Getting ahead of the game: Experiential learning for groundwater governance in Ethiopia

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cg.authorship.typesCGIAR and advanced research instituteen
cg.authorship.typesConsultanten
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Food Policy Research Instituteen
cg.contributor.affiliationHaramaya Universityen
cg.contributor.affiliationBrandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenbergen
cg.contributor.affiliationInternational Centre for Tax and Developmenten
cg.contributor.affiliationWorld Banken
cg.contributor.donorUnited States Agency for International Developmenten
cg.contributor.donorCGIAR Trust Funden
cg.contributor.initiativeNEXUS Gains
cg.coverage.countryEthiopia
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2ET
cg.coverage.regionAfrica
cg.coverage.regionEastern Africa
cg.creator.identifierHagar ElDidi: 0000-0002-2685-5416
cg.creator.identifierWei Zhang: 0000-0002-2933-6275
cg.creator.identifierDawit Mekonnen: 0000-0003-3642-3497
cg.creator.identifierClaudia Ringler: 0000-0002-8266-0488
cg.creator.identifierRuth Meinzen-Dick: 0000-0003-4782-3074
cg.howPublishedFormally Publisheden
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.5334/ijc.1316en
cg.identifier.projectIFPRI - Natural Resources and Resilience Unit
cg.identifier.projectIFPRI - Feed the Future
cg.identifier.projectIFPRI - Groundwater governance: Managing the world’s most precious natural resource
cg.identifier.publicationRankB
cg.isijournalISI Journalen
cg.issn1875-0281en
cg.issue1en
cg.journalInternational Journal of the Commonsen
cg.reviewStatusPeer Reviewen
cg.volume18en
dc.contributor.authorElDidi, Hagaren
dc.contributor.authorZhang, Weien
dc.contributor.authorBlackmore, Ivyen
dc.contributor.authorGelaw, Fekaduen
dc.contributor.authorDe Petris, Caterinaen
dc.contributor.authorTeka, Natnaelen
dc.contributor.authorYimam, Seiden
dc.contributor.authorMekonnen, Dawit Kelemeworken
dc.contributor.authorRingler, Claudiaen
dc.contributor.authorMeinzen-Dick, Ruth S.en
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-07T14:45:18Zen
dc.date.available2024-06-07T14:45:18Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/145068
dc.titleGetting ahead of the game: Experiential learning for groundwater governance in Ethiopiaen
dcterms.abstractGroundwater management is highly complex, with many users sharing the same resource often with limited understanding of their interconnectedness. Behavioral experiments (games) that simulate real-life common-pool resource use have shown promise as an experiential learning tool for improving resource governance. This study pilots an experiential learning intervention in Ethiopia using a groundwater game to help raise awareness of groundwater over-extraction and improve understanding of the importance of collective action in governance. In the Meki River catchment in Ethiopia, small-scale irrigation is expanding, but overextraction and competition over groundwater have not yet reached alarming levels. The groundwater game, adapted from India and including the addition of a rule-making round, was played in 15 villages with 30 groups. The game was accompanied by subsequent community-wide debriefing in each village to reflect on the experience and lessons learned, which stimulated discussions about groundwater governance. We surveyed participants to capture individual mental models regarding groundwater use and management, as well as any immediate learning effects. Focus group discussions in each village prior to the intervention and again six months after the intervention assessed possible lasting effects. The findings indicate cognitive, normative and relational learning, including increased understanding of groundwater dynamics (such as the joint effect of diverse water uses and users), the importance of collective action in resource management, and the benefits of communication. We find gendered differences in decision-making about resource extraction in the game and development of group-level resource management, confirming the need for gender-responsive approach to sustainable groundwater management interventions. We discuss community-wide learning and institution-building, and considerations for future intervention designs. We recommend embedding experiential learning, facilitated by local extension officers and other practitioners, in intervention packages that include both technical assistance on water-conserving technologies and groundwater management approaches and support in building communities’ institutional capacity.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.audienceScientistsen
dcterms.available2024-01-23
dcterms.bibliographicCitationElDidi, Hagar; Zhang, Wei; Blackmore, Ivy; Gelaw, Fekadu; De Petris, Caterina; Teka, Natnael; Teka, Natnael; Yimam, Seid; Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework; Ringler, Claudia; and Ringler, Claudia. 2024. Getting ahead of the game: Experiential learning for groundwater governance in Ethiopia. International Journal of the Commons 18(1): 66–81. https://doi.org/10.5334/ijc.1316en
dcterms.extentp. 66–81en
dcterms.issued2024-01-23
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherUbiquity Pressen
dcterms.relationhttps://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136723en
dcterms.subjectdecision makingen
dcterms.subjectgroundwateren
dcterms.subjectresource managementen
dcterms.subjectwater conservationen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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