Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River

Shimellis Hailu Dessie; Sebsib Hadis Woldie; Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome; Yimer Ali Mohammed

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12

| Peer-Reviewed

Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River

Shimellis Hailu Dessie, Sebsib Hadis Woldie, Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome, Yimer Ali Mohammed

Published in Social Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 5)

Received: 6 July 2019 Accepted: 24 July 2019 Published: 10 September 2019

Views: Downloads:

Download PDF

Share This Article

Twitter
Linked In
Facebook

Abstract

Water governance is the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to develop and manage water resources and delivery of water services at different level of society. This research assessed the trends and actors of Borkena river water governance. Borkena is major tributary of Awash River that originated from South Wollo, Kutaber Woreda. The research use qualitative research approach and data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Based on the data, the research found the households and institutions around the river contributed for the depletion of the river water. There is clear policy and practice gap where weak institutional linkages exacerbate the river pollution from bad to worst. The research found that Borkena River serves for the social and economic need of large number of households in the basin. However, the river is found ownerless where no specifically identified government offices are responsible for the river governance at local level. Thus, the river suffers from disposals of industries, companies and households wastes. The river pollution is the result of the absence of planed and systematic solid and liquid wastes management mechanisms from the upper to the lower basin. Based upon the finding, the researchers suggest three areas of intervention using government bureaucracy and other civic organizations. These are: (1) revising the policy documents and establishing specific river governing body at local levels; (2) Expanding good experiences of riverside basin protection in the area; and (3) Intensive awareness creation about waste management and preserving river water needs to be implemented to improve the surrounding communities’ socioeconomic wellbeing that enable Borkena river clean and viable for future.

Published in	Social Sciences (Volume 8, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12
Page(s)	214-225
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2019. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Borkena River, Actors, Water Governance, Trends of Water Governance

References

[1]	Chellaney, Brahma (2013). Water, Peace and War: Confronting the Global Water Crisis. Maryland: Rowman& Littlefield Publishers.
[2]	Starr, Joyce R. (1991). Water Wars. Foreign Policy, 82, Pp. 17-36.
[3]	Davis, James R. and Rafik Hirji (2005). The Myth of Water Wars. Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, 6 (1), Pp. 115-124.
[4]	Homer-Dixon, Thomas F.(1991) On the Threshold: Environmental Changes as causes of acute conflict. International Security, 16 (2), Pp. 76-116.
[5]	Homer-Dixon, Thomas F. (1999). Environment, Scarcity, and Violence. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
[6]	Yacob Arsano, forthcoming (2015) Beyond Drops of Water: Four Imperatives to Cooperation in the Nile Basin (forthcoming) Nordic Africa Institute and Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
[7]	Dinar, Shlomi (2007). Water Wars? Conflict, Cooperation, and Negotiation Over Transboundary Water. In Velma Grover (Ed.), Water: A Source of Conflict or Cooperation? (Pp. 21-38). New Hampshire: Science Publishers.
[8]	CNN (2013, March 22). The Coming Water Wars? CNN News. Retrieved November 23, 2016 fromhttp://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/22/the-coming-water-wars/.
[9]	Fantaw Mengesha 2008. Channel Stabilty Analysis -The Case of Borkena River. Unpublished Master Thessi, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.
[10]	Ketema Tadesse (1980). Hydrology of the Borkenariver Basin Wollo-Ethiopia. Unpublished Master Thessi, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.
[11]	Mesfin Sahele 2001 Hydrogeological Investigation of The Upper And Middle Borkena River Catchment, Northern Ethiopia, Wollo. Unpublished Master Thessi, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.
[12]	Mohammed Awole (2015). Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination Levels of the Vegetable Cultivated Along Two Tributaries of Borkena River at Kombolcha Town. Unpublished Master Thessi, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa: Ethiopia.
[13]	Bhattacherjee, A. (2012). Social Science Research: Principles, Methods, and Practices. Textbooks Collection. Book 3.
[14]	Guest, Greg, Natasha Mack, Cynthia Woodsong, Kathleen Macqueen and Emily Namey (2005). Qualitative Research Methods: A Data Collector’s Field Guide. USA: Family Health International.
[15]	Moore, M.-L. (2013). Perspectives of complexity in water governance: Local experiences of global trends. Water Alternatives 6 (3): 487-505.
[16]	Hemel, Ronald and Henk, Loijenga. (2013). Set up of a water governance program in the Awash river basin, central Ethiopia: Assessment of water governance capacity in the Awash river basin. Report, Water Governance Centre.
[17]	FDRE constitution (1995). The constitution of FDRE. Negaritgazieta.
[18]	Solomon, Yimenu, (2016), Water Resource Management in Ethiopia: Normative and Institutional Analysis, MA Thesis, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
[19]	Ethiopian Water Resources Management Proclamation No.197/2000.
[20]	Amhara National Regional states Water Resource Development Bureau (BOWRD) (2016). Feasibility Study and Detailed Design of Borkena –Sakli Intake Small Scale Irrigation Project: Volume I Watershed Management Final Report, Dessie, Ethiopia.

