Water governance: how combining science and dialogue fostered collective awareness in Tunisia

When I worked on agricultural development projects involving water resources, I understood that it was crucial to consider the various stakeholders. With my team in FAO in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, we collaborated with ministries responsible for water resources, irrigation, and agriculture, among others. It was essential to ensure effective communication among different entities: we realized that sometimes even individuals within the same units needed to enhance their exchanges.

We recognized that water resources play a vital role not only in agriculture but also in other economic sectors. For instance, irrigation often competes with the drinking industry for water allocation quotas, possibly under the responsibility of ministries of economy and planning. This underlined the importance of undertaking a methodical governance analysis to screen the range of actors at stake – also beyond the usual ones.

To facilitate discussions on such a sensitive matter, we presented key scientific evidence. A new study can serve as a catalyst for dialogue, encouraging people to speak and listen while focusing on evidence. Our aim was not only to foster communication but also to develop collective awareness among key actors regarding the importance of this precious resource. When you think deeply about how scarce water resources are, you understand better the necessity of compromising, and you are more willing to accept trade-offs that perhaps would not have been considered without hearing facts and data in front of other parties.

In my experience managing the Water efficiency, productivity and sustainability in the NENA region (WEPS-NENA) project across eight countries, governance played a crucial role. The NENA region heavily relies on irrigation, with 70 percent of the land area under desert or arid conditions. Bringing all stakeholders together was imperative due to the growing demand for water amidst uncertainties in rainfall patterns caused by the climate crisis and rapid population growth.

Initially, we faced challenges engaging actors as not everyone was willing to discuss water management. However, presenting them with facts gathered through a participatory process with recognized water specialists proved to be an effective way to capture their attention. Equally important, we carried out a proper governance analysis to understand who played a relevant role.

This was the case in Tunisia, where we supported the government in launching a water accounting and water governance study for the Lower Valley of the Medjerda (LVM). Medjerda is the country’s longest river. It supplies half of the Tunisian population with drinking water but is under increasing pressure due to human activities.

Over the river’s basin, water users’ associations were supposed to manage water allocation at the local level, transmit information about water use to higher-level governmental structures, and pay fees proportional to the amount of water used. We came to understand that the system was not functioning well; neither the information nor the payment of fees was properly reaching the government. There was a governance problem among the associations.

In the LVM area, factors like repeated droughts and dam siltation create rivalry and disputes over irrigation water among different categories of farmers. In addition, farmers do not form a homogeneous entity defending common interests. We had to distinguish between small and large farmers, producers of different crops, tenants and landowners.

Our approach was to combine a water accounting study with a governance analysis. Both studies were implemented by a multidisciplinary team gathering a team from the central administration and teams from each of the relevant governorates. Experts guided the teams over a year. The study in the LVM revealed significant unaccounted-for water (losses), prompting a more comprehensive national assessment involving various governmental branches. Meanwhile, the political economy analysis exposed gaps in understanding, measurement, and coordination among local stakeholders.

Building scientific evidence alongside fostering dialogue proved effective. This integrated approach led to gradual improvements in the governance system and more sustainable water management. It strengthened awareness, trust and engagement of stakeholders, who became more motivated to find common solutions. 

To achieve this, the government trained academia, government managers and technicians across different levels, developing capacities and aligning perspectives of relevant actors with the support of a national team of trainers previously trained by the WEPS-NENA project. Efforts were not limited to the technical experts but participatory training using different extension approaches (such as farmer field schools) was also provided to farmers with a focus on water productivity enhancement for strategic crops for the country – olive and palm trees.

The LVM case illustrates how identifying key stakeholders and understanding their interests, power relations, and influence is essential for achieving demand-based resource management and more sustainable water governance.
 

About the author:

Domitille Vallée is an agricultural and environmental specialist. She served as Chief Technical Adviser for FAO’s Water efficiency, productivity and sustainability in the NENA region (WEPS-NENA) project between 2019 and 2023.

 
The views and opinions expressed in this piece are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of FAO. FAO does not accept responsibility for, or endorse the views of the author(s). 
 

Learn more:

• Project site: Water efficiency, productivity and sustainability in the NENA region
• Methodological framework: Water auditing/water governance analysis – Governance and policy support
• Policy brief: Improving water governance in Lebanon’s Kalb River Basin - Governance and policy support
• Story: Water sharing: From underground to common ground
• Framework paper: Focus on governance for more effective policy and technical support. Governance and policy support
  
• Video: Presentation of the LVM case by Abdelhamid Mnajja, Tunisia's Director-General a.i. for Rural Engineering and Water Development (in French)
• Case study: Analyse de la gouvernance de l’eau dans la basse vallée de la Medjerda - Tunisie (in French)