L29: Centralised/ Decentralised Water Management Flashcards
Centralisation:
to concentrate by placing power and authority in a centre
Decentralisation:
to disperse or distribute power from the centre
Decentralisation extensive definition
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.
Reasons for decentralisation
- political
- economic decline
- cultural factors
- attempts to increase legitimacy
- external pressure
What are the four dimensions of decentralisation
- political
- administrative
- economic
and - physical system
Purpose of political decentralisation
- power in public decision making
- influence on policy formulation and implementation
- local representation
Purpose of administrative decentralisation
- redistribution of authority, responsibility and financial resources
- provision of public services
- deconcentration, delegation and devolution
Purpose of economic decentralisation
- fiscal (revenue)
- privatisation
- deregulation
- democratisation
Values that can be improved/hindered by decentralised government compare to centralised:
- efficiency (private vs public goods)
- governance
What are Wolman’s Governance Values?
- responsivenss and accountability
- diversity
- political participation, education and leadership
- countervailing power
- national interests
- equality
Actors in successful decentralisation
- stakeholders
- local government
- higher level government
Success factors for decentralisation
- organisational
- relationships
- accountability
Positive influence of decentralisation
- transparency
- openness
- accountability
- honesty
- inter-governmental finance
- social programs
- violence and unrest
Considerations for decentralisation in water management
- 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
Components of a water management reform:
- 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
Tools for a water management reform:
- decentralisation
- stakeholder involvement
- public participation
Law of Rights of Mother Nature
- 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.
