L29: Centralised/ Decentralised Water Management

Question 1

Centralisation:

Answer 1

to concentrate by placing power and authority in a centre

Question 2

Decentralisation:

Answer 2

to disperse or distribute power from the centre

Question 3

Decentralisation extensive definition

Answer 3

transfer of responsibility for planning, management and resource-raising & allocation from the central government to field units, subordinate units, semi autonomous public authorities or corporations, regional or functional authorities, NGO, etc.

Question 4

Reasons for decentralisation

Answer 4

• political
• economic decline
• cultural factors
• attempts to increase legitimacy
• external pressure

Question 5

What are the four dimensions of decentralisation

Answer 5

• political
• administrative
• economic
  and
• physical system

Question 6

Purpose of political decentralisation

Answer 6

• power in public decision making
• influence on policy formulation and implementation
• local representation

Question 7

Purpose of administrative decentralisation

Answer 7

• redistribution of authority, responsibility and financial resources
• provision of public services
• deconcentration, delegation and devolution

Question 8

Purpose of economic decentralisation

Answer 8

• fiscal (revenue)
• privatisation
• deregulation
• democratisation

Question 9

Values that can be improved/hindered by decentralised government compare to centralised:

Answer 9

• efficiency (private vs public goods)

- governance

Question 10

What are Wolman’s Governance Values?

Answer 10

• responsivenss and accountability
• diversity
• political participation, education and leadership
• countervailing power
• national interests
• equality

Question 11

Actors in successful decentralisation

Answer 11

• stakeholders
• local government
• higher level government

Question 12

Success factors for decentralisation

Answer 12

• organisational
• relationships
• accountability

Question 13

Positive influence of decentralisation

Answer 13

• transparency
• openness
• accountability
• honesty
• inter-governmental finance
• social programs
• violence and unrest

Question 14

Considerations for decentralisation in water management

Answer 14

• problems with high level of uncertainty, competing values and far reaching consequences
• involves multiple organisations and requires high degree of cooperation
• difference in perceptions & values lead to politics

Question 15

Components of a water management reform:

Answer 15

• basic water supply and sanitation and equitable access to water for all users
• protection of public health and aquatic ecosystems
• integrated and sustainable water management

Question 16

Tools for a water management reform:

Answer 16

• decentralisation
• stakeholder involvement
• public participation

Question 17

Law of Rights of Mother Nature

Answer 17

1. To life: The right to maintain the integrity of living systems and natural processes that sustain them, and capacities and conditions for regeneration.
   2. To the diversity of life: It is the right to preservation of differentiation and variety of beings that make up Mother Earth, without being genetically altered or structurally modified in an artificial way, so that their existence, functioning or future potential would be threatened.
   3. To water: The right to preserve the functionality of the water cycle, its existence in the quantity and quality needed to sustain living systems, and its protection from pollution for the reproduction of the life of Mother Earth and all its components.
   4. To clean air: The right to preserve the quality and composition of air for sustaining living systems and its protection from pollution, for the reproduction of the life of Mother Earth and all its components.
   5. To equilibrium: The right to maintenance or restoration of the interrelationship, interdependence, complementarity and functionality of the components of Mother Earth in a balanced way for the continuation of their cycles and reproduction of their vital processes.
   6. To restoration: The right to timely and effective restoration of living systems affected by human activities directly or indirectly.
   7. To pollution-free living: The right to the preservation of any of Mother Earth’s components from contamination, as well as toxic and radioactive waste generated by human activities.