Water and Aid in Mozambique: Gendered Perspectives of Change

Emily Van Houweling's book explores how water development projects unfolded in five rural communities in Mozambique, offering an alternative perspective on water and the politicized nature of water management. It demonstrates how water is tied to everyday life in matrilineal Nampula and how social relations, gender roles, and local politics were reconfigured during the project. It also includes the perspectives of project implementers and reveals the tensions that resulted from different actors' decision-making processes and motivations.

Format: Hardback
Length: 228 pages
Publication date: 25 August 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

In her insightful book, "Water Development Projects in Five Rural Communities in Mozambique: An Alternative Perspective on Water and the Politicized Nature of Water Management," Emily Van Houweling delves into the intricate dynamics of water development projects in five rural communities in Mozambique. Through the lens of a hydro-social cycle framework, she explores the profound connections between water and everyday life in matrilineal Nampula, highlighting how social relations, gender roles, and local politics were reconfigured during the project. While centering the experiences of community members, Van Houweling also incorporates the perspectives of project implementers, shedding light on the translation and negotiation of project plans as they descended to the community level. By employing the concept of organizational culture, Van Houweling unveils the tensions that emerged from the decision-making processes and motivations of different actors, offering valuable insights into the gaps between policy and practice.

Furthermore, this book explores women's empowerment, community ownership, and participation, providing innovative frameworks for thinking about evaluation, sustainability, and gender-water relations. By examining the complexities and contradictions inherent in water development projects, Van Houweling contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities in Mozambique and beyond. This book is a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and practitioners interested in understanding the multifaceted aspects of water management and development in resource-constrained environments.

Weight: 497g
ISBN-13: 9781009193481