Institutions and livelihoods in water resources management: perspectives

from the Limpopo River Basin

Collin C. Mabiza

Supervisors:Prof. P. Van der Zaag

Dr. E. Manzungu

CPN 17 Final Workshop15-18 June 2009

Johannesburg, South Africa

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Outline

A. Objectives of the study; theoretical framework

B. Structure of the study

C. Cases

D. Overall conclusions

E. Future plans

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A. Objectives

• to analyze water management practices at the local level

• to analyze institutional practices relating to conservation agriculture in a rainfed agricultural system

• to analyze competition for water between a city and other users

• to investigate conceptions of water resources planning at the local and national level

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Institutions

Water resources Development

Water resources Planning

Water Allocation

Operation and

Maintenance

Theoretical framework

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B. Structure of studyCase study approach used

Main cases:

1. Dynamics and complexities of water resources management at the local level

2. Institutional perspectives on practices in conservation agriculture in a rainfed agricultural system

3. Competition for water between a city and other water users

4. A comparison of conceptions (and practices) of water resources planning at the local and national level

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Study Area

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Case 1:Dynamics and complexities of water resources management at the local level

Main research questions

a. how do institutions influence:

access to water resources

interactions among water users

b. How do physical-technical factors influence water management

at the local level

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Borehole Shallow well

Small reservoirWindmill

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Distribution of water sources in Ward 1, Insiza District

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1.1 Access to water

Based on culture; geographical space; and investment Culture based access:

access to all water sources for all water users for primary water uses

Water is God-given therefore is for all users

Geographical space based access: Access restricted to specific water user groups sharing

geographical space Restrictions apply particularly for non-primary water uses

Investment-based access Access restricted to users who have invested in hydraulic property Common in irrigation schemes

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1.2 Interactions Characterised by cooperation/conflict Cooperation: environmental factors; nature of technology;

environmental frame cooperation

Intra-village interactions Cooperation influenced by proximity (and familiarity) of water users to each other

Inter-ward interactions Conflict more common Based on seasonal competition for water Social relations distorted by administrative boundaries

contributory

Manifests in rule breaking; infrastructure breakdowns

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1.3. Conclusions

a. Access Culturally-defined access allows all users water for primary

needs-across all sources “If you deny someone water, then what do you want them to do, die?”

(15/09/2007)

Access to water for primary needs not tied to geographical locality

b. Right to water to water accompanied by responsibility to maintenance

Water infrastructure collapse partly due to inability to enforce the responsibilities of water users

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Conclusions (cont)

c. Institutional practices connect with practices in other socio-economic spheres e.g. water point committee members also committee

members in other social institutions; irrigators tithe; Investment in property

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Case 2: An institutional perspective on conservation agriculture practices

Main research questions

1. What water management practices exist in a rainfed agricultural system?

2. What are the roles of the state and NGOs in conservation farming?

3. What is the role of rainfed agriculture to livelihoods?

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2.1 Local practices Based on planting dates Indigenous physical techniques not common

2.2 Other practices: Use of conservation agricultural (CA) practices:

basins dead level contours; ripper tine

To conserve soil water

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2.3 Role of NGOs:Actively promoting CA

Funding farmer trainingFunding input/implement schemes

CA promoted as the panacea to crop cultivation among the poor in a semi-arid environment

NGO message behind the practices:Increase yields, conserve resources Ideal technology for resource poor farmers in a water scarce environment

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2.4 The state Traditionally agents of agricultural extension State-driven agricultural extension weakened by:

Economic down-turn since the 1990s Hemorrhaging human resource capital

At training level (extension worker training) Implementation level

Negative perceptions Weakened state institutions

• Extension now led by NGOs

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2.5 Rainfed agriculture Climatic factors make crop failure more likely than not

Socio-physical factors working against crop cultivation draught power soil type input availability and costs

Livelihoods security through: livestock sales remittances gold panning

every household has at least one member panning for gold

Crop cultivation almost a side activity

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2.6 Conclusions The precarious nature of rainfed agricultural systems

either too much/little rainfall

Inconclusive evidence on the science behind conservation agricultural systems the physical structures the extension practices: e.g. no certainty on adoption rates

because new farmers recruited each year, old ones drop out

Farmers working the donor system not the agricultural system

Need for clarity between charity and development Extension approaches employed leads to the perception that CA

is technology for the disadvantaged

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Case 4: Conceptualisation of water resources planning Main research questions:

1. how was the Mzingwane catchment plan made?

