Leadership in knowledge and capacity development in the water sector: a status review

Abstract

Water management is particularly dependent on strong capacity, a solid knowledge base and awareness at all levels, including those of the individual, the organization, the sector institutions and the 'enabling environment'. Yet getting all levels to operate in a coherent manner is challenging, and requires vision and leadership. This special issue seeks to further the understanding of leadership in knowledge and capacity development in the water sector but its theoretical and methodological insights will be of interest beyond that arena. This paper presents an introduction to the special issue which resulted from selected papers presented at the 5th Delft Symposium on Water Sector Capacity Development held in Delft, The Netherlands. Collectively, the contributions examine knowledge and capacity development in both the water services and water resources sub-sectors. In order to be linked well to current local realities, the papers rely on both academic analyses based on empirical research as well as practitioners' accounts based on their professional experience. Together, the papers in this special issue and the insights from the recent Symposium summarized in this editorial introduction present an overview of the current state of the art in knowledge and capacity development in the water sector. The paper raises salient policy implications and outlines a research agenda for knowledge and capacity development in the water sector and beyond.

Community-Managed Water Supply Systems in Rural Uganda: The Role of Participation and Capacity Development

“…This borehole had not been functional for over five years despite a series of repairs undertaken by the local pump mechanic according to one participant during a field visit in May 2018. Given the very weak level of technical skills, the role of the community mechanic (especially with additional training to handle both minor and major repairs of boreholes) was critically important, which is a view supported by Wehn de Montalvo and Alaerts [35]. According to a key leading local during the field visit in May 2018, there was no need for preventive maintenance of the borehole, which functioned without any problem for over four years.…”

“…However, WPC members do not acquire the knowledge and skills they need by default but require different types of training such as composition and management responsibilities of WPCs, undertaking minor repairs and rehabilitation activities, operation and maintenance of WPs, etc. [35]. This training in most cases is provided by ongoing projects/interventions by NGOs/project staff, the government, and in some cases, funding is provided for such training by local politicians.…”

Are Water-Related Leadership Development Programs Designed to be Effective? An Exploratory Study

“…The challenges facing water resource professionals and others involved in managing water resources require developing leaders with the capacity to understand and address them (Lincklaen Arriëns & When de Morton & Brown, 2011;Wehn de Montalvo & Alaerts, 2013). Conventional leadership skills will become less important and effective as the diversity of necessary participants and management methods increases in the pursuit of sustainable water resources management (Brown & Farrelly, 2009;Crosby, 2010;Jacobs et al, 2010;Pahl-Wostl et al, 2013).…”

Financing for Water—Water for Financing: A Global Review of Policy and Practice

“…The education and training needs to prepare water professionals for operating in complex, multi-disciplinary environments, able to "cut across complexity", and manage more demanding regulatory requirements; they must be enabled to deliver "bankable" proposals in cooperation with financiers. A growing part of attitudinal training should be aimed at developing "personal leadership" for water management to educate professionals to also "get things done effectively" and lead change processes [59]. For example, water leadership training for professionals from different cultural and technical backgrounds is currently provided by a consortium of IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education (The Netherlands), TransformationFirst.Asia (Singapore), Nyenrode Business University (The Netherlands) and the International WaterCentre, Brisbane.…”

“…leadership" for water management to educate professionals to also "get things done effectively" and lead change processes [59]. For example, water leadership training for professionals from different cultural and technical backgrounds is currently provided by a consortium of IHE-Delft Institute for Water Education (The Netherlands), TransformationFirst.Asia (Singapore), Nyenrode Business University (The Netherlands) and the International WaterCentre, Brisbane.…”