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It follows that the path to sustainable water management will involve both
addressing political factors adversely affecting water governance and exploiting
opportunities to build well-functioning political and economic systems to improve
the context for implementing effective water solutions. Meeting the following
criteria will likely determine success:
Recognising How Non-water Policies Impact on Water Outcomes and
How Poor Water Governance Affects Other Sectors This will involve
national leaders making consideration of how to use scarce water a priority in
national planning and investment decisions and aligning its governance with
cross-sector policies chosen effi ciently and effectively to promote economic
growth. Coherent decisions require policymakers to understand how water
management affects their sectoral responsibilities and to tap into water-sector
expertise, calling for a central single water data set.
Recognising Reforms Must Be Inclusive, Results-Oriented and WellPlanned Jordanians will be more likely to “buy into” diffi cult reforms if they
can perceive tangible benefi ts, and to stay the course if they have been
consulted.
Improving Accountability and Transparency, and Curbing Corruption
Good governance across the board will be a pre-condition for improving
water management at home, and both will be necessary for building the level
of regional cooperation required to manage and protect shared water resources
and for attracting foreign investment for water and other projects. Governments
that are accountable are incentivised to implement the reforms needed to
deliver services in line with public and investor expectations.
Restructuring Donor Collaboration If donors are to support an extended
reform process, they need reassuring that national leaders are shouldering
responsibility in meeting reform-related conditions negotiated. Revised
arrangements with donors for cash transfers and their conditions precedent
(especially on water use in agriculture) will be key.
Recognising Poor Water Governance Refl ects a Wider Political Problem
While “shadow state” elites dominate centralised unaccountable structures,
reforms will likely continue to show imbalances with the privileged benefi ting
disproportionately. More representative parliaments would give Jordanians
greater political say in, and parliamentary scrutiny over, policies and thus
render more likely their acceptance of diffi cult reforms.
15 Jordan’s Shadow State and Water Management: Prospects for Water Security…
It follows that the path to sustainable water management will involve both
addressing political factors adversely affecting water governance and exploiting
opportunities to build well-functioning political and economic systems to improve
the context for implementing effective water solutions. Meeting the following
criteria will likely determine success:
Recognising How Non-water Policies Impact on Water Outcomes and
How Poor Water Governance Affects Other Sectors This will involve
national leaders making consideration of how to use scarce water a priority in
national planning and investment decisions and aligning its governance with
cross-sector policies chosen effi ciently and effectively to promote economic
growth. Coherent decisions require policymakers to understand how water
management affects their sectoral responsibilities and to tap into water-sector
expertise, calling for a central single water data set.
Recognising Reforms Must Be Inclusive, Results-Oriented and WellPlanned Jordanians will be more likely to “buy into” diffi cult reforms if they
can perceive tangible benefi ts, and to stay the course if they have been
consulted.
Improving Accountability and Transparency, and Curbing Corruption
Good governance across the board will be a pre-condition for improving
water management at home, and both will be necessary for building the level
of regional cooperation required to manage and protect shared water resources
and for attracting foreign investment for water and other projects. Governments
that are accountable are incentivised to implement the reforms needed to
deliver services in line with public and investor expectations.
Restructuring Donor Collaboration If donors are to support an extended
reform process, they need reassuring that national leaders are shouldering
responsibility in meeting reform-related conditions negotiated. Revised
arrangements with donors for cash transfers and their conditions precedent
(especially on water use in agriculture) will be key.
Recognising Poor Water Governance Refl ects a Wider Political Problem
While “shadow state” elites dominate centralised unaccountable structures,
reforms will likely continue to show imbalances with the privileged benefi ting
disproportionately. More representative parliaments would give Jordanians
greater political say in, and parliamentary scrutiny over, policies and thus
render more likely their acceptance of diffi cult reforms.
15 Jordan’s Shadow State and Water Management: Prospects for Water Security…