Abstract

To optimise water as a “vehicle” for development, strategies are necessary that are appropriate in a situated African setting. On the one hand, many African scholars advocate public governance that is rooted in African philosophy and culture. This type of governance is viewed as potentially capable of employing indigenous knowledge systems that are familiar to African people and local communities. On the other hand, some scholars posit that Africanisation should not be a total rejection of certain progressive western concepts. This article, in turn, attempts to demonstrate the importance of community-based water resource governance as a resource for Africanisation and the basis for community development, while acknowledging the challenges to the realisation of this goal. Using rhizomatic discourse analysis, the article connects seemingly diverse arguments to suggest the efficacy of Africanising water resource governance. Citing several examples from the African continent, the article argues for using locally available indigenous and scientific methods of water use and distribution. The article provides a rationale for using storytelling to shape the narratives and actions that enable communities to solve their water conflicts or challenges. The article concludes that while localising water governance and peacebuilding is key, due to technological advances it is practical to merge some western methods of water governance with locally based initiatives.

摘要

为了优化水资源作为发展的“载体”，需要制定适合非洲环境的战略。一方面，许多非洲学者提倡植根于非洲哲学和文化的公共治理。这种类型的治理被认为有可能利用非洲人民和当地社区熟悉的本土知识体系。另一方面，一些学者认为非洲化不应该是对某些进步的西方概念的完全拒绝。反过来，本文试图证明以社区为基础的水资源治理作为非洲化资源和社区发展基础的重要性，同时承认实现这一目标所面临的挑战。使用根茎语篇分析，该文章将看似不同的论点联系起来，以表明非洲化水资源治理的功效。这篇文章引用了非洲大陆的几个例子，主张使用当地可用的土著和科学方法来使用和分配水。这篇文章提供了使用讲故事来塑造使社区能够解决水资源冲突或挑战的叙述和行动的基本原理。文章得出结论，虽然本地化水治理和建设和平是关键，但由于技术进步，将一些西方水治理方法与基于本地的举措相结合是切实可行的。这篇文章主张使用当地可用的土著和科学方法来使用和分配水。这篇文章提供了使用讲故事来塑造使社区能够解决水资源冲突或挑战的叙述和行动的基本原理。文章得出结论，虽然本地化水治理和建设和平是关键，但由于技术进步，将一些西方水治理方法与基于本地的举措相结合是切实可行的。这篇文章主张使用当地可用的土著和科学方法来使用和分配水。这篇文章提供了使用讲故事来塑造使社区能够解决水资源冲突或挑战的叙述和行动的基本原理。文章得出结论，虽然本地化水治理和建设和平是关键，但由于技术进步，将一些西方水治理方法与基于本地的举措相结合是切实可行的。