Assessing Local Water Conflicts: Understanding the Links Between Water, Marginalisation and Climate Change

Abstract

The discourse and academic work around water conflicts is often focused on international water conflicts. As a consequence, although local water conflicts are common and affect the everyday life of many communities around the world, they are frequently overlooked. Analytical tools and trainings on local water conflicts are thus scarce. The Water, Crisis and Climate Change Assessment Framework (WACCAF) helps to close this gap. It guides users through an analysis of the different factors that play a role in local water conflicts. The goal of this tool is to better understand the conflict potential of competition around water resources, in order to prevent a water crisis from escalating into a conflict. It can also help to understand an existing water conflict and identify ways to solve it. The WACCAF specifically focuses on how the interaction between marginalisation and unequal water access and availability can create conflict (potential). These findings are then placed in wider social and historical contexts by looking at past conflicts and general marginalisation patterns in society. The analysis is completed by understanding the factors that decrease the potential for conflict, in particular cooperation and conflict resolution mechanisms.