TY - JOUR

T1 - The evolution of community water governance in Uchira, Tanzania

T2 - The implications for equality of access, sustainability and effectiveness

AU - Cleaver, Frances

AU - Toner, Anna

PY - 2006/8/1

Y1 - 2006/8/1

N2 - Community participation, ownership and cost sharing are key components of Tanzania's water policy, in common with the broad international consensus on water governance. However these policy goals are difficult to achieve, beset with paradoxes and their benefits may be overstated, both in terms of efficiency of resource management and equality of outcomes. This article draws on longitudinal ethnographic research of a village water supply in Tanzania to explore two issues: the contested nature of community ownership and the complex evolution of a 'community-owned' institution. The evidence from the Uchira Water Users Association leads us to question some of the simplistic assumptions made concerning the capacity of local communities to manage service delivery and to balance equity and sustainability principles. The limitations of'bottom-up' and demand led approaches need to be recognised without discrediting their potential for challenging inequalities. The article concludes with a consideration of some of the tensions in community-driven development, which raises some important questions about the role of the State and external agencies in setting and enforcing equity criteria in community-managed initiatives.

AB - Community participation, ownership and cost sharing are key components of Tanzania's water policy, in common with the broad international consensus on water governance. However these policy goals are difficult to achieve, beset with paradoxes and their benefits may be overstated, both in terms of efficiency of resource management and equality of outcomes. This article draws on longitudinal ethnographic research of a village water supply in Tanzania to explore two issues: the contested nature of community ownership and the complex evolution of a 'community-owned' institution. The evidence from the Uchira Water Users Association leads us to question some of the simplistic assumptions made concerning the capacity of local communities to manage service delivery and to balance equity and sustainability principles. The limitations of'bottom-up' and demand led approaches need to be recognised without discrediting their potential for challenging inequalities. The article concludes with a consideration of some of the tensions in community-driven development, which raises some important questions about the role of the State and external agencies in setting and enforcing equity criteria in community-managed initiatives.

KW - Governance

KW - Institutions

KW - Ownership

KW - Participation

KW - Rural water supply

U2 - 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2006.00115.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2006.00115.x

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:33749166774

VL - 30

SP - 207

EP - 218

JO - Natural Resources Forum

JF - Natural Resources Forum

SN - 0165-0203

IS - 3

ER -