David Essaw Centre for Ecological Economics and Water Policy Research University of New England David Essaw Centre for Ecological Economics and Water Policy Research University of New England Methodological Assessment of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

What is IWRM?  Universal Framework  Definition of IWRM  Four universal principles.  Universal Framework  Definition of IWRM  Four universal principles.

Four Universal Principles  Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource  Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach  Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water  Water has an economic value in all its competing uses  Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource  Water development and management should be based on a participatory approach  Women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water  Water has an economic value in all its competing uses

Big Question?  How can Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) present a conceptual framework and methodology through which to facilitate effective feedback and adaptive management responses to water reform processes aimed at integrated economic, environmental and community outcomes?

Application of IWRM in the Study Areas  Assess the goals of IWRM and compare with water resources management (WRM) in case study areas to see how WRM might be improved.  Assess what the promise of IWRM is for case study areas in terms of processes aimed at integrated economic, social and community outcomes.  Assess the goals of IWRM and compare with water resources management (WRM) in case study areas to see how WRM might be improved.  Assess what the promise of IWRM is for case study areas in terms of processes aimed at integrated economic, social and community outcomes.

Approach  The theoretical aspects  Develop an improved IWRM framework for planning processes with practical tools.  Test the proposed methodology across two very different community settings: Australia (Shepperton Irrigation Region) and Ghana (Savlugu – Nantom Irrigation Region)  The theoretical aspects  Develop an improved IWRM framework for planning processes with practical tools.  Test the proposed methodology across two very different community settings: Australia (Shepperton Irrigation Region) and Ghana (Savlugu – Nantom Irrigation Region)

Expected Outcomes  The compare and contrast approach should thus reveal both generalisable and location-specific elements of the IWRM planning processes.  Lessons and best practices from these case studies will inform articulation of an ideal framework that can be used to implement GWP/IWRM agenda.  Tools and processes developed in this study might lead to improved capacities for communities and other stakeholders to respond proactively to change  The compare and contrast approach should thus reveal both generalisable and location-specific elements of the IWRM planning processes.  Lessons and best practices from these case studies will inform articulation of an ideal framework that can be used to implement GWP/IWRM agenda.  Tools and processes developed in this study might lead to improved capacities for communities and other stakeholders to respond proactively to change