pockets-of-participation-bureaucratic-incentives

A report exploring participation in water user organisations (WUOs) in Thailand, and implications for policy. Comparing nine WUOs, the author identifies factors that contribute to the emergence of relatively successful groups. The author shows that successful WUOs are contingent on the actions of local irrigation officials. These findings emphasise the important role of street-level bureaucrats in implementing participatory policies. However, the incentive structures provided by the Royal Irrigation Department, deter most officials from sincerely collaborating and cooperating with farmers. The author concludes that experts and policy-makers interested in promoting participatory resource management should therefore focus more attention on shaping incentives for local officials to engage meaningfully with farmers.