Promoting Good Governance of Water Users' Associations in Nepal.

Abstract

There is a major emphasis on participatory irrigation management world-wide. This is widely seen as fundamental to improving the performance and sustainability of irrigation, and it has been incorporated in the water resources policies of many countries. Despite this effort and some significant achievements over the past two decades, progress has been less than had been anticipated. This paper is based on the findings of an action research projectinto irrigation on 3 schemes in Nepal: one modern jointly managed scheme (Sunsari Morang SMIP), one older but smaller agency-managed scheme (Bijaypur Irrigation Project – BIP) and one traditional farmer managed scheme (Kamala Uttarbahini KUIS). In accordance with the irrigation policy, water users’ associations (WUAs) have been set up on these projects, but these new institutions have not yet performed as well as had been hoped. There are a number of reasons for this, which were analysed in an earlier phase of this project (Mott MacDonald 2002). In this phase of our study we have worked in a participatory way in each project to develop a plan for improvement (“diagnostic learning and action planning”) and then implemented this action plan through the medium of “water users’ schools”. These proved to be very popular and successful in developing awareness amongst the farmers and in making the WUAs more active and responsive to the needs of the users. These were effective in building a commitment to participation in irrigation management, an understanding of the issues and ways to solve problems, and ensured that the process of institutional development is embedded in the community rather than being externally driven Through this process we are developing a framework for promoting WUAs. We have identified six elements which we see as fundamental for this: • Tailoring methods to local conditions: each scheme is different and needs solutions to be identified individually; • Organizing our understanding: irrigation systems are complex and multidisciplinary we need a comprehensive understanding without being overwhelmed in data. The Sustainable Livelihoods Framework is valuable for this • Working with water users: we need to work with the users to involve them understand their issues and help them develop an action plan. This requires an inclusive and participatory approach • Investing in Social and Human Capital: through a “water users school” we have helped develop human and social capital and thereby enhanced development of the other capital assets. The nature of this school will depend on the needs of the individual scheme • Providing O&M for institutions: WUAs will continue to need support • Having a supportive policy and legal environment: implement policy and laws that enable the WUAs to carry out there function. Another paper presented to this workshop by our research team describes the process followed in one subproject. In this paper we present our overall findings regarding promotion of sustainable, well-governed WUAs.