Publication

This brief summarizes some of the common practices in international water reform processes. The authors detail how water reform measures in many countries have faced stiff opposition from various political forces, including traditional water users such as large-scale farming communities, as well as civil society organizations such as indigenous movements and environmental groups. The brief assesses the potential implications of water reforms on the access that poor and rural populations have to water. The authors conclude that the impact of water reforms on poverty primarily depends on the specific features of water reforms and how they are administered and implemented.