Capnet South Asia

ResNet South Asia - Initiatives - Status of Water Research in South Asia

Introduction

Initiatives


-	International Foundation for Science

-	Status of Water Research in South Asia


	Resnet Brochure

Past Assessment & Future Strategies
Towards Building a Knowledge Base for IWRM
(Submitted by Regional Secretariat of Capnet SA on behalf of ResNet SA)

Objectives and Goals

The long term goal of the exercise is to contribute to a process of developing an understanding of the research in water focused sectors in South Asian countries with a view to assessing how this knowledge can be accessed, modified /developed and utilized for operational sing IWRM in the region.

The more specific and immediate objectives are:

	To undertake stocktaking assessment of the current research in water sector in South Asian countries of Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

	Based on the above � to identify gaps in the research domain with a view to requirements of institutionalizing IWRM as the dominant paradigm for WRD at all levels.

	To suggest a strategy based on the long term research agenda that proposes to integrate research incentives and outputs with practice/policy of water in an interdisciplinary/integrated context.

Rationale
Water Research - like the understanding, planning, policy and practice of water � is typically carried out in a fragmented manner in the region. Water is �developed� in its various existential forms such as surface, ground, snow, rain etc. quite independent of the interconnectedness that follows from the hydrological cycle. Further it is treated in isolation from its social/institutional/ environmental context. Research resonates this segmentation through a partial, piecemeal, uni-disciplinary orientation that not only focuses on partial facets of water, that are drawn out of context of their material situations but also responds to sectional interests and motivations for research - that do not necessarily coincide with those of the majority of water consumers in the developing countries. In other words � research reflects the priorities of a �part� of stakeholders that have an interest only in �part� of water and that too from a partial perspective � either purely technical or purely social/institutional.

This leads to a variety of forms of reductionisms. As a basis for understating water problems, planning, policy formulation, trouble shooting, long/short term prescriptive exercises etc. such a knowledge base is clearly inadequate. The incontrovertible evidence of poor performance of most WRD in South Asian countries � particularly in the public domain � which comprises the largest chunk of investment in the water sector � is a living testimony to the distortions in the implicit conceptualization of water issues. As a precursor to action � the knowledge domain in water needs to be revitalized and in a manner which can be ratified through successful WRM in the field.

Hence the need for research from a holistic perspective with inter-disciplinary inputs that can suggest integrated plans of action for WR planning, execution, management & utilization. Finally, linkages of research outputs with action strategies have remained typically weak � either due to lack of effective mechanisms or possibly irrelevance of research that indicates lack of rooted ness of research in local problems. The foregoing points to a need for consolidating learning's from past research efforts and continue to build on the same through a well honed strategy that consciously incorporates the agenda of IWRM which has been missing in the earlier practice.

Proposal It is proposed to prepare representative inventory of research on water issues based on sample review with a reference to the following:

	Institutional centre of research � govt / autonomous / donor / private / NGO / University / educational institutions.

	Source of support � financial, professional, infrastructural etc.

	Focus of issues researched � technical-surface, ground, quality etc. / institutional / social / policy/regional-local, national, global.

	Methodology adopted � laboratory based / field work based / participant observation.

	Objective of research � academic / responding to demand form govt or non-govt or donor agency/private sector purpose/public demand.

	Perspective of research � technical, social / institutional, integrated.

	Output � form of output �book, document, web based / result codification / linkages of research results with an action agency / availability in public domain/restricted access/outreach of output.

	Motivation of research � academic, private sector, govt, donor agency driven, NGO inspired.

	Existing research surveys already conducted.

Additional points will be added/ deleted during the course of data collection depending on their relevance to the country situation. Based on the available empirical data � analyses of the state of research in each country with the following key issues:

	To what extent is there an integration of the technical and social dimensions in the research practice.

	To what extent is the research responsive to problems that are experienced at the end user level.

	What is the extent of linkages of the research output to action domain.

	What is the extent of access / publicity / outreach of research output to the broader constituency of water practitioners.

	What is the extent of intra - research community linkages � do they work in isolation or are networked.

	Any other point that emerges as significant from the perspective of research requirements of the IWRM paradigm.

Following form the above assessment and critical evaluation of past research orientation- suggestions for following a long term research strategy will be delineated with following components:

	Institutional mode of water research.

	Resource support for research � agencies / institutions / donors.

	Research to be situated in the context of goals of sustainable developments.

	Prioritizing, motivations, incentives and support for research to be guided by considerations of local problems.

	Ensure prominence to issues / perspectives / methodologies that have been missed during the preceding practice through pro-active measures.

	Specify action plan to actualize the research strategy outlined � through interventions at the level of policy, planning, implementation through concrete programs/projects, establishing institutional mechanisms for feedback from the ground realities into this process of reorientation of research on water and effective linkages with practical actions for WRD in an integrated context.

Methodology In view of the huge canvas to be covered within the resource limits of funds and time, the following methodology is proposed:

	The review will be coordinated by one/two senior resource persons (SRP) of ResNet who will design the initial template for data collection � both qualitative & quantitative form each of the five SA countries.

	This information will be collected and analyzed as a first level exercise by junior coordinators (JC) who will be younger members (possibly senior students or recent graduates from the water field identified through country Capnets outreach) who will be oriented/monitored by SRP

	The JCs will be preferably based in the Capital cities for ease of access to data Centers. Given wide variation in size of the countries - in countries like India there may be need for 4-5 JCs, for Pakistan 2 JCs, while for the rest 1 JC will suffice.

	These JCs will collect the information form secondary sources, web based as well as direct documents, past research reviews that may exist, through personal interviews with key personnel in water research for leads inot various sources of research reviews - either in person, through email or telephonic communication.

	The approach will be to identify key categories /agencies/locations for research and then take a representative sample for more intensive analyses for research related issues/questions.

	The preliminary outputs will be reviewed by SRP and JCs will conduct subsequent rounds of data collection/analyses � this iterative process will fine tune mopping up of relevant information within the framework of critical assessment of past research scenario.

	The final analyses and consolidating of the inputs received form all the countries will be done by SRP, again to be reviewed by the JCs for their additional inputs.

	The draft will be circulated to key resource persons in the water sector and members for ResNet for their inputs. It will be presented at various for a � WWF, GWP-RC, Capnet SA events and other such occasions to whet it before finalization for publication.

Expected Output A document

	That outlines the historical and critical assessment of research on water sector in five SA countries.

	that outlines a future strategy proposed with a view to requirements of institutionalizing IWRM paradigm.

	a suggested plan of action for operational sing the above strategy.

	a proposal for conducting a detailed inventory of research in water sector as longer term exercise.

Time line
Total time period for the study is 12 months form the time of formally initiating the work.

Months 1-2................detailed design of format of data collection and inputs to be provided by the JCs and orientation package for JCs on how to conduct the survey and analyses. Identification of JCs in all the countries and preparing their TORs.

Months 3-6................first level feedback by JCs with ongoing interaction and monitoring by SRP

Months 7-10................first level consolidation of the inputs by the JCs by SRP with further inputs by them if and as deemed necessary

Months 11-12................feedback from the broader community of water researchers in SA to the draft through email, presentation at various fora, workshops, Capnet members etc. Finalization of the draft for presentation at WWF in Mexico.

a dristi design