Two decades of Brazil’s participatory model for water resources management: from enthusiasm to frustration

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn January 2017, the water community in Brazil celebrated the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of Brazil’s National Water Resources Policy (Federal Law 9.433). However, Brazil’s participatory model has not delivered the expected policy outcomes yet. Inclusiveness in decision making has become pointless since mechanisms of social control and accountability are almost nonexistent. Despite the widely celebrated opportunities for stakeholder engagement and decentralized water management, implementation of water policies remains largely dependent on state actors. These findings indicate the need for carefully planned and evidence-based water reforms in Brazil.