for water resource management beyond state control. In particular, the role of communities has been misrepresented because they are frequently excluded from important aspects of environmental management. For many people, community-based institutions can fulfil a fundamental role in the management of common pool resources, such as water resources or forestry. This is particularly true when state capacity is weak or communities remain on the periphery of support from any government. This publication explores how local water resources can be managed successfully by community-based institutions in support of state level initiatives, where they exist.
- Topic:
- Development, Globalization, International Cooperation, Natural Resources, and Water