Different actors have different approaches to water, governance, and water governance. In this document we present working definitions of water, as well as some insights regarding water conflicts and how different actors value water. We also present the four main approaches to water governance in an attempt to contribute to a greater understanding of the perspectives, interests and main concerns of the various actors in the water sector. An increased understanding of underlying values and approaches can foster consensus building for the reconfiguration of water governance to equip it to tackle the expected effects of climate change.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim to halve the number of people without adequate access to water and sanitation services by 2015. Although the MDGs do not have a strong focus on water governance, nor on city/local institutions and processes, this goal is one of the main concerns of the water governance debate. According to the UNESCO (2006), the current water crisis has been mainly caused not by a lack of water supply or technology, but rather by a failure in water governance. In the context of climate change, and the increasing burden on water resources – including water pollution – as a result of economic development and societal change, it is becoming increasingly necessary to address the issue of the nexus between poverty reduction and water ecosystem management. Read the full publication
Authors:
Liliana Miranda , Michaela Hordijk , Rommy K. Torres Molina
Literature Review No 4 – September 2011Different actors have different approaches to water, governance, and water governance. In this document we present working definitions of water, as well as some insights regarding water conflicts and how different actors value water. We also present the four main approaches to water governance in an attempt to contribute to a greater understanding of the perspectives, interests and main concerns of the various actors in the water sector. An increased understanding of underlying values and approaches can foster consensus building for the reconfiguration of water governance to equip it to tackle the expected effects of climate change.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aim to halve the number of people without adequate access to water and sanitation services by 2015. Although the MDGs do not have a strong focus on water governance, nor on city/local institutions and processes, this goal is one of the main concerns of the water governance debate. According to the UNESCO (2006), the current water crisis has been mainly caused not by a lack of water supply or technology, but rather by a failure in water governance. In the context of climate change, and the increasing burden on water resources – including water pollution – as a result of economic development and societal change, it is becoming increasingly necessary to address the issue of the nexus between poverty reduction and water ecosystem management. Read the full publication
Authors:
Liliana Miranda , Michaela Hordijk , Rommy K. Torres Molina
Literature Review No 4 – September 2011