The aim of the study emanates from the research question: Is the incorporation of the integrated water resource management (IWRM) approach in South Africa’s water policy, from a political point of view, appropriate? The IWRM approach, as applied to developing countries, originated in developed countries with predominantly homogeneous societies where there is a broad commitment to democratic principles, the free market system and individualism. Societies in developing countries do not necessarily share the same characteristics associated with those in developed countries. South Africa, classified as a developing country, has a multicultural society that reflects an income disparity and two major cultures, namely a modernised Western and a traditional African culture. As a result two subsidiary research questions follow: Can the commitment and impartiality of all the stakeholders that partake in the decision-making processes of water institutions at all levels be ensured? Is it possible to establish small, efficient and financially viable bureaucratic structures (water institutions) at the level of water management areas (WMA)? The study uses the public choice theory to assess the IWRM approach in selected developed and developing countries. The applicability of public choice concepts with reference to the differences between Western and African cultures are briefly alluded to. It also defines the IWRM approach and certain IWRM elements that have political implications for society at large. The study describes specific elements of the IWRM approach in France and Australia and the relative successes thereof in terms of the public choice theory. The implementation of the IWRM approach in Indochina and selective developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are described to highlight certain institutional problems, inadequate financial resources, the lack of capacity and various cultural aspects that inhibit the efficiency and effectiveness of the IWRM approach. In the analysis of South Africa’s water policy, the study found that the multicultural nature of society, the unequal levels of economic development and the limited level of technological and scientific knowledge, will make it extremely difficult to implement the IWRM approach without contextualising it. According to the public choice theory, the net benefits of a policy for a society must outweigh the costs. If not, the policy needs to be either adjusted or abandoned. Since none of the proposed catchment management agencies (CMA) were established between 1998 and 2001, it is not possible to come to a verifiable conclusion. However, the study indicates that the opportunity costs of the IWRM approach are likely to outweigh the benefits for society. Other aspects that necessitate a re-evaluation of South Africa’s water policy are the holistic element of the IWRM approach and the demarcation of WMAs. The study identifies three options: The first option is to revert back to the riparian principle. The second option is to either revisit the concept of public participation, or to re-delineate the WMAs. The third and most favourable option is to abandon the concept of public participation. It would not only negate the need for CMAs (and indirectly WMAs), but would also greatly simplify the management of water resources. / Dissertation (M (Political and Policy Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Political Sciences / unrestricted

The birth of a non-racial democracy in South Africa brought many challenges such as the supply of potable water to all societies irrespective of their colour or even location. Migration of people from rural to urban has increased the demand of potable water supply in many areas that were previously neglected by the former Apartheid regime. The increase of the human population in urban or developing areas of South Africa will therefore imply that various public services such as potable water supply, proper housing, electricity supply, schooling and basic health facilities should be provided in an efficient, effective and economic manner. As the resident of Khuma Township, the researcher has a keen interest in the management of potable water supply in this area, inter alia, the nature and extent of the physical environment and the efficiency and effectiveness of a potable water supply as a means of improving service delivery by the Matlosana Local Municipality to Khuma Township. The area has the history of gold mining and the majority of the people from other rural areas and neighbouring states moved into this area and were later joined by their families. This resulted in an increase in the population to a point where people were placed in dangerous areas such as underlying dolomite and along the Koekemoer spruit. For example, extension 6 is known to experience sinkholes due to underground mining activities and the underline dolomite rock. The population has increased in Khuma Township to such an extent that a shortage of potable water supply is been experienced. Khuma Township had one water reservoir for the past 40 years and Matlosana Local Municipality did not improve or developed infrastructure related to potable water supply to be able to cater for the increasing population of this area. An empirical study was conducted in among the residents of Khuma Township, Matlosana Local Municipality and role-players in the management of potable water supply. From this study, it was evident that the supply of potable water in Khuma Township is insufficient, and there was poor communication, cooperation and participation between Matlosana Local Municipality and the residents of Khuma Township. The ineffective management of potable water supply in Khuma Township by the Matlosana Local Municipality as well as ignoring the significance of settling people in a safe area that is free from water pollution, sinkholes and underlying dolomite rock left a lot to be desired. The researcher arrived at logical conclusions and recommendations with regard to all aspects related to future management of potable water supply in Khuma Township. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

