STRATIFICATION OF POLITICAL WILL IN THE IRRIGATION TRANSFER PROCESS

摘要

When a project designed to implement irrigation system management transfer and/or otherrnrelated plans for institutional transformation or when technological modernization is beingrnconsidered in a developing country, one important factor in the short-term success and long-termrnsustainability of that project's goals must be considered: the currents and countercurrents of thernbureaucratic environment of the water sector in that country and/or region. Differing andrnsometimes competing opinions and motives exist at different levels in the water sectorrnbureaucracy. Thus, even while certain members of the upper levels of government (e.g., in thernwater ministry) may favor such a project, others at the same level, as well as mid-level and lowerrnlevel managers may be opposed. This stratification of political will-a layering of behaviorsrntoward the project-can strongly affect the speed of advance and final outputs of the project.rnSimilarly, plans for long-term sustainability must take into account shifts in the layers of politicalrnwill.rnThis paper explores these layers of political will-their causes, their relative weight, and theirrneffects on water-managing institutions and on organization of the water sector. Also discussedrnare approaches to over come resistance. Lessons learned in thirty years of experience inrnimplementing irrigation projects in several developing countries are shared.