Analysing the role of politics in groundwater management – research in Ethiopia, Palestine and Yemen - Conflicts Over Natural Resources in the Global South - page 77

grounded, the discussion here is essentially one of local versus more central levels. In
our case studies, the dilemma between centralisation and decentralisation is obvious.
In Yemen, for example, the lack of central governance leads to local catastrophes. In
the Palestinian case, the bigger picture is tilted and only some small incidental local
successes are allowed or possible, consequently giving rise to the question of creating a
critical mass of local cases. Finally, in Ethiopia local basic operational problems stand
in the way of proper groundwater management.
5.4 CASE STUDIES: GROUNDWATER MANAGEMENT IN
ETHIOPIA, PALESTINE ANDYEMEN
The project's work is focused in three different countries: Ethiopia, Palestine and
Yemen. At first glance, the cases are seemingly unrelated. However, as we delve deeper,
we can see many similarities or learning possibilities. The groundwater issues in all
three countries will be laid down in this section. References to visual impressions are
given in Box 5.1.
Box 5.1:Visualising the experiences
Stories and analysis form an image of the challenges people in Yemen, Ethiopia and
the Palestine face. Video material provides additional opportunities for communi-
cating the reality in these areas. The GPP-consortium has noticed the importance of
sharing experiences from the field. We cannot take the reader physically to Yemen,
Ethiopia and Palestine, but impressions can be found at (all sites accessed September
10, 2013):
General GPP-videos
http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/categories/viewvideo/599/groundwater/
groundwater-in-the-political-domain
http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/categories/viewvideo/577/groundwater/
groundwater-in-the-political-domain
For Ethiopia:
http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/categories/viewvideo/1320/groundwater/
groundwater-in-ethiopia
For Palestine:
http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/categories/viewvideo/1514/
transboundary-water-management/cocoon-water-in-qalqiliya-palestine
For Yemen:
http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/categories/viewvideo/1375/groundwater/
disappearing-groundwater-and-desertification-in-coastal-yemen
http://www.thewaterchannel.tv/en/videos/categories/viewvideo/1330/ecosystem/
cocoon-projects-research-activities-in-yemen