The birth of a non-racial democracy in South Africa brought many challenges such as the supply of potable water to all societies irrespective of their colour or even location. Migration of people from rural to urban has increased the demand of potable water supply in many areas that were previously neglected by the former Apartheid regime. The increase of the human population in urban or developing areas of South Africa will therefore imply that various public services such as potable water supply, proper housing, electricity supply, schooling and basic health facilities should be provided in an efficient, effective and economic manner. As the resident of Khuma Township, the researcher has a keen interest in the management of potable water supply in this area, inter alia, the nature and extent of the physical environment and the efficiency and effectiveness of a potable water supply as a means of improving service delivery by the Matlosana Local Municipality to Khuma Township. The area has the history of gold mining and the majority of the people from other rural areas and neighbouring states moved into this area and were later joined by their families. This resulted in an increase in the population to a point where people were placed in dangerous areas such as underlying dolomite and along the Koekemoer spruit. For example, extension 6 is known to experience sinkholes due to underground mining activities and the underline dolomite rock. The population has increased in Khuma Township to such an extent that a shortage of potable water supply is been experienced. Khuma Township had one water reservoir for the past 40 years and Matlosana Local Municipality did not improve or developed infrastructure related to potable water supply to be able to cater for the increasing population of this area. An empirical study was conducted in among the residents of Khuma Township, Matlosana Local Municipality and role-players in the management of potable water supply. From this study, it was evident that the supply of potable water in Khuma Township is insufficient, and there was poor communication, cooperation and participation between Matlosana Local Municipality and the residents of Khuma Township. The ineffective management of potable water supply in Khuma Township by the Matlosana Local Municipality as well as ignoring the significance of settling people in a safe area that is free from water pollution, sinkholes and underlying dolomite rock left a lot to be desired. The researcher arrived at logical conclusions and recommendations with regard to all aspects related to future management of potable water supply in Khuma Township. / M Development and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Née d’un travail partenarial entre le Groupement des Amis des Parcs Naturels Régionaux du Sud-Est (GAPSE) et l’Université Savoie Mont Blanc, cette thèse, réalisée dans le cadre d’une convention CIFRE, s’intéresse au volet participatif de la Gestion Intégrée de la Ressource en Eau (GIRE) dans les Parcs Naturels Régionaux de montagne du Sud-Est français.L’étude se fonde sur le retour d’expérience et l’analyse réflexive du programme de recherche-action-collaborative et participative « L’eau, entre mémoire et devenir », initié en 2008 par le GAPSE. À partir d’une méthode d’enquête auprès des acteurs clefs, elle identifie, dans ces territoires, une trentaine d’actions relevant du volet participatif de la GIRE. Le recensement et l’examen de ces actions et de leurs conditions de mise en œuvre, amènent à construire une représentation, sous forme de modèle évolutif, de cette approche participative de la GIRE. Les PNR s’inventent alors en nouveaux territoires de l’eau. En dépassant le strict cadre de la gestion par bassin, l’analyse approfondie des jeux, logiques et paysages actoriels œuvrant dans la mise en place de ces actions permet de questionner ce nouveau statut.Ce travail montre que, malgré une évolution législative liée à la réforme territoriale, restreignant les prérogatives des PNR en matière de gestion de la ressource en eau, des formes innovantes de démarches participatives s’observent, allant au-delà des dispositifs institutionnels de concertation de la GIRE.Ces initiatives volontaires, issues des collectivités, du milieu associatif ou encore de divers collectifs citoyens, sont souvent encore disparates et manquent de cohérence et de liant entre elles. L’action publique doit ainsi composer avec cette diversité d’acteurs et d’actions, aux objectifs et formes variés. Se dessine alors un enjeu d’articulation des démarches participatives et d’innovation en matière de participation citoyenne, auquel ce travail tente de répondre en proposant un guide méthodologique de mise en œuvre d’une GIRE participative fondé sur le retour d’expérience des PNR du Sud-Est. / The thesis arises from a partnership work between the association “ le Groupement des Amis des Parcs Naturels Régionaux du Sud-Est ” (GAPSE) and the “Savoie Mont Blanc ” University. It was made within the CIFRE agreement (Industrial agreement of learning/training by research). The PhD focuses on the participatory component of the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) in the regional nature parks in the south-east of France.The study relies on the feedback and the analysis of the participatory action research program called “L’Eau entre mémoire et devenir” (“Water between memory and future”), which has been created in 2008 by the GAPSE. Based on a survey methodology of key actors, the thesis identifies around thirty participatory actions under the IWRM. The census and analysis of these actions and of their implementation conditions led to build a dynamic model about the participatory approach of IWRM.We examine the regional nature parks status, as news water territories, beyond the narrower confines of watershed-based management, on the basis of a thorough and integrated analysis of actors’ interactions.This study shows that these territories can generate innovative participatory actions going beyond just the institutional conciliation scheme, based on a representative system. These actions arise despite the legislative change, due to a territorial reform, which restrict water prerogatives of regional nature parks.However, these voluntary initiatives implemented by the territorial authorities, associations or citizen collective organizations are still disparate and lack of coherence and coordination between them.The public action has to deal with a diversity of actors and actions with various objectives. The real issue becomes citizen participatory initiatives articulation. This PhD tries to answer to this challenge by proposing a methodological guide about the IWRM implementation, based on the regional nature parks feedbacks.

