Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Analysing stakeholder interests in the water resources of the Incomati river basin and adjacent coastal zone

Auteur : Kachapila, A.T.

Université de soutenance : UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft

Grade : Master of Science (MS) 2004

Résumé
One of the key concepts for integrated water resources management is the participation of stakeholders in decision-making or other functions of management, notably in water resources planning. The second Dublin Principle stresses the need for adequate involvement of all interested parties in planning and management and in mechanisms for accountability and democratic control. Therefore, it is very important to set up a platform at which all relevant stakeholder interests are represented and at which they can decide in what processes of water resources management they should participate. This platform also serves as a tool for dealing with conflicts and for implementing development projects. This research analyses the characteristics of key stakeholders in the Incomati River Basin and coastal zone to determine how they affect, or are affected by water issues and problems, their interests in the water resources, and their influence over and relative importance to policy development and implementation. By looking at the relative power they have and the priority government accords to various water uses, the research then comes up with suggestion of how each stakeholder should be involved when developing management strategies. The research has found that although there is an array of stakeholders in the Incomati River Basin and coastal zone, it is only a few players who dominate the stakes in water resource utilisation in the basin. The sugar industry (sugar mills and sugarcane plantations), Sappi paper mill and associated exotic forest owners, and power generation company are using up to 92% of the available water between them. Thus the benefits of the water resources are going to a minority in the basin. An analysis of the stakeholders’ interests shows that foregoing these water uses does not generate enough benefits to compensate the foregone benefits, but measures to improve water use efficiency such as improving irrigation efficiencies and swapping to high value crops results in increased benefits for all countries. The research concludes that better water use efficiency leads to more benefits from water use for all countries of the Incomati River Basin. More water is made available for the environment and estuary, and also for previously disadvantaged groups like emerging farmers. Sharing benefits rather than the actual water itself would result in more equitable water allocation.

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