288
The formation of inclusive institutions requires commitment both from the
authorities and the civil society. Such institutions also need suffi cient fi nancial
resources and capacities to be able to play a benefi cial role in water management.
Structures (e.g. water users associations) have to be adapted to the specifi c local
context. A polycentric model (the “bazaar”), in which various organisational forms
coexist, may prove more suitable than a hierarchical one, particularly in situations
characterised by little reliable data, highly variable water supply and demand and
under-resourced regulatory agencies (Lankford and Hepworth 2010 ).
Institutional learning has to be backed by close cooperation between research
and education. Technical schools, experimental farms and training courses for practitioners can be named as important instruments for transferring knowledge within
institutional learning processes. Scientifi c and educational institutions themselves
have to adapt to new requirements arising from increasing complexity of coupled
systems. New communication instruments need to be developed to enhance the
citizen-science dialogue.
The following activities can be regarded as critical in designing and adapting
institutional arrangements:
National institutional reform and adaptation can only be effective in the context
of supportive international development policy. In the past, mainly international
donor organisations such as the European Development Bank or the World Bank
have granted loans for investments to MWEPs. Recently, we are observing the
emergence of other actors, such as certain countries that fi nance infrastructures
(e.g. China) or private fi nancing institutions independent from international conventions, regulation schemes and standards. Decision-makers mostly welcome
these new investors without assessing in depth the societal, economical or environmental consequences of the planned investments. This development is a new challenge not only for the societies in the concerned regions but also for the international
community as such.
• Fostering institutional development in accordance with governmental,
societal and economical capacities
• Harmonising and coordinating donor policy with overarching objectives
and international regulations
• Strengthening inclusive institutions that take all stakeholder interests into
account
• Supporting participation processes, transparency and trust-building
measures
• Applying the “polluter pay’s principle” as far as it is economically and
politically feasible
• Linking research and education with practice
C. Bismuth et al.
The formation of inclusive institutions requires commitment both from the
authorities and the civil society. Such institutions also need suffi cient fi nancial
resources and capacities to be able to play a benefi cial role in water management.
Structures (e.g. water users associations) have to be adapted to the specifi c local
context. A polycentric model (the “bazaar”), in which various organisational forms
coexist, may prove more suitable than a hierarchical one, particularly in situations
characterised by little reliable data, highly variable water supply and demand and
under-resourced regulatory agencies (Lankford and Hepworth 2010 ).
Institutional learning has to be backed by close cooperation between research
and education. Technical schools, experimental farms and training courses for practitioners can be named as important instruments for transferring knowledge within
institutional learning processes. Scientifi c and educational institutions themselves
have to adapt to new requirements arising from increasing complexity of coupled
systems. New communication instruments need to be developed to enhance the
citizen-science dialogue.
The following activities can be regarded as critical in designing and adapting
institutional arrangements:
National institutional reform and adaptation can only be effective in the context
of supportive international development policy. In the past, mainly international
donor organisations such as the European Development Bank or the World Bank
have granted loans for investments to MWEPs. Recently, we are observing the
emergence of other actors, such as certain countries that fi nance infrastructures
(e.g. China) or private fi nancing institutions independent from international conventions, regulation schemes and standards. Decision-makers mostly welcome
these new investors without assessing in depth the societal, economical or environmental consequences of the planned investments. This development is a new challenge not only for the societies in the concerned regions but also for the international
community as such.
• Fostering institutional development in accordance with governmental,
societal and economical capacities
• Harmonising and coordinating donor policy with overarching objectives
and international regulations
• Strengthening inclusive institutions that take all stakeholder interests into
account
• Supporting participation processes, transparency and trust-building
measures
• Applying the “polluter pay’s principle” as far as it is economically and
politically feasible
• Linking research and education with practice
C. Bismuth et al.