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

• Promote effective participation through the involvement <strong>of</strong> recognized institutions orgroups representative <strong>of</strong> local communities. These groups or institutions may exist(customary institutions, water user associations, pastoral associations) or may stillneed to be established. For example, customary institutions may not represent alllivelihood groups in a given area (Muir, 2007), <strong>and</strong> <strong>of</strong>ten do not represent the needs<strong>and</strong> views <strong>of</strong> women, while water user associations may not sufficiently representpastoral needs <strong>and</strong> concerns <strong>and</strong> generally do not incorporate or build upon existingnatural resource management strategies. Furthermore, existing institutions haveevolved with time, including traditional pastoral institutions. This change must beacknowledged <strong>and</strong> the nature <strong>of</strong> the change carefully documented to help identifyinstitutional strengths <strong>and</strong> weaknesses, <strong>and</strong> to establish modalities <strong>of</strong> engagement withthese institutions. To date, the role <strong>of</strong> customary institutions is poorly researched inEthiopia <strong>and</strong> development practitioners <strong>of</strong>ten view these institutions as fossilizedentities retaining a set <strong>of</strong> characteristics described in historical texts. This is no longerthe case, as pastoral customary institutions have changed with time in response tochanging circumstances. Establishing new groups or adjusting the configuration <strong>of</strong>existing groups may thus become necessary.• Simultaneously address other development needs in the rangel<strong>and</strong>s besides the needfor water (e.g. human <strong>and</strong> livestock health <strong>and</strong> access to markets) to effectivelyaddress vulnerability <strong>and</strong> poverty long-term.• Make better use <strong>of</strong> existing research to inform water development planning <strong>and</strong>implementation <strong>and</strong> promote knowledge sharing between practitioners <strong>and</strong> projects.This can be done through establishing learning <strong>and</strong> practice alliances.• Create an enabling environment where local groups representative <strong>of</strong> water users in agiven area have the capacity <strong>and</strong> authority to construct, operate, manage, <strong>and</strong> maintainwater points, effectively making them implementers rather than merely recipients <strong>of</strong>development.• Promote the consortium approach to water development among development <strong>and</strong>humanitarian practitioners. This approach can help harmonize activities <strong>and</strong> has beenviewed favourably by agencies in the water development sector in Ethiopia.Alternatively, link development <strong>and</strong> humanitarian practitioners to existing (orpotential) technical working groups that h<strong>and</strong>le water issues, such as the NaturalResources Management Technical Working Group.86