@article{Aarnoudse:284166,
      recid = {284166},
      author = {Aarnoudse, E. and Closas, Alvar and Lefore, Nicole},
      title = {Water user associations: a review of approaches and  alternative management options for Sub-Saharan Africa},
      address = {2018-06-13},
      number = {615-2019-850},
      pages = {43},
      month = {Jun},
      year = {2018},
      abstract = {Building on existing literature and the analysis of a  portfolio of development projects (past and under  implementation), this paper reviews the evolution of water  user associations (WUAs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),  reflecting on the conceptualization of how they operate,  and the promised outcomes related to irrigation  development, and the efficient and effective delivery of  irrigation services. It also moves one step further from  existing studies on WUAs, postulating that additional  reflection is needed to understand the limitations of WUAs  and proposes alternative, viable and context-based adapted  models. This need is particularly strong in SSA where  irrigation is incipient, and governments and donors are  still consolidating their development approaches. Whereas a  growing body of international literature takes into account  the sociopolitical context of decentralized irrigation  management, practical indication on what remains to be done  to address the various limitations found in SSA stays  meagre and scattered. The objective of this paper is not to  challenge the myth of WUAs but to learn how to better  deliver on the promised outcomes. The underlying message is  that, if the SSA region is to be made water and food secure  while respecting resource sustainability, community  development, livelihoods and equality of resource access,  the recurrent templates for WUA management and governance  need to be revisited and adapted to local needs.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/284166},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.284166},
}