Building hydroliteracy among stakeholders for effective water benefit sharing in the Andes

摘要

This article integrates social and biophysical analysis to identify water-sharing opportunities in three basins across the northern Andes: the Rio Santa in Peru; the system of source watersheds for the cities of La Paz-El Alto in Bolivia; and the Coello-Combeima watershed in Colombia. The work included building knowledge of hydrology (hydroliteracy) among stakeholders to enable them to develop more technically sophisticated analyses of alternative management strategies for their respective basins. The participatory processes, including the development of alternative scenarios for water benefit sharing, provided a valuable interface for negotiating arrangements that are both biophysically and socio-economically sustainable, with tangible results in all three watersheds. Empowered with new technical skills and knowledge of their watersheds, stakeholders were able to achieve outcomes that will benefit all.