Transcript Case Study 1: Makana Municipality

Case Study 1: Makana
Municipality
From Provincial
Administration to
Empowerment
Makana context
• Makana Municipality is showing many of the
SRVM warning signs: persisting outages,
struggling municipality, frustrated citizens
and protests.
The aims of the Makana Case Study
• To develop new ways of managing water resources
sustainably at a municipal scale, by observing, analysing
and engaging with stakeholders involved in water service
delivery. Taking account of:
Complex range of issues: Holistic approach
There is not one answer to ‘the problem’....if only we fixed......
• Citizen-based research approach
• Use of Appreciative Inquiry approach: Shifting emphasis
from problem-centred focus to building on strengths.
Theoretical Framework
Substantive Theories
Appreciative
Inquiry
Strategic
Adaptive
Management
SocialEcological
Systems
TransDisciplinarity
Complexity
Resilience
Systems
Thinking
Meta Theories
Social Learning
Terminology
• The theoretical approach outlined above is
very useful to the academics engaged in this
project, and essential to identify the general
applicability of the projects findings.
• However, a narrow focus on theory can
obscure matters for non academics.
• Our intention is therefore to ‘translate’ this
academic knowledge in a way that the ideas
become embedded in our actions.
Case activities: Stakeholder
Engagement
• We have started conversations with the
municipality and are building an understanding
of how the municipality is interacting with the
many challenges being faced in this complex
issue.
• Seeking to locate areas where we can support
new practice
• E.g. Project is organising a training support
programme for municipal workers
• Integration and cooperation with other water
interest groups (KCC, Galela Amanzi, Rhodes
task team, MobiSam).
• Learning general lessons applicable to all
municipalities
Case activities: Students
• Hons study: Sarah Hulley. Looking at historical
context and water equity
• Masters study: Matthew Weaver. Looking at
theory and practice in the emergence of Water
for Dignity in response to water service issues in
Makana Municipality. How to optimise activities
of citizen groups?
• PhD: Athina Copteros. Dance Movement
Psychotherapy process with victims of water
trauma.
Case activities: Khulumani Water for
Dignity (KWfD):
Partnership initiated between IWR and the Khulumani
Support Group
Khulumani mission: “to build a just and inclusive society
in which the dignity of people harmed by apartheid is
restored through facilitating their transformation from
victim into active citizen” Two focuses:
• Khulumani developing community capacities for
organising and facilitating ‘Community Conversations’,
• Concern with the tendency of top-down practices to
view poor citizens negatively, rather then seeing them
as a critical resource in local problem-solving.
Case activities: Khulumani Water for
Dignity (KWfD):
KWfD emerged as a collaborative approach with
citizen based research partners, focusing on:
 Water justice in the era of climate change
 The skills of active citizenship in relation to
water.
Case activities: Khulumani Water for
Dignity (KWfD):
Local people have initiated change:
• Very active and enthusiastic.
• One Street, One tank agreement signed with
Makana. Funding from Unilever for 15 tanks
• Citizen Report Card surveys undertaken and
results drawn on for action.
• Monitoring of Matyana river
• Currently over-stretched, so impact could be
enhanced by further support and development
UCEWQ role: to analyse and learn how to
effectively support citizen groups. Lessons on
citizen research and participation to apply in
other cases.
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Taking forward
Building a depth of understanding
Building people’s capacity
Involving people
We’re taking small steps forward, but issues are urgent.....
• There are several willing partners (Unilever SA, Rhodes
university, Makana Municipality, WRC, government
departments [DWS and CoGTA])
Khulumani Water for Dignity (KWfD)
“Building a peoples’ water science and a
peoples’ water movement for water for the
future.”
Mbulelo Lipile
Citizen-based Research Partner
Khulumani Water for Dignity
Khulumani Water for Dignity
Who we are
A citizen-based research partnership
“…to change from just complaining to becoming part
of the solution.”
What we do
Data collection
Citizen Report Cards
“Walking the
walk of hope”
KWfD Initiatives
Community
Water Forums
School Water
Forums
Communication
hubs and
ownership
Dignified schools
Partnerships
One Street
One Tank
WfD
Community Water
Forum
Makana
The future of Khulumani Water for
Dignity
• The OSOT project links to Jai’s concept of emergency
water provision.
• Social change emerges from spaces where we engage
regularly and rigorously with each other towards
achieving long-term change.
• Respect for and acknowledgement of peoples’ existing
knowledge and experience.
Mbulelo Lipile
Khulumani Water for Dignity
Email: [email protected]