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Abstract
Water governance debates have increasingly recognized the importance of adaptive governance for short- and long-term sustainability, especially with respect to increasing climate unpredictability and growing urbanization. A parallel focus on enhancing community participation pervades international development recommendations and policy literature. Indeed, there are often implicit and explicit connections made between the participatory character of water governance institutions and their adaptive capacity. The social-ecological systems literature, however, has also urged caution with respect to embracing panaceas, with increasing calls to be attentive to the limitations of proposed solutions. We discuss the parallels between the adaptive governance, comanagement, and participatory resource governance literatures and analyze efforts to encourage such participation in urban water governance through Local Water Boards in Accra, Ghana. Drawing on interview data, participant observations, and a survey of 243 individuals, we explored what participatory spaces have been opened or foreclosed as well as the possibilities for adaptive urban water governance in Accra. Applying insights from recent debates about panaceas, we argue that discerning the potential and limits for sustainable resource governance and associated development goals requires that participatory mechanisms be subjected to systematic and contextual analysis.
Highlights
Increasing population, urbanization, and climate variation present cities with a number of water governance challenges
The social-ecological systems literature, has urged caution with respect to embracing panaceas, with increasing calls to be attentive to the limitations of proposed “solutions.” We discuss the parallels between the adaptive governance, comanagement, and participatory resource governance literatures and analyze efforts to encourage such participation in urban water governance through Local Water Boards in Accra, Ghana
We suggest that adaptive governance perspectives, with their implicit focus on participation as described previously, might benefit from the critical perspectives on participatory approaches outlined in international development and water governance, and conservation literatures, if they are to avoid such panacea problem
Summary
Increasing population, urbanization, and climate variation present cities with a number of water governance challenges. In the global South, these approaches intersect with a strong focus on participatory governance institutions in both water governance and international development recommendations. In our case study of underserved settlements in Accra, Ghana, we consider the potential to deliver on the promise of adaptable and inclusive institutions and governance systems, as well as extended water access. Like many urban areas of the global South, Accra is part of a functioning democracy but faces considerable poverty levels, inadequate infrastructure, and ongoing challenges related to both extending water access and fostering more inclusive governance. This article considers some of the challenges associated with extending access to water and sanitation services in underserved areas of Accra, the primary focus is on current efforts to promote participation, most notably through LWBs, and the implications for adaptive and participatory water governance
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