Is Collaborative Groundwater Governance Really Unfit for Purpose in Low-and Middle-Income Countries? Evidence from Morocco

Attempts to establish collaborative groundwater governance (CGG) have so far generally produced limited results in low-and middle-income countries. These shortcomings have been attributed to the high transaction costs associated with such approaches, making them impractical in informal water economies. This paper examines the obstacles to designing and implementing such an approach, through the analysis of a multistakeholder process conducted in a groundwater-depleted area in Northern Morocco. The process brought together farmers, staff members of public organisations, and other stakeholders to explore options for CGG. During the process, farmers created groundwater users associations and together the participants drafted an aquifer contract. The participatory process helped overcome several obstacles to CGG, particularly those related to farmers' engagement. The finalisation of the aquifer contract was put on hold, however, due to the limited follow-up by state actors, the insufficient coordination among the numerous public actors involved, and weak political support. The study shows that CGG may not be inherently unfit for purpose in at least some low-and middle-income countries. Moreover, the participatory design of CGG can be an opportunity for horizontal dialogue between farmers operating in informal water economies and state administrations.