What is Water Governance?

Governance systems determine who gets what water, when and how. The representation of various interests in water decision making and the role of politics are important components in addressing governance dynamics. Water is power, and those who control the flow of water can exercise this power in various ways. However, many people around the world are currently lacking a voice in the decision making over water use and the distribution of water supply and sanitation. As opportunities to expand water supplies decrease in many parts of the world, competition over current supplies escalates, creating the need for improved governance. Water decisions are anchored in governance systems across three levels: government, civil society and the private sector. Facilitating dynamic interactions – dialogues and partnerships – among them is critical for improving water governance reform and implementation. Water governance addresses among other things:

1. Principles such as equity and efficiency in water resource and services allocation and distribution, water administration based on catchments, the need for integrated water management approaches and the need to balance water use between socio-economic activities and ecosystems.
2. The formulation, establishment and implementation of water policies, legislation and institutions.
3. Clarification of the roles of government, civil society and the private sector and their responsibilities regarding ownership, management and administration of water resources and services, for example:
   

• Inter-sectoral dialogue and co-ordination
• Stakeholder participation and conflict resolution
• Water rights and permits
• The role of women in water management
• Water quantity and quality standards
• Bureaucratic obstacles and corruption
• Price regulation and subsidies
• Tax incentives and credits.

Water governance is defined by the political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place, and which directly or indirectly affect the use, development and management of water resources and the delivery of water service delivery at different levels of society. Importantly, the water sector is a part of broader social, political and economic developments and is thus also affected by decisions outside of the water sector.