Multi-level governance application to a shared river basin

Abstract

Water governance systems must be effective in establishing policies capable of guiding decision making. Their framework needs to weigh the intrinsic complexity of inter-scale and multi-level interactions. Aspects such as decentralization and stakeholder engagement are pillars to be considered. In shared river basins (international or national), there are challenges to overcome since there is a need for managing water at different scales and multiple levels. This study aims to analyse the degree of implementation of the National Water Resources Policy in a shared federal basin in Brazil (the São Francisco River Basin) considering the basin as a whole (macro level) and its micro level (the 34 sub-basins that compose it). Multi-level interrelationships in the implementation of water policy are analysed. To this end, OECD Water Governance Principle 2 (“Manage water at the appropriate scales”) is considered as the basis for this analysis. An adaptation of the OECD Water Governance Indicator Framework methodology is used to classify the 34 sub-basins at different stages of water policy implementation. The outcomes indicate deficiencies in the process of water policy implementation in sub-basins. There is a need for better interactions at the federal, state and river basin levels to strengthen the governance system.