Understanding Stakeholder Engagement and Community Resilience in the Ambi Watershed

In the Ambi River basin of northern Ecuador, aging irrigation systems are increasingly strained by ecosystem degradation, exacerbated by persistent drought, ineffective management practices, and escalating pollution levels, leading to reduced irrigation efficiency. The upper and middle basin suffer from municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste, making the watershed vulnerable to water exploitation and quality issues. This study examines stakeholder engagement, focusing on resilience in socio-technical systems over inclusive cooperation. A Salinas irrigation system case study shows how farmers achieve mutual water use interests and resilience against scarcity, guided by social-hydrological resilience theory. The interviews show weak relationships between local organizations and government agencies, except in Salinas. Effective collaboration with irrigation boards has been developed in Salinas to rebuild old water structures. Improving community resilience to drought in the Ambi River basin can be achieved through stakeholder engagement. The paper argues that, despite recognizing the long-term impact of ecosystem damage due to poor water quality and drought, governmental water management decisions tend to benefit from a technical approach to resilience over socio-hydrological decisions. This technical approach overlooks the critical importance of local social dynamics and multi-stakeholder engagements. In conclusion, the study highlights the need for improved stakeholder engagement and incorporating local social contexts into water management strategies to enhance community resilience to drought in the Ambi River basin.