Water security in peri-urban contexts - Understanding vulnerability by Vishal Narain, presented at the Stockholm World Water Week, August 2011

1. Water security in peri-urban contexts Understanding vulnerability VishalNarain, Stockholm August 2011

2. Periurban Confusing term with no consensus regarding its meaning Used to denote a place Fringe areas around cities Process Transition from rural to urban Concept/analytic construct To study rural-urban relationships

3. What defines periurban Place-based definitions problematic Definition of urban and rural vary from country to country Towns and villages often get reclassified frequently Characteristics of periurban Changing land use Multiple claimants Social heterogeneity Erosion of social capital Livelihoods across both urban and rural spaces With diversity in asset ownership and livelihoods portfolio

4. Locating a ‘periurbanscape’ A mixed patchwork of contrasting land uses Agricultural fields, farm-houses, amusement parks, brick kilns, mining and quarrying, high rise buildings Usually what you see when you drive along a highway or as you leave a large city for the country-side

5. Counterparts of periurban in other languages Dutch halfstedig (semi-urban) East Asia 'desakota‘ (city village) German urbanlandlichen zonen (urban rural zones) Afrikaans buitestedelik (outer city or beyond the city)

6. Why periurban areas need attention Urbanization a defining trend of the 20th century and shall be in the years to come The transitions in periurban locations shape the nature of urbanization processes Receive scant attention because of the dichotomous nature of urban planning and rural development e.g. urban sewerage flowing into a village Periurban often not a term in policy-makers glossary

7. Why are periurban areas water insecure ? Land use change is a reality Water rights are tied to rights in land New claimants on water keep increasing Water sources often filled up and acquired for urban purposes E.g. village ponds and CPRS Urban uses pollute waters at the periphery Water moves physically to urban centres or appropriated by urban users within periurban locations

8. Periurban water insecurity in the context of climate change Vulnerability captures the intersection of multiple stressors Periurban residents face ‘double exposure’ Water insecurity is shaped by the intersection of climate change and urbanization Changes in climatic patterns and urbanization both affect their water insecurity

9. Who are most vulnerable ? Those whose lands lie across strategic locations Those whose lands are geographically concentrated Those whose lands are low-lying or at an elevation Those with fewer assets in the city or back-up options Vulnerability at the intersection of caste and gender Tenants, women and lower castes

10. So what do we do then Challenge the rural-urban dichotomy in development and planning Recognize the flows of water between rural and urban areas Engage service providers and stakeholders Mobilize community to ask for change