In search of integration : analyzing the gap between theory and practice of Integrated Water Resources Management with case studies from West Africa and international policy processes
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Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu |
Doctoral thesis (article-based)
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Author
Date
2011
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
Verkkokirja (1371 KB, 65 s.)
Series
Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL DISSERTATIONS ,
62/2011
Abstract
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is one example of integrated approaches to natural resources management that has been widely promoted during the past decades. In this thesis, IWRM is understood as a strategic management procedure that integrates the natural resources and society (users and institutions) around a body of water. Numerous international conferences and meetings have promoted IWRM as a key approach to water management and subsequently a way to sustainable development. Yet, practical implementation of IWRM on the ground has had uneven success. The overall objectives of the thesis were to increase understanding of the high-level, strategic issues that hinder or enable the translation of IWRM from policy into practice and based on that, to distil special considerations of IWRM in Senegal River and Lake Chad, for integrated approaches, and among practitioners. This was done by examining the gap between theory and practice of IWRM with the help of case studies representing IWRM in practice (Senegal River, Lake Chad), and IWRM in theory (IWRM in international policy, climate change adaptation policies as a driver for integration). A framework was developed and used in order to systematically analyze the appearance and implementation of IWRM in the four case studies. The methods used in examining the case studies varied from a literature review and field visits, to Bayesian Causal Networks, comparative analysis and qualitative data analysis. The thesis concluded with four high-level, strategic issues that hinder or enable the translation of IWRM from policy into practice. These include i) the importance of recognizing externalities, ii) defining and understanding the "IWRM area of influence" (the confluence between theory, practice and externalities), iii) the key role of institutions and especially management and communication aspects, and the fact that iv) understanding, analyzing and managing the above is more about nouns than numbers.Description
Supervising professor
Varis, Olli, Prof.Thesis advisor
Varis, Olli, Prof.de Ble, Steven, Prof., Wageningen University
Keywords
IWRM, West Africa, international policy, institutions, externalities, area of influence
Other note
Parts
- [Publication 1]: Virpi Lahtela. 2003. Managing the Senegal River: National and local development dilemma. International Journal of Water Resources Development, volume 19, number 2, pages 279-293.
- [Publication 2]: Olli Varis and Virpi Lahtela. 2002. Integrated water resources management along the Senegal River: Introducing an analytical framework. International Journal of Water Resources Development, volume 18, number 4, pages 501-521.
- [Publication 3]: Olli Varis, Muhammad M. Rahaman, and Virpi Stucki. 2008. The rocky road from integrated plans to implementation: Lessons learned from the Mekong and Senegal river basins. International Journal of Water Resources Development, volume 24, number 1, pages 103-121.
- [Publication 4]: Virpi Stucki and Madiodio Niasse. 2008. The role of domestic security in the functioning of the Lake Chad Basin Commission. In: Nevelina I. Pachova, Mikiyasu Nakayama, and Libor Jansky (editors). International Water Security: Domestic Threats and Opportunities. Tokyo, Japan: United Nations University Press. Pages 110-126. ISBN 978-92-808-1150-6.
- [Publication 5]: Virpi Stucki and Mark Smith. 2011. Integrated approaches to natural resources management in practice: The catalyzing role of National Adaptation Programmes for Action. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment, volume 40, number 4, pages 351-360.
