February 2022 quarterly update
Flooded fields, near Ayutthaya, Thailand. Credit: Chamnong Thammasorn
The most recent phase of the programme has brought several key milestones, as research partners deepen their research and apply learning from the field.
FAO presentation and research article
Water Witness (UK) and Shahidi Wa Maji (Tanzania) presented at the Food and Agricultural Organisation’s Water Tenure Mondays webinar series with a session titled ‘Accountability for Water Tenure and the Case of Tanzania,’ held on 22nd November 2021. Their presentation discussed the role of social accountability mechanisms in protecting the tenure right of small-scale water users. The presentation highlighted the need for fair water tenure regime that met the needs of farmers, fisherfolk and pastoralists, as well as greater awareness of rights and planning for floods and droughts.
Thirty-five people from nineteen countries attended the event, with representatives from government ministries, international organisations, NGOs, universities and research institutes. A research article presenting the findings and key insights will be published in April.
PRF research
Professional Research Fellow (PRF) research is now well underway, with the first tranche of funding released, research plans prepared, and fieldwork being undertaken in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Some preliminary findings are discussed below:
Pitio Ndyeshunda - Assessment of Gender Power Relations in Water User Associations in Wami-Ruvu, Pangani and Lake Victoria Basins of Tanzania
Pitio’s research focuses on community water supply-based organizations, governance structures, and gender dynamics. His study areas cover Tanzania’s three water basins namely Pangani, Lake Victoria and Wami-Ruvu.
Drawing on focus groups with community members, Pitio has found that there are gendered constraints that preclude women from participation in community water decision-making. In meetings, men tend to dominate, take control and impose their will regarding operation and maintenance of water supply facilities. Power dynamics in families and households also interact with those in WUGs. Women are assigned to manage domestic tap points simply because they are responsible for household water while men are elected to community water boards. Men act as gatekeepers in water supply related decision-making; there is a generalised reluctance to share power or allow women to assume positions in WUG/WUAs. In some instances, men are not willing to allow their wives to attend public meetings, denying them access to information and opportunities to participate in decision-making.
Mwajuma Salum - Regulatory Accountability for Water Pollution in Tanzania: The Case Study of Msimbazi River Basin in Dar es Salaam City
Mwajuma’s research aims to document factors constraining legal and regulatory accountability in Msimbazi river basin; identify mechanisms and strategies for strengthening regulatory and legal accountability on water pollution; and find out how gender mainstreaming can be achieved.
Her initial findings show that the lack of clear rules, unclear institutional responsibilities and budgetary constraints limit legal accountability in Msimbazi river basin. For instance, the National Environmental Management Act of 2004 does not involve the Basin Water Boards in approving Environmental Impact Assessment Certificates. This constrains regulatory accountability on the part of Basin Water Boards, which are authorised to issue water discharge permits for industry. In addition, water witnesses (Mashahidi) who reside along the Msimbazi river basin and whose roles are to hold duty bearers to account when the river is polluted feel disincentivised because they are unpaid and because they are not formally recognised. These factors lower morale and constrain their work.
Cross-country research
The cross-country comparative study into the factors influencing community and governance accountability dynamics, and the enabling environment, is in progress. Pilot surveys are now underway in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania, with enumerators using the mWater app to collect data from communities. The survey will collect nationally representative samples including both rural and urban populations, residing in a variety of agro-ecological zones. This will allow for a diverse and representative cross section of water users’ experiences.
Global Evidence Review - Report launch & webinar series
On 25th February, we will officially launch part 3 of the global evidence review of accountability and advocacy interventions in the water sector: Insights on gender, the role of donors, government responsiveness, measuring accountability, and closing civic space.
The report summarises global evidence on five priority themes of relevance to water researchers, policymakers, and practitioners. We draw on academic journal articles, NGO reports, book chapters, working papers, and other literature to collate and synthesis learning that can inform future accountability interventions.
Upcoming events: Evidence Review webinar series
Key insights for each theme will be summarised in a five part webinar series, discussing the available evidence, and exploring its practical relevance through guest contributions from Professional Research Fellows. Each webinar will be accompanied by the publication of a briefing notes that will provide a concise and accessible overview of the findings and their implications for future research.
You can read the full report here.