Water Tenure in action
This section showcases projects, publications, events, and tools from around the world that contribute to advancing the understanding and governance of water tenure. It is a space for sharing knowledge, experiences, and innovative approaches that support equitable and sustainable water allocation in diverse contexts.
This collection is part of ScaleWat’s effort to strengthen the global dialogue on water tenure by highlighting initiatives from governments, research institutions, civil society, and communities. By bringing these resources together, the page aims to inspire collaboration, inform policy discussions, and promote practical solutions for responsible water governance.
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[Publication] Principles and legal tools for equitable water resource allocation: prioritization in South Africa
01/10/2025
Submitted by Barbara van Koppen
South Africa’s legally binding National Water Resource Strategy specifies a people-oriented prioritization for the equitable allocation of the nation’s public trust of surface and groundwater resources. This article analyses how the Inkomati–Usuth...
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[Publication] A hybrid approach to decolonize formal water law in Africa
01/10/2025
Submitted by Barbara van Koppen
In recent decades, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa have pursued national water permit systems, derived from the colonial era and reinforced by “global best practice.” These systems have proved logistically impossible to manage and have worsen...
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[Publication] Water commons grabbing and (in)justice
01/10/2025
Submitted by Paolo D'Odorico.
Water commons are water resources collectively managed and utilized by communities as common property to support their food security, traditions, and livelihoods. Water commons are under increasing pressure of acquisition, privatization, and grabbin...
[Publication] Ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
01/10/2025
Submitted by Barbara van Koppen
Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) seeks to ‘ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all’, and addresses the pathways to health, hygiene and ending hunger. Chapter 16 of "Handbook on Public Policy and Food Sec...
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[Publication] Winners and losers in IWRM in Tanzania
01/10/2025
Submitted by Barbara van Koppen
This paper focuses on the application of the concept of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Tanzania. It asks: how did IWRM affect most of the smallholder farmers’ access to water which contributes directly to poverty alleviation and e...
[Publication] Water is life: Women’s human rights in national and local water governance in Southern and Eastern Africa
01/10/2025
Submitted by Barbara van Koppen
This book approaches water and sanitation as a gender and human rights issue focusing on the situation in four southern and eastern African countries: Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The relationship between gender, human rights and wate...
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[Publication] Water law reform to improve water security for vulnerable people in Africa: A hybrid water law
01/10/2025
Submitted by Barbara van Koppen
Permit systems used for water authorization in many African countries were introduced in the colonial era to protect water entitlements of settlers, disregarding customary water tenure and local needs Permit systems require users of water above a ...
[Publication] Customary water rights and legal pluralism
01/10/2025
Submitted by Barbara van Koppen
Water plays a key role in addressing the most pressing global challenges of our time, including climate change adaptation, food and energy security, environmental sustainability and the promotion of peace and stability. This comprehensive handbook...