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OS6d Water pricing: approaches and impacts

abstract 913

Decentralization in the management of irrigation and the need of social mediation process: lessons learned from ISIIMM in EGYPT

Author(s): Mohamed H.A. Nawar
Mohamed H.A. Nawar, Prof. National Coordinator of ISIIMM-EGYPT and Senior Advisor, Center for Rural Development Researches& Studies (CRDRS), Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, 12613 Giza, EGYPT Phone/Fax: +2(02)35681610 Mobile1:+2(012) 9187789 Mobile2:+2(010)1401295 Web Site: http://www.crdrs.org/ CRDRS e-mail: crdrs4@yahoo.com Personal email: mhanawar@yahoo.com Personal email-2: mnawar@excite.com

Keyword(s): decentralization, irrigation, social mediation, Egypt

Article:
Poster:

Session: OS6d Water pricing: approaches and impacts

AbstractISIIMM- EGYPT was a sub project implemented through the “Institutional

and Social Innovation of Irrigation Management Mediterranean” project which was s implemented in six

Mediterranean countries between 2003 and 2007. The project was one of ten projects financed by the EU Water

-MEDA program.

The main objective of ISIIMM was to collect, organize and exchange knowledge and

related experience of local management of irrigation among concerned actors and professionals in the Mediterranean

at local, national, regional and international levels. This would help all stakeholders gaining benefits from the others’

learned lessons in solving encountered problems in that sector.

Egypt experienced the most centralized

irrigation systems allover the world. This was due to the only one main source of water, the Nile River, and due to

many other historical political reasons. However, the growing suffer from scarcity of water resources in Egypt

relative to the escalating demand has led to deep analyses of the deficiencies in irrigation water management.

Detachment between the growing number of end users and decision making process was found essential. Yet, under

the long history of central mode of management of this sector a more rigid and stagnated social system concerned

with irrigation was maintained. The type of roles of actors and their interrelations within that system were the bases of

the current pattern of low functionality. Institutional and even the specific pattern of social interrelations maintained

were based on rigid social distances among the official professionals who make decision and the end users. Reform

of such system for the sake of better functionality of the sector needs reorganization of the network of interrelation

among all actors as well as drastic change in the institutional framework on action.

Early experiments to

develop the irrigation management through decentralization at local level had encountered resistance from both sides

of actors; i.e. the officials and end users. Each party had its own special reasons. Lack of trust and suspicious

attitudes between both sides was found so obvious. Social mediation process of a neutral third party in the reform of

the interrelation between both parties was found essential to avoid resistance and conflicts. Facilitating

communication, negotiation and interaction for reaching common decisions among the two parties were the core

functions of mediation process. Convenient time frame, good understanding of the local social setting and dynamics,

relevant social skills and active role of local leaders were essential in the mediation process. The experience of

ISIIMM staff in Egypt in this regard proved very valuable specially in two of the four cases addressed. Yet,

mediation needs to be institutionalized in the management process and be given longer time and wider spectrum for

action.

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Decentralization in the management of irrigation and the need of social mediation process: lessons learned from ISIIMM in EGYPT