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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Water Governance in Egypt: Challenges and Opportunities

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2021

Abstract

This thesis examines which factors influence Egypt’s water governance and how the effectiveness of its governance system could be improved. Against the backdrop of growing water scarcity, climate change, population growth, and pollution, it analyzes government actions in the water sector. The study employs a theoretical framework spanning resource governance theory, good and global governance, effective water governance, water management, and integrated water resources management (IWRM). Guided by the GWP IWRM guidelines, it focuses on the enabling environment and institutional arrangements, considering the diversity of actors, cross-level interactions, and different modes of governance. The analysis finds that while policies and plans exist, implementation is constrained by a lack of financial incentives and inadequate national laws. Egypt’s National Water Resources Plan (NWRP) is comprehensive and includes participatory elements and partial decentralization, yet decision-making remains largely at the national ministerial level. To enhance effectiveness, Egypt should strengthen its institutional framework and devolve more responsibilities to state and non-state actors at lower administrative levels. The importance of the private sector is recognized, but further reforms are needed to attract and facilitate private involvement in the water sector.

Dette speciale undersøger, hvilke faktorer der påvirker Egyptens vandforvaltning og styring, og hvordan effektiviteten af systemet kan forbedres. Med udgangspunkt i landets voksende vandmangel, klimaforandringer, befolkningstilvækst og forurening analyseres regeringens tiltag på vandområdet. Analysen bygger på et teoretisk rammeværk med ressourcegovernance, god og global governance, effektiv vandgovernance, vandforvaltning og integreret vandressourceforvaltning (IWRM). Som analyseramme anvendes GWP’s IWRM-retningslinjer med fokus på rammebetingelser og institutionelle arrangementer, herunder aktørmangfoldighed, tværniveauinteraktioner og styringsformer. Resultaterne peger på, at selv om der findes politiktiltag og planer, hæmmes gennemførelsen af manglende økonomiske incitamenter og utilstrækkelig national lovgivning. Den nationale vandressourceplan (NWRP) er omfattende og rummer elementer af deltagelse og delvis decentralisering, men processerne foregår overvejende på nationalt ministerielt niveau. For at øge effektiviteten bør Egypten styrke det institutionelle rammeværk og uddelegere flere opgaver til statslige og ikke-statslige aktører på lavere forvaltningsniveauer. Desuden er privatsektorens betydning anerkendt, men yderligere reformer er nødvendige for at tiltrække og lette virksomheders engagement i vandsektoren.

[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]