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COMMUNICATION SERIES

Global Drivers of Water Conflicts: A Systematic Literature Review and Territorial Analysis

This study analyzed 178 research papers on water disputes worldwide and found a consistent pattern: conflicts intensify where governance is weak. Countries with high levels of conflict, such as Chile, Peru, Iran, and Nigeria, share common issues like deficits in integrated management, fragmented institutional frameworks, and low citizen participation. In contrast, regions that have advanced in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), like Europe, Oceania, and North America, exhibit lower levels of conflict due to collaborative systems, transparent information, and effective dispute resolution mechanisms.

 

Why It Is Important

 

The evidence shows that the quality of water governance is the primary factor that modulates water-related conflict. Issues of access, distribution, and pollution are not just due to physical scarcity but are rooted in institutions that fail to coordinate stakeholders, enforce regulations, and build trust. Strengthening IWRM and social participation is not a technical luxury but an essential condition for reducing social and environmental conflict, guaranteeing equity, and advancing toward water security.

 

Highlighted Results

 

  • The analysis confirms that the administrative dimension is the most influential cause of conflicts, as institutional and regulatory failures explain a significant portion of the tensions.

  • Regions with lower implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6.5 (related to integrated water management) concentrate the highest number of conflict cases.

  • There is a clear inverse relationship: greater institutional development and participation lead to a lower incidence of water disputes.

  • Chile stands out as a key example, with high research capacity but also high conflict, reflecting the tension between economic development and sustainable resource management.

 

Policy Implications

 

  • The study suggests strengthening multi-level governance by clarifying responsibilities and promoting coordination between the state, regional governments, and user organizations.

  • It is necessary to increase citizen participation by including local communities and organizations in decision-making and resource oversight.

  • The study also recommends promoting applied research that combines qualitative and quantitative methods to further understand the relationship between effective governance and "water peace".

Understanding Rural Drinking Water Committees and Cooperatives at the Personal, Operational, and Institutional Levels

This study identified that Rural Drinking Water Committees and Cooperatives (APRs) in Chile carry out a series of creative actions at different levels. At a personal level, their members show deep commitment, dedicating time and energy beyond their formal duties. Operationally, they implement technological innovations and take on complex tasks like supervising state contractors. At the institutional level, some of these organizations have successfully influenced the definition of roles for both themselves and the state. Their activities are classified into two types: "enabling actions," which help them perform their functions better, and "expansion actions," which aim to broaden their impact beyond simply providing drinking water.

 

Why It Is Important

APRs are fundamental to Chile, supplying drinking water to over 10% of the population through more than 2,000 active organizations. Their work not only guarantees water access in rural areas but also promotes local development and social cohesion. Recognizing their contribution is key to fulfilling the human right to water. As these organizations now participate in Strategic Water Resources Roundtables, understanding their reality across the personal, operational, and institutional levels is essential for their effective integration into decentralized water governance and for designing policies that match their potential and challenges.

 

Highlighted Results

Institutional Level: The roles of the state and community organizations have evolved, especially since 2000. Associations between APRs are crucial for collectively articulating their goals in the face of current challenges.

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Operational Level: Prescribed roles for the state and the organizations are not always met, leading to persistent issues like the regularization of land and water rights. However, APRs have also taken on unexpected roles, such as providing social aid to their communities, monitoring state commitments, and driving technological innovation.

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Personal Level: The dedication, commitment, and judgment of the leaders are key factors that explain why many APRs exceed their formal duties. This leadership allows for flexible and context-sensitive management, such as offering payment facilities to users while ensuring the organization's financial stability.

 

Link with National Policies

Since 2017, Chile has been reforming the rural water sector to formalize and strengthen the role of community organizations. The study's findings indicate that the autonomous actions of these communities are crucial for service delivery and social cohesion. A key public policy challenge will be to balance effective state supervision with the protection of organizational autonomy. This is essential to ensure technical standards are met while preserving the innovation, community engagement, and adaptability that characterize the most successful APRs.

Basin councils policy in Chile: An assessment of progress toward enhanced water resilience.

In 2022, Chile introduced the Basin Councils policy, a significant step aimed at enhancing adaptive governance and water resilience. This article, "Basin councils policy in Chile: An assessment of progress toward enhanced water resilience," analyzes the design, implementation, and eventual stagnation of this policy. The assessment is conducted through the lens of the OECD's Water Governance Principles and the framework of socioecological resilience.

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Why It Is Important

The Chilean experience demonstrates that establishing participatory water governance requires more than initial political will; it needs a solid legal foundation, sustained funding, and a design that acknowledges social and institutional realities. The partial failure of the Basin Councils highlights the challenge of reforming systems deeply rooted in a water market model and centralized management traditions. This case offers valuable lessons for Chile and other countries that are working to strengthen water management in the face of climate change.

 

Highlighted Results​

Favorable Context: The reform of the Water Code and the Climate Change Framework Law created a legal environment that supported integrated management and climate adaptation.

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Initial Promise: The policy began with the creation of inter-ministerial technical units and the launch of pilot programs in 16 regions, backed by regional governors.

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Rapid Setbacks: By the end of 2023, the Basin Councils were halted without a clear explanation and were replaced by Strategic Water Resources Roundtables (MERH).

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Distrust and Opposition: The legality of the Councils was challenged by 24 water user organizations.

 

Lack of Resources and Continuity: The policy was weakened by the absence of stable funding and a specific law to ensure its technical capacity and long-term sustainability.

 

Shift in Priorities: National water policy pivoted to focus on large infrastructure projects like reservoirs and desalination plants, prioritizing reactive measures against drought.

 

Policy Implications

Clear Institutional Design: There is a need for legal frameworks that clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the state, regional governments, and user organizations.

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Participation with Resources: Effective participation requires investment in training, inclusion, and building trust among stakeholders, not just inviting them to the table.

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Acknowledge Historical Legacies: Any new reforms must explicitly address the historical context of water management in the country.

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Avoid Re-centralization: New initiatives should align with the principle of decentralized, basin-level management.

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Promote Learning and Adaptation: Policies must be flexible, incorporating mechanisms for testing, feedback, and continuous adjustment to deal with climate uncertainty.

In favor of the current: How water user organizations have shaped the management of water resources in Chile

This study explores how flexibility and local adaptation have contributed to sustainable water management. It analyzes the evolution of self-managed water user organizations in Chile, highlighting how their conflicts and agreements were key to this process. The findings suggest that when stakeholders are aligned and there is support for local user management, water resources are managed more efficiently, sustainably, and with less conflict.

 

Why It Is Important

 

The research offers applicable lessons for water management in both Chile and other countries. It identifies the internal and external elements that drive collective management, which is relevant as Chile and other nations move towards integrated basin management. In a context of high climatic and political variability, the investigation reveals practices that allow local organizations to prosper in a sustainable and resilient manner. Furthermore, the work addresses the persistent issue of conflict in water management, offering a path to mitigate tensions and build consensus.

 

Main Results

 

  • Historical factors, along with institutional support and political and financial contexts, are decisive in shaping water management. When these elements align to support local action, the system becomes more efficient and sustainable.

  • The study shows that the experiences of local organizations have had a direct impact on national policies, demonstrating the power of "bottom-up" approaches.

  • For example, a monitoring system developed by groundwater communities in Copiapó likely spurred the national requirement to implement extraction control systems in wells.

  • In the Aconcagua basin, a technical roundtable involving user representatives and the public sector appears to have influenced the national creation of Strategic Water Resources Roundtables.

  • The evolution from dispersed private management towards organized groups has improved coordination, reduced conflicts, and promoted essential investments in infrastructure and monitoring.

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