 Why
are certain water decisions made but not others? What
stakeholders are involved? What principles and formal
and informal rules and regulations were applied? Many
countries are currently in the process of changing the
ways of how water is being governed. From a practical
point of view this means formulating, setting in place
and implementing water policies, legislation and regulations.
Because of the varying characteristics of water resources
and socio-economic and political frameworks, governing
mechanisms vary considerably across countries, including
differences such as the reformed items, the pace at
which countries are moving toward implementing water
reforms, the level of the reform and the degree of targeting
environmental and social objectives.
Despite country water reform variations, most reforms
typically include components linked to:
- Decentralisation of water decision making,
- Increasing stakeholder participation,
- Promoting incentives for more and better public-private
partnerships, including privatisation of water services
and community involvement,
- Principles of integrated water resources management
and river basin management approaches, and
- Clarification of institutional roles and responsibilities,
such as through formal legislation and informal customary
water rights and by linking water rights and land
tenure, for example.
Despite the negative impact of corruption on water
resources and services, remedial anti-corruption measures
are not being adequately addressed in water reform.
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