Water committees in the implementation of decentralization measures in the water sector in Gaza Province, Mozambique: ownership and resistance

Abstract As part of the process of decentralization of water supply services in Mozambique, Water User Committees play a key role in the management of water systems. However, they struggle with sustainability issues, which affect the access to water in the communities. With this paper, we intend to understand the sustainability of water systems in Mozambique based on the socio-cultural dynamics, normative and institutional framework, and the interaction of social actors involved in the community management of water systems. This is a qualitative study based on phenomenology principles whose experiences were based on fieldwork carried out in Gaza Province, Mozambique. The study revealed that community management of water supply systems in Mozambique was a policy option for decentralization of water supply management, in response to the weak capacity (resources and technicians) for this purpose. The study shows that in practice, there has yet to be much success in achieving the objectives of the Water User Committee, as they have proven to be less effective in meeting water access needs. There are challenges affecting the sustainability of the Water User Committee, such as weak understanding of their roles, conflicts, transparency, accountability and, in turn, the sustainability of water sources.