460
L. Ferrini et al.
inclusion is limited in practice. Moreover, we identify a negative impact on management outcomes when involvement is limited, with indications that such limitations
increase the vulnerability of communities.
Keywords Local knowledge · Participation · Complex adaptive systems · Nexus
1 Introduction
Management of water resources under climate change is highly complex. Complexity
is a result of multiple uses across multiple spatial and time scales, as well as of
uncertainties. Water management is a crucial element of systems management under
climate change and has the potential to either mitigate or exacerbate the effects
of climate change. Given the complexity and changing nature of systems under
climate change, water resources’ management is increasingly framed as Adaptive
Management (AM). The foundation of AM is a thorough understanding of the system
that is managed, through experiential learning and knowledge exchange (Fabricius
and Cundill 2014). This encompasses understanding of various uses, sectors, sources,
stakeholders, and their interrelations. The AM paradigm emerged in the 1970s and
is predicated on managing uncertainty through management action (Johnson 1999)
centered on ongoing learning about the “processes governing the system” cited by
Medema et al. 2008).
AM is one of various strategies that has been developed to holistically address
complexity and interdependencies in water systems. The ecosystem services
approach (e.g. de Groot et al. 2002) recognizes the highly complex interactions
among people and the ecosystems on which their livelihoods depend. Integrated
Water Resources Management (IWRM) focuses on integration and coordination
through governance and stakeholder involvement (Medema et al. 2008).
One approach that has gained traction is the Water-Energy-Food-Environment
(WEFE) nexus framework, which moves away from a water-centric approach to
an issue-based approach, in which natural resources are seen as instruments for
achieving human water, energy, and food security and environmental sustainability
(Hoff 2011). Particularly under climate change, holistic planning of natural resources
should thus take account of the trade-offs and synergies of different use (Brouwer
et al. 2018). However, few analyses examine practical attempts to apply the approach,
and those that do focus largely on the Global North (Kurian and Ardakanian 2015;
Cairns and Krzywoszynska 2016).
This chapter focuses on the role of local knowledge in adaptive water resources
management in Africa to mitigate vulnerability through multisectoral nexus governance.
There is a trend toward methods and approaches in which multiple stakeholders are
involved not only in the implementation of adaptation measures, but also more fundamentally in the understanding of the system that needs to adapt, as well as the design
of adaptation measures. These approaches seek to improve the outcome through
L. Ferrini et al.
inclusion is limited in practice. Moreover, we identify a negative impact on management outcomes when involvement is limited, with indications that such limitations
increase the vulnerability of communities.
Keywords Local knowledge · Participation · Complex adaptive systems · Nexus
1 Introduction
Management of water resources under climate change is highly complex. Complexity
is a result of multiple uses across multiple spatial and time scales, as well as of
uncertainties. Water management is a crucial element of systems management under
climate change and has the potential to either mitigate or exacerbate the effects
of climate change. Given the complexity and changing nature of systems under
climate change, water resources’ management is increasingly framed as Adaptive
Management (AM). The foundation of AM is a thorough understanding of the system
that is managed, through experiential learning and knowledge exchange (Fabricius
and Cundill 2014). This encompasses understanding of various uses, sectors, sources,
stakeholders, and their interrelations. The AM paradigm emerged in the 1970s and
is predicated on managing uncertainty through management action (Johnson 1999)
centered on ongoing learning about the “processes governing the system” cited by
Medema et al. 2008).
AM is one of various strategies that has been developed to holistically address
complexity and interdependencies in water systems. The ecosystem services
approach (e.g. de Groot et al. 2002) recognizes the highly complex interactions
among people and the ecosystems on which their livelihoods depend. Integrated
Water Resources Management (IWRM) focuses on integration and coordination
through governance and stakeholder involvement (Medema et al. 2008).
One approach that has gained traction is the Water-Energy-Food-Environment
(WEFE) nexus framework, which moves away from a water-centric approach to
an issue-based approach, in which natural resources are seen as instruments for
achieving human water, energy, and food security and environmental sustainability
(Hoff 2011). Particularly under climate change, holistic planning of natural resources
should thus take account of the trade-offs and synergies of different use (Brouwer
et al. 2018). However, few analyses examine practical attempts to apply the approach,
and those that do focus largely on the Global North (Kurian and Ardakanian 2015;
Cairns and Krzywoszynska 2016).
This chapter focuses on the role of local knowledge in adaptive water resources
management in Africa to mitigate vulnerability through multisectoral nexus governance.
There is a trend toward methods and approaches in which multiple stakeholders are
involved not only in the implementation of adaptation measures, but also more fundamentally in the understanding of the system that needs to adapt, as well as the design
of adaptation measures. These approaches seek to improve the outcome through