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Lesson 1: Understanding Community-Based Water Management
Definition
CBWRM is the participatory planning, implementation, and monitoring of water resources by local communities.
It promotes:
- Equity: All users (farmers, women, youth) have a voice.
- Sustainability: Long-term protection of shared resources.
- Accountability: Decisions reflect community consensus.
Benefits
- Enhances efficiency and ownership of local projects.
- Encourages innovative, low-cost solutions.
- Strengthens trust and cooperation among stakeholders.
Examples
- Tunisia: Local irrigation associations manage groundwater sustainably (FAO, 2023).
- Morocco: Community-led watershed projects restore degraded lands (UNDP).
Libya: Traditional oasis systems in Fezzan rely on shared wells and rotation rules, while Jabal Akhdar springs support community agriculture .
Resources
CEDARE – Libya Water Sector M&E Rapid Assessment ReportPDF
Gender, Water and Sanitation Policy BreifPDF
Groundwater roundwater Management anagement in IWRM – Training ManualPDF
Integrated methodological framework and assessment of water management infrastructure, crop and water productivity in LibyaPDF
Integrated Water Resources ManagementPDF
Integrated Water Resources Management Plans – Training Manual and Operational GuidePDF
World Bank Group ScorecardPDF
Lesson 2: Stakeholders & Local Governance
Key Actors in CBWRM
| Actor | Role | Example |
| Municipal Councils | Approve plans, coordinate projects, enforce bylaws | Sebha Municipality managing local wells |
| Water User Associations (WUAs) | Represent users, schedule irrigation, resolve disputes | Jefara farmers’ WUA (pilot) |
| CSOs/NGOs | Build awareness, gender inclusion, advocacy | Al Rakeb Org. community projects |
| Traditional Leaders | Apply customary laws, mediate conflicts | Elders in Fezzan and Kufra |
| National Agencies | Provide data, policy, and funding | GWA, Ministry of Water Resources |
Governance Integration
Libya’s challenge: Fragmented water authority.
Solution: Multi-level coordination through IWRM planning units (as suggested in IWRM-Plans-English.pdf).
- Municipal water committees
- Joint action plans with national agencies
- Community consultations for project design
Best Practice
“Hybrid governance” – merging formal laws (national frameworks) with informal norms (tribal agreements) ensures legitimacy, compliance, and trust.
Resources
CEDARE – Libya Water Sector M&E Rapid Assessment ReportPDF
Gender, Water and Sanitation Policy BreifPDF
Groundwater roundwater Management anagement in IWRM – Training ManualPDF
Integrated methodological framework and assessment of water management infrastructure, crop and water productivity in LibyaPDF
Integrated Water Resources ManagementPDF
Integrated Water Resources Management Plans – Training Manual and Operational GuidePDF
World Bank Group ScorecardPDF
Lesson 3: Conflict Sensitivity in Water Management
Sources of Water Conflicts
- Resource Scarcity – declining aquifers in Kufra & Murzuq.
- Unfair Allocation – elites monopolizing wells or irrigation turns.
- Pollution – urban wastewater discharge into communal wadis.
- Institutional Gaps – overlapping mandates or unclear rules.
- Climate Change – droughts reducing surface and groundwater recharge.
Prevention Strategies
- Inclusive Planning: involve all affected groups from the start.
- Shared Data Platforms: transparent information builds trust.
- Local Agreements: written protocols on usage schedules, sanctions, and maintenance.
- Dialogue Circles: neutral facilitation by trained mediators.
Mediation Tools
| Tool | Description |
| Dialogue Circles | Safe spaces to voice concerns and find common ground |
| Consensus Mapping | Visual tool to identify overlapping interests |
| Peace Committees | Local bodies trained to mediate disputes |
| Do No Harm Checklists | Assess risks of interventions on social cohesion |
– Conflict-sensitive CBWRM ensures “water cooperation” becomes a peacebuilding pathway — not a trigger for division. 【UNDP, 2022】
Resources
CEDARE – Libya Water Sector M&E Rapid Assessment ReportPDF
Gender, Water and Sanitation Policy BreifPDF
Groundwater roundwater Management anagement in IWRM – Training ManualPDF
Integrated methodological framework and assessment of water management infrastructure, crop and water productivity in LibyaPDF
Integrated Water Resources ManagementPDF
Integrated Water Resources Management Plans – Training Manual and Operational GuidePDF
World Bank Group ScorecardPDF
Lesson 4: Women & Youth in Water Decision-Making
Women’s Contributions
- Household Water Managers: frontline experience with shortages.
- Conflict Mediators: trusted community voices.
- Leaders in Conservation: promoting drip irrigation, reuse.
Youth Engagement
- Develop innovative tech for water saving (e.g. solar irrigation).
- Lead awareness campaigns on climate resilience.
- Participate in community committees as observers or co-leads.
– Youth bring innovation; women bring empathy — together, they secure the future of water.
Gender-Sensitive Approach
- Use Gender Action Plans in water projects.
- Disaggregate data (who uses what water, when, how?).
- Promote equal voice in decision-making forums.
Resources
CEDARE – Libya Water Sector M&E Rapid Assessment ReportPDF
Gender, Water and Sanitation Policy BreifPDF
Groundwater roundwater Management anagement in IWRM – Training ManualPDF
Integrated methodological framework and assessment of water management infrastructure, crop and water productivity in LibyaPDF
Integrated Water Resources ManagementPDF
Integrated Water Resources Management Plans – Training Manual and Operational GuidePDF
World Bank Group ScorecardPDF
Lesson 5: Designing a Community Water Management Plan
Steps for Participatory Planning
- Preparation: Identify community facilitators and gather baseline data.
- Mapping Resources: wells, canals, users, infrastructure.
- Needs Assessment: water quality, conflicts, vulnerable groups.
- Visioning & Prioritization: agree on shared objectives.
- Action Plan Design: assign roles, budgets, timeframes.
- Implementation & Monitoring: track progress with indicators.
- Review & Learning: adapt plan annually.
Tools
- Participatory GIS / Hand-Drawn Maps
- Community Scorecards
- Stakeholder Role Matrix
- Seasonal Calendars (demand vs. supply)
- Social Contracts for Shared Use
Reflection
“What challenges might arise when merging traditional and municipal water management systems? How can they be overcome?”