Can water users’ associations improve water governance in China? A tale of two villages in the Shiyang River basin

ABSTRACT

A comparative study of two water users’ associations in the Shiyang River basin, north-west China, shows significantly different understanding and experiences among water stakeholders. Factors other than formal organization appear to be more important in participatory irrigation management. For water users’ associations to play a more significant role in water governance, they have to be context-specific, with better understanding of local perspectives, make strategic use of social capital, and cope with shared and/or conflicting interests among stakeholders.

KEYWORDS:

• water users’ association
• social networks
• participation
• water governance
• China