Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia
Fixing and implementing water charges in the irrigation sector is considered an important task for recovering operation and maintenance costs and promoting the efficient use of water. This study aims at developing an implementation strategy for water charges in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia. The...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IWA Publishing
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Water Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/24/6/1014 |
| _version_ | 1811221516708216832 |
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| author | Fitsum Hagos Jemal Ahmed Amare Haileslassie Abdulkarim Seid |
| author_facet | Fitsum Hagos Jemal Ahmed Amare Haileslassie Abdulkarim Seid |
| author_sort | Fitsum Hagos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Fixing and implementing water charges in the irrigation sector is considered an important task for recovering operation and maintenance costs and promoting the efficient use of water. This study aims at developing an implementation strategy for water charges in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia. The study sets the agenda for this strategy by explaining why promoting the concept of fixing irrigation charges is necessary. Then it develops a conceptual framework, draws key lessons from global experiences, explores whether the new pricing policy is well aligned with national water policies and the roles and responsibilities of various actors and stakeholders involved, and identifies the factors for the successful implementation of this strategy. The study is mainly qualitative in nature, based on a review of the literature and consultations of key stakeholders. The study results call for clearly defining the key objectives of the policy, political commitment, and community participation, re-examining the role of institutions, capacity building, and establishing a multistakeholder platform. Basin-level implementation of this policy requires piloting and maintaining policy dynamics through adaptive management. The results provide generic lessons for other basins within Ethiopia and for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). HIGHLIGHTS
This study is based on a literature review and consultations of key stakeholders.;
The water charge policy is well anchored in Ethiopia's water policies.;
Its implementation requires developing the necessary modalities, redressing stakeholder grievances, addressing the issue of effective fee collection, recovering operation and maintenance costs, and providing improved services.;
The piloting of the water charge policy in the Central Rift Valley, requiring the establishment of a multistakeholder platform (MSP), is critical for the upscaling of the policy.; |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:01:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2bfaa9de76a14ec989ddbcf3b6e608dd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1366-7017 1996-9759 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:01:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | IWA Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-2bfaa9de76a14ec989ddbcf3b6e608dd2022-12-22T03:41:18ZengIWA PublishingWater Policy1366-70171996-97592022-06-012461014103310.2166/wp.2022.034034Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, EthiopiaFitsum Hagos0Jemal Ahmed1Amare Haileslassie2Abdulkarim Seid3 International Water Management Institute, East Africa Office, C/o ILRI-Ethiopia campus, Woreda 17, Kebele 21, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Ethiopian Water Resources Institute, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia International Water Management Institute, East Africa Office, C/o ILRI-Ethiopia campus, Woreda 17, Kebele 21, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia International Water Management Institute, East Africa Office, C/o ILRI-Ethiopia campus, Woreda 17, Kebele 21, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Fixing and implementing water charges in the irrigation sector is considered an important task for recovering operation and maintenance costs and promoting the efficient use of water. This study aims at developing an implementation strategy for water charges in the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia. The study sets the agenda for this strategy by explaining why promoting the concept of fixing irrigation charges is necessary. Then it develops a conceptual framework, draws key lessons from global experiences, explores whether the new pricing policy is well aligned with national water policies and the roles and responsibilities of various actors and stakeholders involved, and identifies the factors for the successful implementation of this strategy. The study is mainly qualitative in nature, based on a review of the literature and consultations of key stakeholders. The study results call for clearly defining the key objectives of the policy, political commitment, and community participation, re-examining the role of institutions, capacity building, and establishing a multistakeholder platform. Basin-level implementation of this policy requires piloting and maintaining policy dynamics through adaptive management. The results provide generic lessons for other basins within Ethiopia and for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). HIGHLIGHTS This study is based on a literature review and consultations of key stakeholders.; The water charge policy is well anchored in Ethiopia's water policies.; Its implementation requires developing the necessary modalities, redressing stakeholder grievances, addressing the issue of effective fee collection, recovering operation and maintenance costs, and providing improved services.; The piloting of the water charge policy in the Central Rift Valley, requiring the establishment of a multistakeholder platform (MSP), is critical for the upscaling of the policy.;http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/24/6/1014irrigation chargeslegal and political frameworkpilotingrecovery of operation and maintenance costsstakeholder engagement |
| spellingShingle | Fitsum Hagos Jemal Ahmed Amare Haileslassie Abdulkarim Seid Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia Water Policy irrigation charges legal and political framework piloting recovery of operation and maintenance costs stakeholder engagement |
| title | Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub-Saharan Africa: a case study from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | operationalizing irrigation water charges in sub saharan africa a case study from the central rift valley ethiopia |
| topic | irrigation charges legal and political framework piloting recovery of operation and maintenance costs stakeholder engagement |
| url | http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/24/6/1014 |
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