Synthesis of Existing Knowledge and Experience on the Provision of ...

Many international <strong>and</strong> local NGOs as well asinternational development organizations areengaged in water development in pastoralregions mainly in the construction <strong>and</strong>rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> water points, the development<strong>of</strong> small scale irrigation, <strong>and</strong> the provision <strong>of</strong>capacity building <strong>and</strong> training.There is no uniform approach to the way thatNGOs or development organizations engage inpastoral areas. Individual organizations usuallywork in isolation from government <strong>and</strong> fromone another, meaning that just as forgovernment, NGO approaches run the gamutfrom conventional technocratic methods tothose which are highly participatory <strong>and</strong>location-specific. As noted previously forgovernment interventions, incoherence inapproach to water development <strong>and</strong> weaklinkages between practitioners creates anenvironment where it is easy for inappropriate<strong>and</strong> poor quality water development to gounchecked.Box 11: Water User Associations in Ethiopia <strong>and</strong>relevance in the pastoral contextIn the last 10 years, government <strong>and</strong> NGOs haveintroduced Water User Associations (WUA) as ameans for communities to take on the operation,management, <strong>and</strong> maintenance <strong>of</strong> water points instead<strong>of</strong>, or <strong>of</strong>ten alongside, government. These associationsare generally made up <strong>of</strong> about 7 members meant torepresent a cross-section <strong>of</strong> water users in a givenlocality. Training is provided for these members toenable them to perform their duties, yet <strong>of</strong>ten, moreattention is given to physically establishing theseassociations rather than ensuring that they operateeffectively. Projects are still more concerned withmeeting targets as outlined in proposals rather thanmeasuring effectiveness. WUAs therefore suffer fromweak management, operation, <strong>and</strong> maintenancecapacity. Very <strong>of</strong>ten water points are managed bygovernment even though they are meant to be h<strong>and</strong>edover to WUAs to manage. In the pastoral context,WUAs could benefit <strong>and</strong> learn from existing customarywater management systems, <strong>and</strong> avenues should beexplored to meld the two management arrangementsto make the most <strong>of</strong> what each has to <strong>of</strong>fer.In terms <strong>of</strong> engagement on the ground, there are two ways in which NGOs/developmentorganizations engage with pastoralists. The first method is to approach the woreda <strong>of</strong>fice whichidentifies PAs or kebeles where there is need for water. Once areas are identified, the PA authorityorganizes a community meeting where priorities are identified by a committee meant to representthe community. NGOs/development organizations then plan interventions, submit proposals atregional level for approval, implement the project, <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong> over new infrastructure to either theadministrative authority or to Water User Associations (WUAs). The second method <strong>of</strong>engagement is for NGOs to approach communities directly who themselves identify developmentpriorities without relying on local administration to facilitate the process. This is common amongNGOs who have previous experience in an area or with a particular community, <strong>and</strong> avoidspotential administrative biases. Development needs are discussed directly with communities, localbaselines sometimes carried out, interventions planned, proposals submitted for approval at regionallevel, <strong>and</strong> infrastructure h<strong>and</strong>ed over to local government or WUAs. Whether organizations engagewith communities directly or through the kebele, in both cases proposals must be submitted toeither regional pastoral bureaus/commissions if the project is related to pastoral development or tothe water bureau if the intervention is purely water related. If projects in pastoral areas areimplemented by consortia, each organization must independently clear proposed activities with therelevant authority.Setting up WUAs is now increasingly encouraged to improve downward accountability by bothNGOs <strong>and</strong> government, <strong>and</strong> to enable communities to manage <strong>and</strong> operate local water points,rather than the responsibility lying solely with government or with customary institutions whichpreviously managed water resources. These Associations are meant to reflect a cross-section <strong>of</strong> thecommunity (Box 11). To date, however, WUAs <strong>of</strong>ten lack the capacity to manage <strong>and</strong> operatecomplex schemes – unlike customary systems.61