Improving participation and cooperation on water management: Experience from farmer-managed systems in Albania

Author: Fatbardh Sallaku ¹, Demosthenis Chachalis ^2*, Mohamend K. Darawsheh ³, Odeta Tota ⁴, Bujar Huqi ¹ and Shkelqim Fortuzi ⁵

Received 22 September 2008, accepted 12 December 2008.

Abstract

Since 1995 the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in Albania, with the support of the World Bank, commenced a programme of rehabilitation of the irrigation and drainage systems. As part of the process the management, operation and maintenance of the irrigation systems have been transferred to water users associations. A significant part of the transfer programme is to build capacity, both within the newly formed water users associations and within the irrigation community in general. The capacity building requirements cover institutional, technical and financial issues and are essential if conflict over access to, and distribution of, irrigation water is to be avoided. There is visible evidence that conflict is taking place within systems, with damage being done to head end control structures by tail end farmers, disputes within villages and between farmers, and representations by farmers to local government for resolution of water related disputes. Improved water management is seen as an essential part of the conflict resolution process, with the objective of providing an adequate level of service, comprising reliable, adequate, timely and equitable supplies of water to all water users within the command area. Training and capacity building are integral parts of the strategy to achieve these objectives, incorporating awareness training for water users, and training of Water Users Association staff and Administrative Councils. This paper describes the steps taken to establish and implement the training programme and its impact on identified areas of conflict, participation and cooperation.

Key words: Water management, Water Users Associations, Albania, training, capacity building, conflict resolution, performance.