The Uruguayan government involved civil society in developing a participatory water management system under the National Water Plan.
Problems and Purpose
The integrated and participatory management of waters in Uruguay was supported by constitutional reform in 2004, backed by the citizens through a plebiscite and then further regulated by the National Water Policy Law No. 18,610.
This initiative involved creating the first National Water Plan, to provide guidelines for public and private action on water, and its development was to be carried out collaboratively with relevant private actors and civil society organizations, ensuring that Uruguayans had a voice in the plan’s development. [1]
Background History and Context
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Organizing, Supporting, and Funding Entities
Lead Institution: Ministerio de Vivienda, Ordenamiento Territorial y Medio Ambiente - Dirección Nacional de Aguas [1]
Participant Recruitment and Selection
The 2016 citizens’ dialogue on the National Water Plan involved nearly 2,000 citizens, academics and government representatives.[2]
Methods and Tools Used
Consultations were conducted using online and offline tools and included broad participation from government and civil society.
What Went On: Process, Interaction, and Participation
The nearly 2,000 citizens, academics and government representatives involved in the citizens’ dialogue contributed ideas on how to roll out the plan. A special panel called Deci Agua consisting of 15 citizens who represented different ages, occupations, and regions then reflected on the proposals. Over six months, citizens deliberated “policy areas for inclusion in the National Water Plan such as environmental sustainability, spatial planning, and drought and flood risk management.”[2]
Influence, Outcomes, and Effects
After broad discussion and public participation, the citizen-generated National Water Plan was approved on July 31 2017. [3] The inclusive “participation of citizens, civil society, academia, and government agencies resulted in a plan that was more environmentally, socially and politically sustainable, laying the foundation for its success long into the future.” [2] Further, its implementation is seen as “an important step towards an integrated, collaborative approach to water management. Citizen consultations will be carried out through the Basin Commissions and Regional Water Committees, to further expand elements of citizen participation throughout Uruguay’s system of water management.” [2]
Analysis and Lessons Learned
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See Also
Integrated Water Resource Management
References
[1] Open Government Partnership. National Water Plan (UY0072). Retrieved from https://www.opengovpartnership.org/members/uruguay/commitments/UY0072/ [Spanish]
[2] Open Government Partnership (2018). Star Reforms: In the Open Government Partnership. Retrieved from https://www.opengovpartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2001/01/OGP_Star-Reforms_2018.pdf
[3] Bettoni, Analía & Cruz, Anabel. (2018). Uruguay Mid-Term Report 2016-2018. OGP. Retrieved from https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/uruguay-mid-term-report-2016-2018-year-1/
External Links
Uruguay Third National Action Plan 2016-2018