Why is water resource management in crisis in Africa?

1. Why is water resource management in crisis in Africa? Nick Hepworth

2. But.. Governments in Africa often do not work for the public good – rather, they are work for the donors, their friends and themselves. Inter-agency power struggles Mandate overlap Gov on Gov regulation Hardcore corruption vs softcore corruption

3. The problem • Institutional incentives • Practitioner motivation and incentives “Of course everyone loves per diems - no one is going to argue with more workshops.” “To live a good life - decent house and good school for my children, I need about $1000 a month. For that, I need three workshops a month to top up my salary.” “There is a big problem with donors. They are always calling workshops every day and the people go for the per diems. It’s a huge problem - the donors must change. They don’t give us time to think - its workshops, workshops, workshops - you don’t see that in Europe - people are busy regulating and doing the work. They pay 3 days wages for one day’s attendance. It pays people not to do their work. The solutions they come up with are never implemented - that was a solution to the workshop, not real life.”

4. … seeking progress • better and more imaginative capacity mobilisation • improved internal management – freedom to innovate • accountability and performance monitoring (of donors & government) • Strong and informed civil society oversight – from noise to voice • performance indicators } • budget tracking } • equity monitoring } • support and collaboration } • Freshwater Action Network, ANEW, Water Integrity Network • Alliance for Water Stewardship - Water shoe-sizing not water footprinting