Test Drive | Page 49

Chapter  2:  Concept  note     2.2    An  Integrated  Method  to  Assess  the  Governance  of  Water  (Van  Rijswick   et  al.,  2014)8   This  method  provides  a  methodology  to  assess  the  collaborative  and  integrative  approaches  to  deal  with  water   management   (water   shortage,   water   quality   and   flood   risks).   This   assessment   method   is   based   on   shared   values   and   concepts   of   various   disciplines   respectively   water   system   analysis,   economics,   law   and   public   administration.   This   method   consists   of   three   main   parts:   (1)   content,   (2)   organization,   and   (3)   implementation.       First,   content   knowledge   about   the   water   system   in   time   and   space   and   about   values,   principles   and   policy   discourses   is   required.   This   knowledge   is   a   prerequisite   for   the   organizational   process   to   come   to   an   agreed   service   level.   Secondly,   the   organizational   process   requires   sufficient   stakeholder   involvement,   insight   into   the   trade-­‐off  between  social  objectives,  attribution  of  responsibilities,  authorization  and  the  associated  means  as   well   as   regulations   and   agreements.   Finally,   the   agreed   service   level   has   to   be   implemented,   which   requires   adequate  engineering  of  infrastructure,  enforcement  and  conflict  resolution.       Integrated  assessment  method     The  strength  of  water  management  and  governance  in  a  certain  state,  region  or  river  basin  can  be  judged  on   the   basis   of   the   assessment   method   shown   in   Figure   2.3.   It   has   been   developed   to   assess   the   main   gaps   in   the   (1)   knowledge   base,   (2)   weaknesses   in   the   organization   process,   and   (3)   problems   that   may   arise   when   implementing   the   agreed   service   level.   The   method   consists   of   ten   building   blocks   and   is   of   a   diagnostic   nature.       Sound  water  management  requires  knowledge  about  the  water  system  in  time  and  space,  as  well  as  values,   principles  and  policy  discourses.  This  knowledge  is  required  for  the  organizational  process  to  reach  an  agreed   service   level.   The   organizational   process   requires   sufficient   stakeholder   involvement,   insight   into   the   trade-­‐off   between   social   objectives,   attribution   of   responsibilities,   authorization   and   the   associated   means   as   well   as   regulations   and   agreements.   Finally   the   agreed   service   level   has   to   be   implemented,   which   requires   engineering  of  infrastructure,  enforcement  and  mechanism  for  conflict  prevention  and  conflict  resolution.       f