2. what differences are there between the Mzingwane Catchment Outline Plan and the Ward Water Resources Plan?

3. what conceptual issues does catchment planning raise?

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4.1 Legislated planning Planning legislated in both the pre- and post-water sector

reforms Water Acts

Legislation makes plans basis for: river system development Water allocation

Legislation gives general planning procedures 1998 Water Act: planning to be done by the national water

authority together with concerned catchment council

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4.2 Pilot planning Catchment planning piloted in the Mupfure and Mazowe

Catchments Part of the wider water institutional reform pilot scheme

Gwayi Catchment also site of a planning experiment after the reforms Planning done by consultants

In all cases plans still to be gazetted and become law

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National strategy/Water Act

Data collection(consultation/

Desk top study)

Catchment Outline plan

4.3 How the Mzingwane Catchment Plan was made

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4.4 Snap shot of the Mzingwane Catchment Plan

Summary of catchment hydrology

Water demand and use

Indicates potential dam sites

Water allocation scenarios

Expected development

takes a long term approach to water resources management [20 year horizon (to 2025)]

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4.5 Ward Water Resources Plan

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4.6 Water resources planning: Local level

Resource mapping

Identification of issues

Planning

Prioritisation of issues

Water users

Plan

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4.6.1 Water resources mapping

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4.6.2 Identification and classification of issues

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• P

4.6.3 Prioritisation of issues

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4.6.4 The Ward Water Plan

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4.6.5 Thin slice of ward water plan Infrastructure development

30 more boreholes in ward 10 deep wells 12 small dams

Institutional development Strengthening of Water Point Committees

Operation and maintenance Training of pump minders

Watershed management– Controlling gold panning

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4.7 Conclusions

Conceptual grey areas

Type of plans: Strategic/operational short term/medium term/ long term?

Content of plans water allocation water resource development

socio-economic development Planning procedures who should be involved Stage(s) at which stakeholders be involved

agenda setting/data collection/plan evaluation processes involved

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c. Contradictions in water resources management: Catchment and subcatchment councils created to

operationalise institutional decentralisation Catchment planning has led to centralised water resources

management: at state level: through Act and ‘Catchment Planning

Guidelines’ at catchment level: through domination of planning process

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Catchment vs. ward water plans

• Catchment plan more of a hydrological assessment

• Based on scientific facts• Neither operational, nor

clearly strategic• Hydrologically bound• Abstract

• Ward water plan a livelihoods shopping basket

• Based on lived in reality• An operational plan• More integrative:

water resources development;

institutional development; environmental protection

• Considers administrative boundaries

• Concrete

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Outstanding case*: Case 3Competition for water between a city and agriculture

Main objective to analyse competition for water between a city and agriculture

Main research questions:1. how is water allocation between a city and agriculture determined?

2. how does a city in a water scarce environment secure water?

3. how does competition for water between a city and agriculture manifest impact on institutional dynamics between the city and other stakeholders?

*Reconceptualization of existing case

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Institutions in water resources management: overall conclusions

Formal institutions: performance undermined by conceptual haziness

Informal institutions variance between the normative framework and practice in water

resources management

Importance of context as a driver for conceptual framework at the local level: development issues

Local level more integrative in approach subcatchment level: watershed management catchment level: allocation and planning

Gaps between water allocation and resource development At the national level: resource development

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Progress to date: Empirical chapters: one submitted, two rough drafts in place Data collection: three cases completed; one under

construction Background material: all data collected Three cases presented as symposium papers

Activity Progress to date Expected date of completion

Field work 70 % August 2009

Case write up 50 % December 2009

Thesis write up March 2009

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• Acknowledgements• Supervision Funding• Prof. van der Zaag Challenge Programme CPN 17

• Dr. Manzungu International Foundation for Science (IFS)

• Dr. Ahlers

• Logistics Data• ICRISAT Ministry of Water Resources and

• Dpt. Of Geology (UZ) Infrastructural Development

• My dad ZINWA-Head Office; Mzingwane Branch

• Data collection Mzingwane Catchment Council and• Blessing Svikiro all subcatchment councils

• Khumbulani Ndlovu Ward 1, Insiza RDC, Zimbabwe

• Lewis Ndlovu Department of Water and Forestry Affairs (SA)

• Motivation

• Nesio

• Friends I’ve made along the way

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Thank you