Governance of aquatic agricultural systems: analyzing representation, power, and accountability

Ratner, Blake D., Cohen, Philippa, Barman, Benoy, Nagoli, Joseph , Mam, Kosal, and Allison, Edward H. (2013) Governance of aquatic agricultural systems: analyzing representation, power, and accountability. Ecology and Society, 18 (4). 59. pp. 1-16.

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Abstract

Aquatic agricultural systems in developing countries face increasing competition from multiple stakeholders over rights to access and use natural resources, land, water, wetlands, and fisheries, essential to rural livelihoods. A key implication is the need to strengthen governance to enable equitable decision making amidst competition that spans sectors and scales, building capacities for resilience, and for transformations in institutions that perpetuate poverty. In this paper we provide a simple framework to analyze the governance context for aquatic agricultural system development focused on three dimensions: stakeholder representation, distribution of power, and mechanisms of accountability. Case studies from Cambodia, Bangladesh, Malawi/Mozambique, and Solomon Islands illustrate the application of these concepts to fisheries and aquaculture livelihoods in the broader context of intersectoral and cross-scale governance interactions. Comparing these cases, we demonstrate how assessing governance dimensions yields practical insights into opportunities for transforming the institutions that constrain resilience in local livelihoods.

Item ID: 31479
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1708-3087
Keywords: accountability; Bangladesh; Cambodia; civil society; coastal zone management; environmental governance; livelihoods; Malawi; Mozambique; power; social-ecological resilience; Solomon Islands; stakeholder representation; wetlands
Funders: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), CGIAR Research Program on Aquatic Agricultural Systems, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Coral Reef Initiatives for the Pacific
Date Deposited: 07 Apr 2014 04:07
FoR Codes: 05 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050205 Environmental Management @ 30%
16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1606 Political Science > 160605 Environmental Politics @ 40%
16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1604 Human Geography > 160403 Social and Cultural Geography @ 30%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960501 Ecosystem Assessment and Management at Regional or Larger Scales @ 50%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960599 Ecosystem Assessment and Management not elsewhere classified @ 50%
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