L’objet de la thèse est d’évaluer la pertinence de l’approche participative comme outil-levier pour une gestion locale mieux partagée et durable des ressources en eau autour du lac de Guiers au Sénégal. Unique lac d’eau douce d’importance du pays, implanté dans une zone semi-désertique de la région écologique sahélienne, le lac de Guiers est très convoité par plusieurs types d’usages. Il est considéré, au plan national comme au plan local, comme une source vitale d’approvisionnement en eau potable des régions proches et de grandes villes une ressource stratégique pour le maintien de l’autosuffisance alimentaire ainsi qu’un moteur de développement économique pour les communautés villageoises agro-pastorales. La démarche méthodologique retenue est de type « bottom-up », partant du diagnostic de terrain du cas du lac de Guiers. Elle s’appuie sur des entretiens et enquêtes par questionnaires auprès des gestionnaires et des usagers de l’eau du lac, une analyse des jeux d’acteurs dans un cadre institutionnel en évolution et l’analyse des dynamiques spatiales de répartition des usages de l’eau. Ce diagnostic montre dans quelle mesure l’approche participative prônée dans les stratégies et plans de gestion de l’eau du lac de Guiers est effectivement mise en œuvre et vient renforcer la participation des usagers de la ressource en eau pour parvenir à une gestion mieux partagée et durable de celle-ci. L’approche participative n'est fonctionnelle que si le cadre de gestion s’inscrit dans une démarche globale de gestion concertée et intégrée dans laquelle tous les usagers et les acteurs gestionnaires sont co-gestionnaires de la démarche.De plus, l’approche participative reste souvent difficile à organiser. Cette difficulté est d’autant plus forte que l’étendue géographique est grande, et qu’il s’agit de faire participer tous les usagers et acteurs gestionnaires concernés à toutes les échelles avec des intérêts parfois contradictoires. Par ailleurs, la thèse révèle que l’accroissement de l’implantation d’activités économiques sensées profiter à la région conduit à des effets pervers qui vont à l’encontre des objectifs des plans de gestion : baisse de la qualité de l’eau et des quantités disponibles (pollution causée par les rejets des agro-industries et augmentation des volumes de prélèvement).Toutes les séries d’actions engagées constituent des dépenses pour les acteurs gestionnaires (maintenance des infrastructures, contrôle des prélèvements, lutte contre la pollution etc.). Dans ce domaine, la thèse recommande que la gestion de la ressource en eau du lac prenne en compte cette dimension déterminante, en développant de nouveaux outils de gestion correspondant à la valorisation économique de l’eau et en créant un Observatoire, outil intégrateur de son avenir durable. Ceci est une condition sine qua non pour une amélioration des conditions de vie des riverains. La thèse confirme, à travers le cas du lac de Guiers, la pertinence des théories de l’approche participative pour accompagner et aider ses acteurs gestionnaires dans leur appréhension et leur organisation du système de gestion. / The aim of the thesis is to evaluate the relevance of the participatory approach as a leverage tool to achieve a better shared and sustainable local management of water resources around lake Guiers in Senegal. It is the only freshwater lake of importance in the country. Located in a semi-desert zone of the Sahelian ecological region, lake Guiers is coveted by several types of uses. It is considered both nationally and locally as a vital resource for drinking water supply in nearby regions and large cities as a strategic resource for maintaining food self-sufficiency, as well as being a vector of economic development of the agro-pastoral village communities.The methodological approach adopted is the "bottom-up" approach, starting from field diagnosis of the case of lake Guiers. It is based on interviews and questionnaire surveys with managers and users of the lake’s water, an analysis of the sets of actors in an evolving institutional framework and the analysis of the spatial dynamics of distribution of the uses of the lake’s water. This diagnosis demonstrates the extent to which the participatory approach advocated in the water management strategies and plans of lake Guiers is effectively implemented and strengthens the participation of water resource users in order to achieve a better shared and sustainable management of this water resource.The participatory approach is functional only if the management framework is part of a comprehensive, collaborative and integrated management approach in which all users and managers are involved in the decision-making process (co-management). Furthermore, the participatory approach is often difficult to organize. This difficulty increases when the geographical scope is large and the aim is to involve all the users and managers concerned at all levels with sometimes contradictory interests. Moreover, the thesis reveals that the increase in the implantation of economic activities that are supposed to benefit the region leads to perverse effects that run counter to the objectives of the management plans: a drop in water quality and of the available quantities (pollution caused by discharges from agro-industries and increased collection volumes). All the series of actions (services) involved imply expenditures for the management actors (maintenance of infrastructures, control of sampling, pollution control etc.). In this area, the thesis recommends that the management of water resources in the lake should take into account this decisive dimension, by developing new management tools corresponding to the economic valuation of water and by creating an observatory, an integrating tool of its sustainable future. This is a sine qua non condition for improving the living conditions of local residents. The thesis confirms, through the case of Lake Guiers, the relevance of the theories of the participatory approach to accompany and help its management actors in their apprehension and organization of the management system.