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Sustainability Indicators: Monitoring Cross-County Water Cooperation in the Nzoia River Basin, Kenya

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  • Abby Muricho Onencan

    (Policy Analysis Section, Multi-Actor Systems (MAS) Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Building 31, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Bert Enserink

    (Policy Analysis Section, Multi-Actor Systems (MAS) Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Building 31, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Bartel Van de Walle

    (Policy Analysis Section, Multi-Actor Systems (MAS) Department, Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, Building 31, Jaffalaan 5, 2628 BX Delft, P.O. Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Kenya Water Services Regulatory Board (WASREB) Impact Report indicates a stagnation in water coverage at 55 percent, for the last three years, contrary to the 2015 target of 80 percent. One main reason for the stagnation is weak cross-county cooperation between hydrologically interdependent governments. WASREB has little guidance on what indicators to use to enhance cross-county water cooperation. Through literature review, we assess whether the UN-Water methodology for assessing Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 6.5.2 would provide useful guidelines. Based on the literature review outcomes, we design a water policy game known as Nzoia WeShareIt. After that, we play seven-game sessions in four county governments (Busia, Bungoma, Kakamega, and Trans Nzoia), on 11–22 July 2016. We use the in-game and post-game questionnaire data to measure learning outcomes on interdependence and cooperation. The findings indicate that Nzoia WeShareIt policy game as a form of experiential learning increased understanding on the value of cross-county cooperation. The study constitutes a practical guideline to WASREB and a quick reference tool to be explored when designing indicators to monitor cross-county cooperation. We also propose a mixed method approach that incorporates team interdependence indicators as distinct and separate indicators from cooperation. Moreover, we recommend strengthening SDG 6.5.2 indicator to measure transboundary water cooperation inputs, processes and outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Abby Muricho Onencan & Bert Enserink & Bartel Van de Walle, 2019. "Sustainability Indicators: Monitoring Cross-County Water Cooperation in the Nzoia River Basin, Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-30, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:3:p:560-:d:199769
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Abby Muricho Onencan & Bert Enserink & Bartel Van de Walle, 2018. "A Study of Trust and Cooperation in the Nzoia River Basin Using a Water Policy Game," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, December.
    2. Hussam Hussein & Mattia Grandi, 2017. "Dynamic political contexts and power asymmetries: the cases of the Blue Nile and the Yarmouk Rivers," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 17(6), pages 795-814, December.
    3. David Grey & Claudia Sadoff & Genevieve Connors, 2016. "Effective Cooperation on Transboundary Waters," World Bank Publications - Reports 24047, The World Bank Group.
    4. Edward Lorenz, 1988. "Neither Friends nor Strangers," Post-Print halshs-00483728, HAL.
    5. Mark Zeitoun & Naho Mirumachi, 2008. "Transboundary water interaction I: reconsidering conflict and cooperation," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 8(4), pages 297-316, December.
    6. Hussam Hussein & Filippo Menga & Francesca Greco, 2018. "Monitoring Transboundary Water Cooperation in SDG 6.5.2: How a Critical Hydropolitics Approach Can Spot Inequitable Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-9, October.
    7. Abby Muricho Onencan & Bartel Van de Walle, 2018. "From Paris Agreement to Action: Enhancing Climate Change Familiarity and Situation Awareness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-30, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Abby Muricho Onencan & Lian Ena Liu & Bartel Van de Walle, 2020. "Design for Societal Resilience: The Risk Evaluation Diversity-Aiding Approach (RED-A)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-28, July.

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