Water Users Associations from Emergence to Convergence: Experiences

from Rwanda and Burundi

Theme3:  Water and Society Case study:  Equitable Distribution of Water Rights

and Access

Preambule

This presentation relates on-going processes implemented by the Governements of Rwanda and Burundi in collaboration with donors through specific projects. The author interacted with the projects teams through short-term support missions.

Views expressed in this presentation only reflect the author’s and cannot be considered as official positions.

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Background: willing policies…

In Rwanda and Burundi, processes were launched to set WUAs to manage irrigation water particularly in newly rehabilitated marshlands into rice fields.

Main characteristics•Many marshlands with infrastructure (dam, canals)•Marshlands surrounded by hillsides (soil erosion) •Rice mono-cropping by small-scale holders (<1ha)

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…to address a triple challenge:

• technico-economical: i)promotion of intensive rice cropping systems; ii)value chains with financial returns on investment.• water management: i)maintenance of irrigation infrastucture and water sharing; ii)soil conservation measures in hillsides (silting/sand).•socio-developmental: i)repartition of the added value beyond water users among the community; ii)fair access to irrigated land.

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The Emergence of WUA

5 Who? All irrigation water users.

How? •Derived from existing rice producers cooperatives, themselves derived from producers groups;•Supported by new legal framework;

To do what?

•to coordinate maintenance activities;•To ensure a fair sharing among users;• to collect irrigation water fees;• to defend water users interests.

Issue1: Water fees for what water rights?

Local authorities are the custodian of all common goods, hence natural resources (water, lands…)

Challenges facing WUAs:•What is the scope of the responsibilities handed over to WUAs by the local authorities?

Sharing-Maintenance-Access…•What means to be raised to fulfill this mandate?

Running costs- investment costs-water fees

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Issue 2: Members but not yet users?

Producers belong to rice cooperative who used to manage water services.

Challenges facing WUAs:•How to build ownership of the association and its mandate by the users?

Elected leadership- Water fee payable at sale- Transparency on use of resources…

•How to enforce rules upon defaulting users?

Shared rules- Attractive event- Equity (low tolerance with transparent decision making)

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Issue 3: Not users, …not carers?

Hillside farmers’ practices affect the irrigated marshlands while some of them have no access to rice fields and subsequent incomes.

Challenges facing WUAs:•How to enforce hillsides common protection measures in individual plots?

Education-Income generating activities- by-laws…

•How to share water rights with hillside irrigation?

WUA in hillsides- local negotiation process

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Several voices on behalf of « local interest »

4 legitimate groups •Local authorities mandated to ensure fair access to common goods to all citizens;•WUA mandated to ensure a sustainable use of irrigation water by all users;•Cooperative mandated to ensure viable incomes derived from the use of marshlands;•Hillside farmers groups mandated to ensure a sustainable and viable use of soil and water.

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A local forum for local water stakeholders?

“District Water Management Coordination Committees” are about to be set up to provide case-to-case answers to be effected through:• Contracts between stakeholders/ • Chart of conduct / rules and regulations /• Commitment and accountability…

In any case, social consensual constructions recognising each other’s interests and roles.

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Thank you

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