دانلود رایگان مقاله پویایی برهم کنش در طرح مهارت بخش آب

Abstract

Despite extensive and continuous efforts to strengthen the capacity of people, organizations and institutions, there is evidence of an increasing gap between the existing and required capacities within the water sector. Consensus seems to be emerging regarding the need for national strategies to improve water sector capacity development. This paper analyses the dynamics of actors’ interactions and their characteristics (motivation, cognition and power) during the formulation and implementation of a specific capacity development strategy, namely the Water Sector Skills Plan (SSP) in South Africa. Based on the Contextual Interactive Theory and empirical findings, our analysis indicates slow progression and challenges with implementing the SSP, mainly due to the lack of consultation with key stakeholders during the formulation stage, a lack of data sharing among the target group (the Sector Education Training Authorities), and a lack of capacities within the key implementing organizations. These policy dynamics need to be taken into account when advocating for national capacity development strategies as a solution for challenges with water sector capacity development. The paper proposes the recommendations that are of relevance for the SSP as well as similar initiatives in other countries.

6. Conclusions

This paper has explored the implementation of the South African WSSP, the interactions and characteristics of the actors’ involved in the implementation, i.e., disposition or attitude (motivation), the capacity to act or resources with which to influence decisions (power) and interpretation or frames of reality with regard to the tasks and performance of self or other actors (information/cognition), and the types of interactions that have developed as a result of these interactions. We perceive these factors to have contributed to the present slow progression and challenges in implementing the WSSP. While actor interactions are of importance and at the heart of policy implementation processes, establishing the actor characteristics in this case study was based on the researchers’ perception of the actors’ own views. In some cases, these views may have been misinterpreted, as relevant characteristics are largely implicit and not obvious. As suggested by Bressers (2004), Bressers (2007) and de Boer (2012), actor characteristics are based on past and present interactions and external contexts which are dynamic and prone to change over time. This also brings into question the reliability of existing characteristics and makes it a challenge to determine the future outcome, as these determinants are in constant change.