Groundwater and Land Tenure Governance in a Post-conflict Setting in Ethiopia: Assessment, Regulation, and Reconstruction Frameworks

Abstract

The interface of groundwater and land tenure governance is intricate, bundled with overlapping and contesting interests and reciprocal implications. The core issues in the interface relate to institutions, rules, actors, and the processes involved in making decisions and formulating law and policy frameworks. Research on the actors of water governance and examining the context, interactions, and implications is essential to analyse tenure governance. This article mainly explores the institutional, dimensional, content, and relational aspects of water governance in post-conflict settings within the selected case studies from Tigray Region. Besides, the structures, actors, and decision-making processes are explored with a view to indicating the policy options and strategies of reconstruction. The realities on the intersection of conflict-related factors, groundwater water and land tenure governance are explored through the qualitative research approach by triangulating the relevant data, primary and secondary sources, participants, and methods in the cases. The existing water governance, as a one-size-fits-all approach, is assessed to determine whether it promotes sustainable, efficient, equitable, and inclusive water governance during and in a post-conflict setting. The status of water allocation and utilisation, tenure security, and spheres of dispute settlement are also assessed. Policy options and helpful appraisal strategies are outlined based on the opportunities and challenges thereof. The existing opportunities, where Irrigation Water Associations (IWAs) and Water Committees can be revitalised and scaled up into similar cases and contexts, are indicated with specific suggestions on the way forward.