@article{Kassa:344124,
      recid = {344124},
      author = {Kassa, M. and Lemma, M. and Haile, Alemseged Tamiru and  Mekuria, Wolde and Gezahagn, A. and Asnakew, M. and  Haileslassie, Amare},
      title = {Guidelines for the establishment and management of  multi-stakeholder platforms to coordinate integrated water  resources management in river basins with a focus on the  Central Rift Valley Lakes Basin of Ethiopia},
      address = {2024-03-25},
      number = {615-2024-824},
      pages = {39p.},
      month = {Mar},
      year = {2024},
      abstract = {Water resources policy in Ethiopia emphasizes the  significance of integrated water resources management  (IWRM) in river basins. The Ministry of Water and Energy  (MoWE) with its different directorates is vested with the  responsibility of coordinating water resource management  across basins. As part of executing this mandate, MoWE  initiated the preparation of guidelines for establishment  and management of multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) to  coordinate IWRM in various basins. The guidelines presented  in this publication focus on coordinating and managing  water resources in the Central Rift Valley Lakes Basin  within the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lakes Basin. This basin  faces numerous water-related challenges such as increasing  water demand, pollution, ecosystem degradation, climate  change impacts, and conflicting water-use practices. These  guidelines are aimed at defining a framework outlining the  purpose, scope, and scale of MSPs as well as the key roles  to be played by the governance bodies involved. While  facilitating collaboration and partnership among the  stakeholders involved in basin water resources management,  these guidelines explicitly emphasize inclusion of women  and marginalized groups. They highlight the essential  elements required for effective management and governance  of MSPs and underline the need for facilitation,  trust-building, planning, goal-setting, effective  communication, and a commitment to participatory  decision-making. Ultimately, MoWE bears the responsibility  of making the final decisions. Collaborative dialogue and  inclusive decision-making processes are vital for  sustainable water management. Integrated planning, data  collection, monitoring, and evaluation are important for  taking well-informed decisions. Therefore, our guidelines  recommend capacity-building initiatives and  knowledge-exchange platforms to enhance the effectiveness  of MSPs. Additionally, strategies and mechanisms for  securing the financial resources needed to implement IWRM  plans and activities are emphasized. As effective  communication plays a vital role in MSP processes, there is  a need to define objectives, identify stakeholders, select  communication channels, establish communication protocols,  build relationships and trust, and develop outreach  materials. Gender issues in water resources management,  particularly access to water and control and ownership, are  highlighted in these guidelines. Capacity-building  activities are recommended to enhance the knowledge and  skills of the stakeholders involved in the MSPs. Lastly,  the guidelines stress the importance of monitoring and  evaluating the MSPs involved in basin management. Such  evaluations involve measuring stakeholder engagement,  policy alignment, knowledge sharing, and collaboration and  partnerships. These guidelines can be used by basin and  sub-basin coordination experts and officials to establish  and manage MSPs in the Central Rift Valley as well as  beyond.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/344124},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.344124},
}