Browsing by Author "Figueroa, Ricardo"
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Item Advancing toward water security: addressing governance failures through a metagovernance of modes approach(2022) Julio, Natalia; Figueroa, Ricardo; Ponce Oliva, RobertoWater security (WS) is a desirable goal of ensuring a sufcient quantity and quality of water for life-supporting processesand the development of society. However, achieving WS is a complex challenge that must be addressed in an integrated andinterdisciplinary way. Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) could be a means to achieve WS if it is supported by thedevelopment of an appropriate adaptive governance process that emphasizes more collaborative and coordinated actions andrecognizes river basins as complex social-ecological systems. In this paper, we analyze the relationship between WS and thehybrid conceptualization of hierarchical, market and network governance, namely metagovernance of modes. Here the threegovernance modes are best coordinated by a public metagovernor, who is a key actor in avoiding typical governance failures,helping it become an efective approach to implement adaptive river basin management. The context-specifc attribute ofmetagovernance of modes, and the situationally optimal mixtures that it provides, seem to make it the most suitable alterna-tive to deal with complexity, uncertainty and constant change. We propose that social-ecological components and processesin river basins must be integrated through sound combinations of these three governance modes, which could determine theadoption of a specifc adaptive management instrument, according to the problem to be solved. Further research is neededto understand how metagovernors could achieve better coordination and how to best address context-specifc interventionstrategiesPublication The Role of River Vigilance Committees to Address New Socio-Climatic Conditions in Chile: Insights from Ostrom’s Design Principles for Common-Pool Resource Institutions(2024) Julio, Natalia; Álvez, Amaya; Castillo, Rodrigo; Iglesias, Kimberly; Rivera, Diego; Ochoa, Fernando; Figueroa, RicardoChile is currently facing a mega-drought, which is expected to lead to a significant increase in the water stress level. Social conflicts related to water use are linked to the effects of climate change and a governance system marked by the privatization of the natural resources of public interest. This study aims to analyze whether the current Chilean water governance scheme can adapt to the effects of climate change through a critical observation of the role of the River Vigilance Committees (RVCs; private user organizations exercising the public function of water management), from the perspective of Ostrom’s design principles for long-enduring Common-pool Resource (CPR) institutions. We analyze legal approaches, management mechanisms, and decision-making processes under the socio-climatic conditions that the country is currently facing. The results indicate that, with a few exceptions, the Chilean governance system does not allow RVCs to effectively incorporate the design principles—and, therefore, to achieve adaptation—due to dispersed functions, the exclusion of water users, and a lack of planning at different levels. We propose that water governance should consider the creation of River Basin Boards with broader planning powers, as well as the incorporation of different relevant stakeholders.Item Water Resources and Governance Approaches: Insights for Achieving Water Security(2021) Julio, Natalia; Figueroa, Ricardo; Ponce Oliva, RobertoIntegrated river basin management (IRBM) has been proposed as a means to achieve water security (WS), maximizing economic and social well-being in an equitable manner and maintaining ecosystem sustainability. IRBM is regulated by a governance process that benefits the participation of different actors and institutions; however, it has been difficult to reach a consensus on what good governance means and which governance perspective is better for achieving it. In this paper, we explore the concept of “good water governance” through the analysis of different governance approaches: experimental (EG), corporate (CG), polycentric (PG), metagovernance (MG) and adaptive (AG) governances. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) water governance dimensions (effectiveness, efficiency and trust and engagement) as a “good enough water governance” that regards water governance as a process rather than an end in itself. Results indicate that each of the five governance theories presents challenges and opportunities to achieve a good governance process that can be operationalized through IRBM, and we found that these approaches can be adequately integrated if they are combined to overcome the challenges that their exclusive application implies. Our analysis suggests that a combination of AG and MG encompasses the OECD water governance dimensions, in terms of understanding “good enough water governance” as a process and a means to perform IRBM. In order to advance towards WS, the integration of different governance approaches must consider the context-specific nature of the river basin, in relation to its ecologic responses and socioeconomic characteristics.