WP 47: The Local Governance of Common Pool Resources: The Case of Irrigation Water in Cambodia

Author: Chea Chou - August , 2010

CDRI Working Paper Series No. 47

English, 86 pp. Aug 2010 (Download)

This paper found that CBNRM was working but to an unsatisfactory degree due to three main constraints; (1) difficulty maintaining community participation in paying irrigation fees, (2) lack of feelings of ownership towards the associations and (3) skepticism of higher institutions being seen as another level of state authority. The limited power and capacity was due to low management skills, poor networks, limited revenue and disconnections between associations and between leaders and led. The paper concluded that CBNRM and DNRM approach could be the answer to good governance in irrigation in Cambodia if CBNRM was fully embedded in DNRM and its weaknesses such as lack of democratic decision making, unclearly defined role of leaders and insufficient revenue and funding were addressed. Unclear mandates, poor human resources and lack of funds were the three main challenges facing both local government and line departments; hence this paper sited a need to build up local state capacity to make DNRM financially sustainable. In the case of CBNRM power, ownership and participation at grassroots were needed to sustain this organization.