Community-Based Water Resource Management & Conflict Resolution

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the principles and importance of community-based water management (CBWRM).
2. Identify the roles of local actors — municipalities, CSOs, water users’ associations, and traditional leaders.
3. Analyze sources of water-related conflicts and how to prevent or resolve them.
4. Apply inclusive, gender-sensitive, and youth-led approaches to water governance.
5. Design community water management plans that promote equitable access and cooperation.

1. Introduction to CBWRM and its Role within the IWRM Framework

Community-Based Water Resource Management (CBWRM) is a participatory approach where local communities manage water resources directly, ensuring decisions reflect their needs and priorities.
It aligns with the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principle of stakeholder participation (GWP, 2000), emphasizing local empowerment, equity, and sustainability .

CBWRM bridges top-down water governance with bottom-up local knowledge — vital for adaptive management in arid regions like Libya.

2. The Libyan Context

Libya has a long tradition of community-based resource management, shaped by tribal customs, oasis cooperatives, and shared irrigation systems. Historically, water sharing was governed through customary laws, promoting fairness and social balance (e.g., Al-Ferjan, Al-Murabitin, Awlad Ali tribes).
Post-2011, governance challenges and institutional fragmentation have created gaps in service delivery, increasing the importance of community-led initiatives for local resilience .

Local councils, elders, and CSOs often mediate water access disputes and manage wells or irrigation channels in coordination with municipal authorities.

3. Importance of Collaboration

Sustainable resource use requires collaboration among local institutions, CSOs, and government agencies.

• Municipalities: Implement local water governance and infrastructure.
• CSOs: Mobilize awareness, inclusivity, and accountability.
• Traditional leaders: Uphold customary laws and mediate conflicts.

– When these actors coordinate, communities can ensure equitable access, protect aquifers, and prevent over-extraction .