Water and Environmental Studies Institute (WESI) An Najah National University

The Role of Good Governance in Universities and Research Institutions in Controlling and Managing Existing and

Potential Coming Pollutants in Irrigation Waters

by:

Prof. Dr. Marwan Haddad

Paper Presented at the International Symposium on

Emerging Pollutants in Irrigation Waters:Origins, Fate, Risks, and Mitigation

November 25-28, 2013Hammamet, Tunisia

Irrigation Water

Irrigation, as the biggest water user in most regions of the world is facing significant challenges in balancing social, economic and environmental & ecological needs for water.

Water-Food-Energy Nexus Sustainable Agriculture

Ennvironmental &

Ecological

Economic

Social

Governance• Governance: Is the act of governing.

• Governance or Governing is "the act, power, or process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented)".

• The term governance can apply to corporate, international, national, local governance or to the interactions between actors and sectors of society.

Good Governance

is an indeterminate term used in international development literature

to describe how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage

public resources.

Pros and Cons of GG Definition

• There is no single and exhaustive definition of “good governance,” nor is there a delimitation of its scope, that commands universal acceptance.

• The term is used with great flexibility; this is an advantage, but also a source of some difficulty at the operational level.

Forms and Models of GGAnalysis of GG can look at any of the following relationships/forms/models:

GG between governments and markets,GG between governments and citizens,GG between governments and the private & non-gov sector,GG between elected officials and appointed officials,GG between local institutions and urban and rural dwellers,GG between legislature and executive branches, andGG between nation states and institutions.

Key Attributes of Good Governance

• transparency

• responsibility

• accountability

• Participation/involvement

• responsiveness (to the needs of the people)

Existing & Emerging Pollutants

Existing and Potential Coming Pollutants in Irrigation Waters

• Irrigation has contributed significantly to poverty alleviation, food security, and improving the quality of life for rural populations.

• However, the sustainability of irrigated agriculture is being questioned, both economically and environmentally.

Existing and Potential Coming Pollutants in Irrigation Waters

• Water and soil logging and salinization

• Public health: water born and related diseases

• Potential environmental and ecological impacts: and imbalances: water, soil, air, bio and eco change, etc

• Alteration to hydrology and/or Hydrologic Cycle

• Socio-economic impacts

• Unsustainable water resources (Qualitative and Quantitative)

Universities and Research Institution: Role in Governing EPs

key main issue of concern is:

where universities and research institutions fit and is placed within the national institutions and stakeholders to govern the control and management of existing and potential coming pollutants in irrigation waters.

Government

Universities &

Research

Farmers

Private

Sector

Stakeholders

Control & Manage

Pollutants

Universities and Research Institutions

Knowledge

Development & Transfer

a. In Developed Countries

In developed countries The role is clear they has leading role in providing

data, analysis and evidence related to the subject matter

Universities and research institutions are in close relations and partnerships with both private and public sector

Universities and research institutions receive major funding and support from both

Universities and research institutions have a profound role in related policy reforms, improvement, or upgrade.

b. In Developing Countries:

This role is

• passive or negative, and unclear in developing countries

• universities and research institutions mostly have no contribution to national policy evaluation and/or improvement

• Un-supportive, do-it-yourself project

The Way Forward and/or Out:In order to move forward and improve this status of

the subject under consideration we need (1) to know in detail what are the existing national

governance practices and models or approaches in general and in controlling and managing pollution and

(2) to draw/conclude the lessons learned and the difficulties faced in implementing these governance practices and models.

(3) To draw and Implement a dynamic plan for universities & research institutions engagement in the sector

Good Governance is unclassified/undefined

It could be any innovative idea or approach

So don’t be limited—go after it

Explore/Try/Analyze/Converge/ImplementImprove/upgrade/enhance

Examples of GG of EPs

You cannot kill

population

You cannot stop feeding

You cannot prevent an

impact

You cannot set policies on

hypothesis only

Reduce Growth

Reduce it Replace cause & use Alternative

raw Material

Monitor/explore and get you own

data ---do analysis and

converge it to upgraded policies

Priorities and research goals and

objectives

Pollution control and management steps

Financial support

National governments

Engage

Involve

Universities & Research

Institutions

Integration efforts between various

stakeholders.

Thank You for Your KindAttention