IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/endesu/v22y2020i4d10.1007_s10668-019-00324-5.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Community-level mechanisms and strategies for managing sustainable water supply systems: lessons from Bongo district of northern Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Emmanuel Atiisipae Akolgo

    (Centre for Rural Water Development and Sanitation)

  • Desmond Tutu Ayentimi

    (University of Tasmania)

Abstract

The study examined the nature of community-level mechanisms and strategies for the management of sustainable water supply systems in the Bongo district through the lens of the structural functional theory perspective. The study employed a multiple-method approach with a total of 167 respondents through face-to-face interviews and household survey. The evidence suggests that community-level participation in water resource systems management is seen in decision-making, rule formulation and general day-to-day management via regular community meetings and consultation with community members, elders and opinion leaders. Beneficiaries of water systems were solely in charge of the operations and maintenance of water systems in the community with very limited government support and involvement. The evidence also points to women playing a major role in local-level management of water resource systems. Interestingly, traditional cultural practices (e.g. taboos) as well as social norms previously used in the management of water resource systems have gradually become obsolete and ineffective with the advent of formal education and Christianity in the local communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Emmanuel Atiisipae Akolgo & Desmond Tutu Ayentimi, 2020. "Community-level mechanisms and strategies for managing sustainable water supply systems: lessons from Bongo district of northern Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(4), pages 3739-3756, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:22:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10668-019-00324-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-019-00324-5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10668-019-00324-5
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10668-019-00324-5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Service Opare, 2011. "Sustaining water supply through a phased community management approach: lessons from Ghana’s “oats” water supply scheme," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 13(6), pages 1021-1042, December.
    2. Dianne Rahm & Larry Swatuk & Erica Matheny, 2006. "Water Resource Management in Botswana: Balancing Sustainability and Economic Development," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 157-183, February.
    3. Johnson, Omotunde E G, 1972. "Economic Analysis, The Legal Framework and Land Tenure Systems," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(1), pages 259-276, April.
    4. Tantoh, Henry Bikwibili & Simatele, Danny, 2018. "Complexity and uncertainty in water resource governance in Northwest Cameroon: Reconnoitring the challenges and potential of community-based water resource management," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 237-251.
    5. Philippe Marin, 2009. "Public-Private Partnerships for Urban Water Utilities : A Review of Experiences in Developing Countries," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 2703.
    6. Zwarteveen, Margreet Z., 1997. "Water: From basic need to commodity: A discussion on gender and water rights in the context of irrigation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 25(8), pages 1335-1349, August.
    7. Alkire, Sabina & Deneuluin, Severine, "undated". "Individual Motivation, Its Nature, Determinants and Consequences for within Group Behaviour," WIDER Working Papers 295512, United Nations University, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Osei-Tutu, Paul, 2017. "Taboos as informal institutions of local resource management in Ghana: Why they are complied with or not," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(P1), pages 114-123.
    9. World Bank, 2004. "Water Resources Sector Strategy : Strategic Directions for World Bank Engagement," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15013.
    10. Cavalcanti, Carina & Engel, Stefanie & Leibbrandt, Andreas, 2013. "Social integration, participation, and community resource management," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 65(2), pages 262-276.
    11. William's Daré & Jean†Philippe Venot, 2018. "Room for manoeuvre: User participation in water resources management in Burkina Faso," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(2), pages 175-189, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vafaei, Elahe & Shahabi Ahangarkolaee, Saeed & Lucas-Borja, Manuel Esteban & Shabanali Fami, Hossein & Zema, Demetrio Antonio, 2021. "A framework to evaluate the factors influencing groundwater management in Water User Associations: The case study of Tafresh County (Iran)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Raffaele Scuderi & Giuseppe Tesoriere & Giulio Pedrini, 2023. "Social capital and women's willingness to pay for safe water access: Evidence from African rural areas," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 91(2), pages 161-185, June.