Cite This Article

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Shimellis Hailu Dessie, Sebsib Hadis Woldie, Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome, Yimer Ali Mohammed. (2019). Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River. Social Sciences, 8(5), 214-225. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Shimellis Hailu Dessie; Sebsib Hadis Woldie; Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome; Yimer Ali Mohammed. Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River. Soc. Sci. 2019, 8(5), 214-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Shimellis Hailu Dessie, Sebsib Hadis Woldie, Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome, Yimer Ali Mohammed. Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River. Soc Sci. 2019;8(5):214-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12,
  author = {Shimellis Hailu Dessie and Sebsib Hadis Woldie and Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome and Yimer Ali Mohammed},
  title = {Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {8},
  number = {5},
  pages = {214-225},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20190805.12},
  abstract = {Water governance is the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to develop and manage water resources and delivery of water services at different level of society. This research assessed the trends and actors of Borkena river water governance. Borkena is major tributary of Awash River that originated from South Wollo, Kutaber Woreda. The research use qualitative research approach and data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Based on the data, the research found the households and institutions around the river contributed for the depletion of the river water. There is clear policy and practice gap where weak institutional linkages exacerbate the river pollution from bad to worst. The research found that Borkena River serves for the social and economic need of large number of households in the basin. However, the river is found ownerless where no specifically identified government offices are responsible for the river governance at local level. Thus, the river suffers from disposals of industries, companies and households wastes. The river pollution is the result of the absence of planed and systematic solid and liquid wastes management mechanisms from the upper to the lower basin. Based upon the finding, the researchers suggest three areas of intervention using government bureaucracy and other civic organizations. These are: (1) revising the policy documents and establishing specific river governing body at local levels; (2) Expanding good experiences of riverside basin protection in the area; and (3) Intensive awareness creation about waste management and preserving river water needs to be implemented to improve the surrounding communities’ socioeconomic wellbeing that enable Borkena river clean and viable for future.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download

TY - JOUR
T1 - Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River
AU - Shimellis Hailu Dessie
AU - Sebsib Hadis Woldie
AU - Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome
AU - Yimer Ali Mohammed
Y1 - 2019/09/10
PY - 2019
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12
DO - 10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12
T2 - Social Sciences
JF - Social Sciences
JO - Social Sciences
SP - 214
EP - 225
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2326-988X
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12
AB - Water governance is the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to develop and manage water resources and delivery of water services at different level of society. This research assessed the trends and actors of Borkena river water governance. Borkena is major tributary of Awash River that originated from South Wollo, Kutaber Woreda. The research use qualitative research approach and data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Based on the data, the research found the households and institutions around the river contributed for the depletion of the river water. There is clear policy and practice gap where weak institutional linkages exacerbate the river pollution from bad to worst. The research found that Borkena River serves for the social and economic need of large number of households in the basin. However, the river is found ownerless where no specifically identified government offices are responsible for the river governance at local level. Thus, the river suffers from disposals of industries, companies and households wastes. The river pollution is the result of the absence of planed and systematic solid and liquid wastes management mechanisms from the upper to the lower basin. Based upon the finding, the researchers suggest three areas of intervention using government bureaucracy and other civic organizations. These are: (1) revising the policy documents and establishing specific river governing body at local levels; (2) Expanding good experiences of riverside basin protection in the area; and (3) Intensive awareness creation about waste management and preserving river water needs to be implemented to improve the surrounding communities’ socioeconomic wellbeing that enable Borkena river clean and viable for future.
VL - 8
IS - 5
ER -

Copy | Download

Author Information

Shimellis Hailu Dessie

Department of Political Science and International Relations, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
Sebsib Hadis Woldie

Department of Peace and Development Studies, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome

Department of Peace and Development Studies, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia
Yimer Ali Mohammed

Department of Civics and Ethical Studies, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia

Download PDF

Sections

Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Shimellis Hailu Dessie, Sebsib Hadis Woldie, Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome, Yimer Ali Mohammed. (2019). Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River. Social Sciences, 8(5), 214-225. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Shimellis Hailu Dessie; Sebsib Hadis Woldie; Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome; Yimer Ali Mohammed. Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River. Soc. Sci. 2019, 8(5), 214-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Shimellis Hailu Dessie, Sebsib Hadis Woldie, Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome, Yimer Ali Mohammed. Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River. Soc Sci. 2019;8(5):214-225. doi: 10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12,
  author = {Shimellis Hailu Dessie and Sebsib Hadis Woldie and Mulugeta Tesfaye Teshome and Yimer Ali Mohammed},
  title = {Trends and Actors of Local Water Governance in Ethiopia: The Case of Borkena River},
  journal = {Social Sciences},
  volume = {8},
  number = {5},
  pages = {214-225},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ss.20190805.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ss.20190805.12},
  abstract = {Water governance is the range of political, social, economic and administrative systems that are in place to develop and manage water resources and delivery of water services at different level of society. This research assessed the trends and actors of Borkena river water governance. Borkena is major tributary of Awash River that originated from South Wollo, Kutaber Woreda. The research use qualitative research approach and data were gathered from both primary and secondary sources. Based on the data, the research found the households and institutions around the river contributed for the depletion of the river water. There is clear policy and practice gap where weak institutional linkages exacerbate the river pollution from bad to worst. The research found that Borkena River serves for the social and economic need of large number of households in the basin. However, the river is found ownerless where no specifically identified government offices are responsible for the river governance at local level. Thus, the river suffers from disposals of industries, companies and households wastes. The river pollution is the result of the absence of planed and systematic solid and liquid wastes management mechanisms from the upper to the lower basin. Based upon the finding, the researchers suggest three areas of intervention using government bureaucracy and other civic organizations. These are: (1) revising the policy documents and establishing specific river governing body at local levels; (2) Expanding good experiences of riverside basin protection in the area; and (3) Intensive awareness creation about waste management and preserving river water needs to be implemented to improve the surrounding communities’ socioeconomic wellbeing that enable Borkena river clean and viable for future.},
 year = {2019}
}

Copy | Download