Challenges of local water governance: the extent, nature and intensity of local water-related conflict and cooperation

Abstract

This article presents the results of comprehensive inventories made of water-related conflict and cooperatioti occurring in five districts in Africa, Asia and Latin America between 1997 and 2007. Following a description of the conceptual and methodological framework developed for undertaking these inventories, the article documents the extent, nature and intensity of water-related conflict and cooperation in the five districts. The article concludes by identifying three challenges relating to the magnitude, complexity and invisibility of local-level confiict and cooperation about water, which efforts to improve local water govemance would have to address.

Analyzing the coexistence of conflict and cooperation in a regional delta management system: Tidal River Management (TRM) in the Bangladesh delta

“…This may range from verbally acknowledging the rights of others for establishing integrated water management mechanisms (Mirumachi & Allan, 2007;Ravnborg et al, 2012). A water management event was identified as "conflictive," when stakeholders are proponents or opponents on issues, which increases tensions and/or complexities hindering the achievement of the management goal.…”

“…Therefore, inspired by those landmarks, we further revised the scale (Table 1) to make it more suitable to the nature of water management events in a rural coastal delta area in Bangladesh. Here, the changes made to Ravnborg et al's (2012) scale include regional and local delta water management terms and situations (third column in Table 1) and reformulate some categories in the cooperation scale which hardly fit the management cooperation in Bangladesh cases (2014; Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services [CEGIS], 2003[CEGIS], , 2008. The adapted local conflict and cooperation intensity (LCCI) scale (Table 1) was presented in stakeholders meetings with on average 35 participants from local level stakeholder groups in all three meetings.…”

22 reasons why collaborations fail: Lessons from water innovation research

“…That is, offering ideas, sharing experiences, and actively taking part in discussions, to achieve positive change (Madzingamiri et al, 2015;Ravnborg et al, 2012;Mandarano and Paulsen, 2011). Without a strong commitment, momentum can be lost.…”

“…Efforts are needed to identify tensions beforehand and find ways to resolve disputes so that only low or medium levels of conflict exist (Desportes et al, 2015;Ravnborg et al, 2012). This can help build or repair trust.I t 's crucial that a strong belief exists that all stakeholders are acting in good faith, sharing relevant experiences/materials, and refrain from anything that might disadvantage others (Dobbie et al, 2016;Madzingamiri et al, 2015).…”

“…The full acceptance of different values, norms and cultures is also essential (Bohnet, 2010;Hoverman et al, 2011;Ravnborg et al, 2012). If western ideas about what should inform decision-making, in this case scientific methods, exclude local knowledge this can devalue the contributions of communities and residents who often are intimately connected to the problem (Bohnet, 2010).…”