In search of socio-ecological resilience and adaptive capacity: articulating the governance imperatives for improved canal management on the Barotse floodplain, Zambia

Increased risk of crop failure;

Destruction of infrastructure;

Loss of livelihoods and household assets;

Low Mitigation of flooding on the floodplain.

Increased disease burden.

Improved information flows;

Investment in infrastructure (roads, bridges, canals);

Investment in community-based adaptation that includes agriculture.

Improved development planning based on local development committees.

Existence of multiple uncoordinated structures for resource management;

Parallel policy and decision-making spaces such as those of the BRE, the donor community and NGOs. Participants stated that “despite their best intentions, these mechanisms also contribute to community marginalization”;

Misalignment between existing governance structures at local level and national structures;

Lack of coordination between national and local development agencies;

Reduced participation of locals in natural resource management;

Unclear ownership of resources and management responsibility;

Physical and institutional deterioration of canals and their management;

Ineffective coordination of responses led at local level;

Community members having less commitment on canal management responsibilities;

Dependency syndrome at community levels caused by a history of food-for-work;

Lack of appropriate governance tools;

Absence or ineffective Community Based Disaster Management Committees.

Lack of shared responsibility towards canal management;

Difficulties in canal maintenance due to high levels of siltation.

Hierarchical and top-down governance through BRE;

Delays and interruptions of national programs;

Low external investments;

Renewed interest in Lozi culture and heritage;

Isolation from national development.

Improved availability of agricultural inputs and services beyond maize;

Changes in agricultural market chains (FRA, private sector);

More attention to different agro-ecological zones.

Soil and environmental degradation;

Loss of livelihoods and food sources.

Soil and pasture management challenges;

Need for fodder;

‘Fencing out’ the poor.

Uncertain future for maize (due to policy changes);

Possible re-emphasis of cassava, sweet potato, sorghum, millet.

Land and water competition;

Labour constraints for the poor;

Loss of habitat, biodiversity and wild foods;

New livelihood and income opportunities.

Overexploitation of fish stocks;

Destruction of breeding areas;

Increasingly difficult management challenge.