Stakeholders’ actions and involvement in wetland resources management in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examined the actions and involvement of stakeholders in the management of wetland resources in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Data were generated through interview conducted with 78 key informants selected from different stakeholders using snowball sampling technique. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data using NVivo 8 qualitative data analysis software. The result revealed that wetland management is in the dominion of many stakeholders that are categorized into local community, government institutions, private sectors, research institutions and civic societies. The stakeholder arena was characterized by weak coordination, conflicting and/or overlapping roles, responsibilities, and influence power asymmetry. Stakeholders’ collaboration and engagement in wetland management is challenged by weak institutional frameworks typified by inconsistency, vague provisions on wetlands, and weak enforcement. The common property notion and the lack of clear property rights regime for wetland resources exacerbated the challenge for proper management of wetland resources. All these factors have contributed to the lag in the management of wetland resources of the area which probably may lead to unsustainable resources outcomes. Hence, there is a need to integrate institutions to avoid conflicting or contradictory issues, enact wetlandspecific institutional frameworks, and design multi- stakeholder platforms at various levels via public-private partnership for effective, proactive and synergetic involvement of  stakeholders.

Key words/phrases: Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia, Institutions, Stakeholders, Wetlands.