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Call for Abstract on an edited Book on Risk Informed Transboundary Water Governance Systems in South Asia : Towards Building Regional Solidarities

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Date: Jan. 6, 2020 - Feb. 20, 2020

Call for Abstract on an edited Book on
Risk Informed Transboundary Water Governance Systems in South Asia :
Towards Building Regional Solidarities

A Joint Proposal by Oxfam India and the Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies (JTSDS), Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Last Date for Abstract Submission: 20th February, 2020

1. Introduction

Historically, water has served as a traditional medium of exclusion that leads to further disenfranchisement of poor and marginal populations including riparian communities. Water governance thus becomes a critical tool to not only regulate water management but also to serve as an intervention to bring about equity in the society. Today, water risks are diverse and varied and therefore water responsibilities must be shared through prolonged and sustained cooperation between communities, regions and nations that use common water resources. In the transboundary context, the governance framework therefore must integrate an iterative risk­informed approach that identifies and mitigates water risks at all stages of policy planning and implementation while being cognizant of the roles of water users and water actors in the region. An analysis of risk that informs transboundary water governance will strengthen community resilience and positively contribute to building adaptive capacities of the community in a changing world.

Risk­informed planning and programming should aim to fortify resilience, against shocks and stresses by recognizing and addressing the root causes and drivers of risk. These include existing vulnerabilities, lack of capacity, and exposure to various hazards that can amplify poverty. Risk Informed Planning requires a strong risk analysis of the multiple hazards faced by households and communities in the context of shared water resources. Perpetuating unmitigated risks threaten equitable preservation of water bodies. On the other hand, mechanisms for distribution can help create the context for good, robust governance. Risk­informed transboundary water governance requires governments, civil society organizations and other non­state actors to be involved in the design and adjustment of programmes to ensure that they make a proactive commitment to reducing risk and enhance well being of those most vulnerable. A participatory process that includes community engagement, and one that is built on the foundations of regional cooperation and solidarity will ensure a system of water governance that protects water rights and leaves no one behind. With this perspective, the editors invite original papers from authors on cutting edge debates, issues and challenges, traversing both theory and practice, including policy, planning and action. Authors of selected papers (submitted in full by March 15th, 2020) will be invited by Oxfam for an authors workshop at TISS, Mumbai on 2nd April, 2020, which will be led by the editors to bring about coherence in the book. These papers will also be included for presentation at the International Roundtable on 3rd and 4th April, 2020 at TISS).

2. Objectives:

1. To evaluate, examine and critically review risk informed transboundary governance of shared water resources and their management
2. To examine the diverse and varied nature of water risks and its implications for policy
3. To study the existing transboundary laws, conventions and policies on water governance in relation to risks and vulnerabilities of riparian communities
4. To explore ways in which communities live amidst and negotiate with existing water
   structures, water policies/laws/conventions

3. Themes (Indicative):

The proposed book aims to consolidate ideas, interventionist work, policy­level engagements, critical theoretical interpretations, debates, dilemmas, challenges and trends in the areas of risk­informed transboundary water governance. Authors may select any topic from the major themes and sub themes
as given below (these are to be viewed as broad and indicative to help authors decide on their focus.
They are welcome to deviate from these too):

1. A Brief History of Transboundary Water Governance in India

• Philosophical Underpinnings of managing and governing common water resources.
  Critically examine transboundary water governance through the lens of equity, justice
  and water rights
• A critical analysis of major water policies at the National and International front in the
  Brahamaputra and Mahakali River Basin examing the various challenges to cooperation and how such challenges can be mitigated for better co­operation     
• International relationships between Indian and its neighbours sharing water resources
  in the aforesaid basis
• Lives of riparian communities in these basins in the context of water governance

       2. Risk Informed Water Governance: Critical Theoretical Interpretations

• Why is risk informed transboundary water governance important and how does it
  impact the lives and well­being of riparian communities?
• Theoretical Frameworks & Methodological Innovations: Reimagining reduced water
  risks and increased water rights for people living in vulnerable and peripheral
  geographies
• Gaps in existing frameworks that manifest as risk

       3. Contemporary Issues in Transboundary Water Governance (Case­Study Based Chapters)

• Amplifying Risks: Issues that plague transboundary water governance
• What hinders Transboundary Water Equity and Water Justice? (Discussion on Acts,
  Policies & Programmes, nature of current practices and challenges)
• Hydro­sociological and Ecological dynamics of riparian communities
• How is India dealing with such critical issues and what is the existing nature of policy
  level dialogue between India and her neighbours?
• Livelihoods, Wages and Sustainability

       4. Natural Resource Manangment & Water Governance, river basins & their ecosystems,
           Rationale for integrating Risk Informed Planning to water resource management, water
           actors, water rights & responsibilities

4. Editors: Prof. Janki Andharia, Mukunda Upadhayay with a few others will be the editors of
           this book.
           The Editorial Board will be led by Pankaj Anand Director Oxfam India and Prof. Janki Andharia               TISS

5. Submission Guidelines: Academicians, Researchers, practitioners and Policy Makers are invited to submit Abstract of their original work in a doc format “Abstract­Name of Author, ­<Title of Paper>” <Email and phone number for communication> ” to roundtable2020@tiss.edu on or before February 20th, 2020. In a coverpage, authors are requested to provide their name, institutional affiliation and a 100­word author profile. Abstracts must be written in English (Times New Roman font, size 12, single space) and should not exceed 500 words. All authors, whose submissions are accepted, will be invited to send their full paper not exceeding 7000 words. The status of the proposal/ Extended Abstract shall be notified by February 25th, 2020. The First Draft of full chapters are expected to be submitted by 15th March, 2020 after which selected authors shall be invited for an author’s Workshop and RoundTable from 2nd to 4th April 2020 for finalization of chapters. All Submitted chapters shall undergo a peer­reviewed process before the final publication. The papers are expected to critically examining one or more themes as mentioned in the section 3 above.

6. Important Guidelines

1. All manuscripts must be within 7000 words
2. The title should be within 200 characters only. In case there are subtitles, it must be within
   another 100 words
3. Only originally written manuscripts will be accepted.
4. Any revised version of manuscript published elsewhere shall not be considered.
5. All abstracts/ Extended Abstracts and final chapters shall pass through plagiarism test.
   Please ensure that all information in the form of data tables, case stories, photographs etc
   are properly cited.
6. Sections and subsections in the manuscript should be properly numbered
7. If any section partially or wholly in the manuscript is found to be insufficiently cited then it
   shall be returned to the concerned author for correction.
8. All citations should be in the American Psychological Association format.
9. All Manuscripts shall undergo a process a Peer Review. Authors are expected to review at
   least one chapter to improve the quality of the book

7. Publication:
      The proposed book project is a collaborative effort between Oxfam India, their partners in academic
      collaboration with the Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies (JTSDS), Tata Institute of Social
      Sciences, Mumbai.

8. Contact person
      Kindly direct your queries to mukunda@oxfamindia.org and arunac@tiss.edu

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