Importance of innovation and complexity in sharing and managing transboundary water Annette Huber-Lee, Jonathan Woolley and Alain Vidal

Outline Overview of CPWF objective Framework to examine complexity and benefit sharing Insights from research Collective action at multiple scales Companion modeling for conflict resolution Summary

Overview of CPWF objective

Framework to examine complexity and benefit sharing

Insights from research

Collective action at multiple scales

Companion modeling for conflict resolution

Summary

CPWF Objective: To increase the productivity of water for food and livelihoods via increased social and ecological resilience , and alleviate poverty for disadvantaged groups.

Addressing complexity Far from Source: Patton, 2007 Certainty Agreement Close to Far from Close to Simple Plan, control Zone of Complexity Technically Complicated Experiment, coordinate expertise Socially Complicated Build relationships, create common ground

A complex system is one where ‘things’ are connected by non-linear forces with ‘feedbacks’ Expertise can help but is not sufficient; relationships are key Uncertainty of outcome remains Need for continual innovation Without diversity there is no evolution and creativity Complex systems

A complex system is one where ‘things’ are connected by non-linear forces with ‘feedbacks’

Expertise can help but is not sufficient; relationships are key

Uncertainty of outcome remains

Need for continual innovation

Without diversity there is no evolution and creativity

Conceptualizing Complexity Swallow, Johnson, Meinzen-Dick and Knox, 2006

Action arenas Socially defined space with: Actors Livelihood assets Rules (informal and formal institutions) Actions The same decision can be reached in different action arenas, where actors may have different levels of resources

Socially defined space with:

Actors

Livelihood assets

Rules (informal and formal institutions)

Actions

The same decision can be reached in different action arenas, where actors may have different levels of resources

Hypothesis Increasing the social and human capacity (livelihood assets) of rural poor and associated institutions increases the resilience of coupled human and natural systems

Increasing the social and human capacity (livelihood assets) of rural poor and associated institutions increases the resilience of coupled human and natural systems

Research Highlights Sustaining Inclusive Collective Action that Links across Economic and Ecological Scales Project (SCALES)

Sustaining Inclusive Collective Action that Links across Economic and Ecological Scales Project

(SCALES)

Andes Watersheds Dominated by agriculture and livestock High poverty rates Conflict around environment and eco-services

Dominated by agriculture and livestock

High poverty rates

Conflict around environment and eco-services

Multi-stakeholder platform Legal mechanism – conversatorios – in Colombia to increase engagement of civil society in watershed decisions Three phases: Preparation Negotiation Follow-up Limited applications

Legal mechanism – conversatorios – in Colombia to increase engagement of civil society in watershed decisions

Three phases:

Preparation

Negotiation

Follow-up

Limited applications

Conversatorio – collective action Focus on building human and social capital, including trainings on: Legal rights Ability to analyze environmental issues such as water quality, erosion, loss of biodiversity Identifying solutions and analyzing problems Debating and speaking in public Economic games

Focus on building human and social capital, including trainings on:

Legal rights

Ability to analyze environmental issues such as water quality, erosion, loss of biodiversity

Identifying solutions and analyzing problems

Debating and speaking in public

Economic games

Fuquene conversatorio Fuquene farmers ask their questions Staff record agreements for immediate signature In Fuquene, 26 agreements were signed on February 28, 2007

Results 75 specific commitments totaling over $10 million Experimental games resulted in increased trust Mentoring communities to participate in conversatorios – a forum where policy makers have to respond to community issues – proved highly effective Showed scientifically informed dialogue with awareness of power structures can lead to better overall outcomes

75 specific commitments totaling over $10 million

Experimental games resulted in increased trust

Mentoring communities to participate in conversatorios – a forum where policy makers have to respond to community issues – proved highly effective

Showed scientifically informed dialogue with awareness of power structures can lead to better overall outcomes

Research Highlights Companion Modeling and Water Dynamics Project

Companion Modeling for resilient water management (Trebuil, 2008) Stakeholders’ perceptions of water dynamics and collective learning at catchment scale How to model & integrate different stakeholders’ perceptions for collective action?

Companion modeling in action

Preliminary Results Individual and collective learning based on a common framework Role playing games established lines of communication addressing asymmetries Exploration of new water management rules via scenarios in adaptive management approach Reduced conflicts via creative negotiation and institutional innovations

Individual and collective learning based on a common framework

Role playing games established lines of communication addressing asymmetries

Exploration of new water management rules via scenarios in adaptive management approach

Reduced conflicts via creative negotiation and institutional innovations

Summary Lessons

Lessons Complexity need not be an obstacle – people can reach a common understanding & develop solutions Effectiveness depends on local institutional context and ability to introduce new and innovative forms of dialogue across multiple levels of organizations Laws need to recognize asymmetries of power and find ways to level the playing field Increasing social and human capacity can increase resilience of people and ecosystems

Complexity need not be an obstacle – people can reach a common understanding & develop solutions

Effectiveness depends on local institutional context and ability to introduce new and innovative forms of dialogue across multiple levels of organizations

Laws need to recognize asymmetries of power and find ways to level the playing field

Increasing social and human capacity can increase resilience of people and ecosystems

Diversity of people increases innovation