Abstract:
Water resources in sub-Saharan Africa region, like other regions in the world, are
heavily affected by the impacts of climate change, pollution and population
growth. Water management practices recognise the need for ‘stakeholder’
participation. Participation forms part of principles of water management
concepts such as Integrated Water Resources Management and Water
Governance. Most governments have reformed its policies and legislation to
include the participatory principle. The rationale for the principle of participation
is the apparent evidence that water has a broad spectrum of users and uses
which are mostly competing. Research has however shown that stakeholders,
especially rural communities, are not adequately engaged. Current community
engagement has mainly targeted water point’s maintenance and sanitation. Little
is known on the failure of engaging rural communities in managing water
resources in the catchments. This research used a qualitative case study to
explore rural community engagement in water resources management at the
catchment level. Fieldwork was conducted in three catchments: Linthipe, South
Rukuru and South West Lakeshore in Malawi. It confirmed the reports that rural
communities are not engaged as expected. It found out that one of the main
reasons for non-participation is the poor engagement mechanism. It identified
several factors (24 barriers) which limit the participation of rural communities. It
also found that a cause-effect relationship exists between the factors. The
research argues that such detailed analysis of cause-effect of the factors provides
several options to policymakers and practitioners in addressing challenges
affecting engagement in water resources management. Further, the research
proposed the framework which would improve existing engagement mechanisms
for rural communities in Malawi. The framework will also help implement
catchment management activities for the newly established National Water
Resources Authority.
