Exploring social processes in transformation: the case of a collaborative water partnership in South Africa
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Authors
Pringle, Catherine B.
Meissner, Richard
Biggs, Reinette
Pahl-Wostl, Claudia
Stuart-Hill, Sabine
Sitas, Nadia
Issue Date
2023-06-05
Type
Article
Language
en
Keywords
uMngeni Catchment , Holling's adadaptive cycle , Research Subject Categories::INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS::Water in nature and society , Research Subject Categories::SOCIAL SCIENCES::Social sciences::Political science , uMngeni Ecological Infrastructure Partnership , Protean power , Triple-loop learning , Agency , South Africa , Ecological Infrastructure , Water resources
Alternative Title
Abstract
We explore the social processes supporting transformation towards collaborative water
governance in the uMngeni catchment, South Africa. Using Holling’s adaptive cycle as
a heuristic of phases (conservation, release, reorganisation and exploitation) present during
transformation of social-ecological systems, we consider the role of learning, power, agency
and structure during each phase of the evolution of the uMngeni Ecological Infrastructure
Partnership (UEIP). The UEIP is a partnership between government, research institutions, and
civil society groups that facilitates broader and more collaborative participation in water
management. During the conservation phase, strong control power and institutional structure
(denoted by a hierarchical governance mode embodying control and regulation by the
State) limited the introduction of new ideas and reinforced single-loop learning. The release
phase was triggered by a shock which weakened control power and permitted the introduction
of new ideas thereby enabling double-loop learning. The changing conditions gave rise
to protean power (defined as results of practices of agile actors coping with uncertainty)
which enhanced the agency of key actors who began to mobilise others in a rapid phase of
re-organisation. Triple-loop learning was evident in the exploitation phase as new collaborative
institutions, that were better able to accommodate innovative ideas, began to emerge.
We found the adaptive cycle helpful for delineating phases of change, while the four multifaceted
processes of learning, power, agency and structure proved useful in illuminating
dynamics of change. This understanding may help to inform actions to steer transformations
towards more sustainable and collaborative water governance in South Africa and elsewhere.
Description
Citation
Catherine B. Pringle, Richard Meissner, Reinette Biggs, Claudia Pahl-Wostl, Sabine Stuart-Hill & Nadia Sitas (2023) Exploring social processes in transformation: the case of a collaborative water partnership in South Africa, Ecosystems and People, 19:1, 2213780, DOI: 10.1080/26395916.2023.2213780
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
DOI
ISSN
2639-5916