Challenges and Opportunities of Natural Resources Governanace in the Blue Nile Basin Region of Ethiopia

Tesfaye Kassa, Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The study has undertaken an assessment and gap analysis of the institutional arrangements for improved natural resources governance in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia, most particularly the Tana and Beles sub basins. Attempts have been made to explore the mandates and design features of the major land and water related institutional arrangements and governance structures. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews and literature review have been used to gather pertinent data and information. Descriptive statistical methods and narrative techniques were used to analyze the data and information.

The results of the study revealed that some progress has been made in creating an institutional framework for improved natural resources governance (land and water management) and the policies and laws hitherto developed reflect global policy changes on the principles of natural resources governance. Interestingly, there are cases where informal institutions have replaced formal institutions. Judged by their enforcement capacity, natural resources governance such as water resources management, pollution control standards and regulations and land use rights are not enacted effectively because of poor institutional structure and enforcement capacity.

Overall there is tendency to focus on command-and-control type or top-down policies, more so in the environmental sector. There is a need to strengthen traditional or indigenous institutions and governance structures by drawing lessons from successful cases within and outside the Blue Nile basin. There is also a need to improve formal policy design, developing policies with specific objectives, goals, targets and overall institutional changes and resources through active adaptive management to maximize the level and effectiveness of institutional learning and effective governance. Finally, more focus need to be laid on incentive-based policies through increased use of positive stimulus and more emphasis need to be given on self-enforcement than third party enforcement approaches.

 

Challenges and Opportunities of Natural Resources Governanace in the Blue Nile Basin Region of Ethiopia

The study has undertaken an assessment and gap analysis of the institutional arrangements for improved natural resources governance in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia, most particularly the Tana and Beles sub basins. Attempts have been made to explore the mandates and design features of the major land and water related institutional arrangements and governance structures. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews and literature review have been used to gather pertinent data and information. Descriptive statistical methods and narrative techniques were used to analyze the data and information.

The results of the study revealed that some progress has been made in creating an institutional framework for improved natural resources governance (land and water management) and the policies and laws hitherto developed reflect global policy changes on the principles of natural resources governance. Interestingly, there are cases where informal institutions have replaced formal institutions. Judged by their enforcement capacity, natural resources governance such as water resources management, pollution control standards and regulations and land use rights are not enacted effectively because of poor institutional structure and enforcement capacity.

Overall there is tendency to focus on command-and-control type or top-down policies, more so in the environmental sector. There is a need to strengthen traditional or indigenous institutions and governance structures by drawing lessons from successful cases within and outside the Blue Nile basin. There is also a need to improve formal policy design, developing policies with specific objectives, goals, targets and overall institutional changes and resources through active adaptive management to maximize the level and effectiveness of institutional learning and effective governance. Finally, more focus need to be laid on incentive-based policies through increased use of positive stimulus and more emphasis need to be given on self-enforcement than third party enforcement approaches.