Why is water resource management in Why is water resource management in crisis in Africa?crisis in Africa?

Nick HepworthNick Hepworth

But..But..

Governments in Africa often do not work for the public good – Governments in Africa often do not work for the public good – rather, they are work for the donors, their friends and rather, they are work for the donors, their friends and themselves.themselves.

Inter-agency power strugglesInter-agency power struggles

Mandate overlapMandate overlap

Gov on Gov regulationGov on Gov regulation

Hardcore corruption vs softcore corruptionHardcore corruption vs softcore corruption

Breakdown of yr 1 NEMC spend - EISP ($ 705 000)

Per diems and allowances,

$137,990, 20%

Workshops and conferences, $105,630, 15%

Transport travel, $90,500, 13%Consultancy,

$113,130, 16%

Equipment and cars, $186,374, 26%

Stationary,printing, periodicals , $43,094, 6%

Communications and media, $26,904,

4%

The problemThe problem

• Institutional incentives Institutional incentives • Practitioner motivation and incentivesPractitioner motivation and incentives

““Of course everyone loves per diems - no one is going to argue with Of course everyone loves per diems - no one is going to argue with more workshops.” more workshops.”

““To live a good life - decent house and good school for my children, I 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 need about $1000 a month. For that, I need three workshops a month to top up my salary.”month to top up my salary.”

““There is a big problem with donors. They are always calling 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 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 huge problem - the donors must change. They don’t give us time to think - its workshops, workshops, workshops - you don’t see that in think - its workshops, workshops, workshops - you don’t see that in Europe - people are busy regulating and doing the work. They pay 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 3 days wages for one day’s attendance. It pays people not to do their work. The solutions they come up with are never their work. The solutions they come up with are never implemented - that was a solution to the workshop, not real life.” implemented - that was a solution to the workshop, not real life.”

… … seeking progressseeking progress

• better and more imaginative capacity mobilisationbetter and more imaginative capacity mobilisation

• improved internal management – freedom to innovateimproved internal management – freedom to innovate

• accountability and performance monitoring (of donors & government)accountability and performance monitoring (of donors & government)

Strong and informed civil society oversight – from Strong and informed civil society oversight – from noisenoise to to voicevoice

• performance indicators } performance indicators }

• budget tracking }budget tracking }

• equity monitoring }equity monitoring }

• support and collaboration }support and collaboration }

Freshwater Action Network, ANEW, Water Integrity NetworkFreshwater Action Network, ANEW, Water Integrity Network

Alliance for Water StewardshipAlliance for Water Stewardship - Water - Water shoe-sizingshoe-sizing not not water water footprintingfootprinting