Title: The role of problem and process factors in creating effective transboundary water regimes: the case of the Lake Victoria basin, East Africa

Authors: Charles Lugo; Andrew Jordan; David Benson

Addresses: Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research, School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK ' Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research, School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK ' Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Adaptation Research, School of Environmental Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk, NR4 7TJ, UK

Abstract: This paper provides insights into effective transboundary water governance by considering a case study of the Lake Victoria Basin East Africa. We argue that the construction of a well-designed ontology presents an explicit understanding of the target world shared among people. The paper adopts a 'sustainability science' perspective based on ontology engineering: a problem solving approach focusing on knowledge structuring of problem and process factors accompanied by supportive thinking. Its premise is that transboundary water regimes ought to fashion a public order that advances human dignity. The results indicate that the Lake Victoria basin regime is an 'interplay' of international and regional activities. Activities at the international level had greater influence on regional activities. This analysis identifies gaps in the basin regime creation process. The findings suggest that process factors rather than problem factors dominated the creation of the basin regime.

Keywords: sustainability science; transboundary water regimes; ontology engineering; problem factors; process factors; procedural; substantive; Lake Victoria basin; East Africa; sustainable development; transboundary water governance; international activities; regional activities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJW.2014.060969

International Journal of Water, 2014 Vol.8 No.2, pp.219 - 240

Accepted: 29 Jan 2013
Published online: 16 Oct 2014 *

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