Community Capacity Enhancement for the Right for Sustainable Water Management: Communities around Songkla Lake Basin, Thailand

Abstract

     The objectives of the study are to analyze the status and propose an appropriate model for enhancing community capacity to exercise rights to participation in water resource management in Songkla Lake Basin (SLB). Qualitative methods were used in the study by exploring documents, interviews, and group meetings. The results showed that SLB had plentiful and various natural resources. However, SLB faced many problems such as water pollution, flooding, and agricultural water shortages. SLB had existing water resource management facilities, but these were small-scale. A majority of participants felt that their community didn’t have traditions or norms for local water management. A significant minority of 28.4 percent thought their community had very substantial common will for water management. Concern and coordination among the community members was a key success factor to sustain water resource management, and a lack of
budget was the biggest single failure factor. Prioritized issues for enhancing community capacity were leadership, presentation and information, public relations, means of communication with relevant agencies, ownership, writing proposals to obtain water project funds, and planning and managing projects. Four alternative models were proposed to enhance community water resource management capacity: government agency, academic sector, local administrative organization, and civil society organization models. The application of a model depends upon the particular situation, and each model requires different conditions. This study recommends conducting empowerment activities based on community needs. Integration among relevant agencies was also important support to enable community capacity enhancement for planning, implementation, and decision making.