    2. Abhilas Pradhan & Rabinarayan Patra, 2013. "Heterogeneity, collective action and management sustainability in common property forest resources: case study from the Indian state Odisha," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 979-997, August.
    3. R Parthasarathy, 2011. "Objects and Accomplishments of Participatory Irrigation Management Programme in India: An Open Pair of Scissors," Working Papers id:4420, eSocialSciences.
    4. Daanish Mustafa & Philip Reeder, 2009. "‘People Is All That Is Left to Privatize’: Water Supply Privatization, Globalization and Social Justice in Belize City, Belize," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 789-808, September.
    5. Molden, David & Sakthivadivel, Ramasamy & Samad, Madar & Burton, Martin, 2005. "Phases of river basin development: the need for adaptive institutions," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    6. Reinoud Joosten, 2011. "Social Dilemmas, Time Preferences and Technology Adoption in a Commons Problem," Papers on Economics and Evolution 2011-09, Philipps University Marburg, Department of Geography.
    7. Claude Ménard, 2013. "Is Public-Private Partnership Obsolete? Assessing the Obstacles and Shortcomings of PPP," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00653090, HAL.
    8. Quisumbing, Agnes R. & Payongayong, Ellen & Aidoo, J. B. & Otsuka, Keijiro, 1999. "Women's land rights in the transition to individualized ownership," FCND discussion papers 58, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    9. Ghebru, Hosaena, 2015. "Is There a Merit to the Continuum Tenure Approach? A Case of Demand for Land Rights Formulation in Rural Mozambique," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211683, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    10. García-Valiñas, María de los Ángeles & González-Gómez, Francisco & Picazo-Tadeo, Andrés J., 2013. "Is the price of water for residential use related to provider ownership? Empirical evidence from Spain," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 24(C), pages 59-69.
    11. Abu Rashed, & Alam, Md. Mahmudul & Faisal, Fahim, 2019. "The Performance and Challenges of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Projects in Bangladesh," OSF Preprints v2k3b, Center for Open Science.
    12. repec:caa:jnljfs:v:preprint:id:20-2024-jfs is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Habtamu Tilahun Kassahun & Bo Jellesmark Thorsen & Joffre Swait & Jette Bredahl Jacobsen, 2020. "Social Cooperation in the Context of Integrated Private and Common Land Management," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 75(1), pages 105-136, January.
    14. Ghebru, Hosaena & Holden, Stein T., 2015. "Technical Efficiency and Productivity Differential Effects of Land Right Certification: A Quasi-Experimental Evidence," Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture, Humboldt-Universitaat zu Berlin, vol. 54(1), pages 1-31, February.
    15. D. E. Ault & G. L. Rutman, 1988. "“The Tragedy of the Commons” and Livestock Farming In Southern Africa: A Comment," South African Journal of Economics, Economic Society of South Africa, vol. 56(2‐3), pages 134-137, June.
    16. Akaateba, Millicent Awialie, 2019. "The politics of customary land rights transformation in peri-urban Ghana: Powers of exclusion in the era of land commodification," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    17. Ioana Tatiana Stănese & Mihai Aristotel Ungureanu, 2017. "Defining Public-Private Partnership in Romania," Annals of the University of Petrosani, Economics, University of Petrosani, Romania, vol. 17(1), pages 271-282.
    18. Choi, Jaerim & Lim, Sunghun, 2023. "Ostrom Meets the Pandemic: Lessons from Asian Rice Farming Traditions," 97th Annual Conference, March 27-29, 2023, Warwick University, Coventry, UK 334543, Agricultural Economics Society - AES.
    19. Rafik Hirji & Richard Davis, 2009. "Strategic Environmental Assessment : Improving Water Resources Governance and Decision Making," World Bank Publications - Reports 17244, The World Bank Group.
    20. Wang Xiao-jun & Zhang Jian-yun & Wang Jian-hua & He Rui-min & Amgad ElMahdi & Liu Jin-hua & Wang Xin-gong & David King & Shamsuddin Shahid, 2014. "Climate change and water resources management in Tuwei river basin of Northwest China," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 107-120, January.
    21. Kathryn Furlong, 2012. "Good Water Governance without Good Urban Governance? Regulation, Service Delivery Models, and Local Government," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 44(11), pages 2721-2741, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:22:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s10668-019-00324-5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.