The evolution of community water governance

Abstract

Community participation, ownership and cost sharing are key components of Tanzania’s water policy, in common with the broad international consensus on water governance. However these policy goals are difficult to achieve, beset with paradoxes and the benefits of them (both in terms of efficiency and equity) may be overstated. This paper draws on longitudinal ethnographic research of a village water supply in Tanzania to explore two issues: the contested nature of community ownership and the complex evolution of a ‘community-owned’ institution. The evidence from Uchira Water Users Association leads us to question some of the simplistic assumptions made concerning the capacity of local communities to manage service delivery and to balance equity and sustainability goals.