The Politics of Water in Africa: The European Union's Role in Development Aid Partnership

218 Pages·2009·1.87 MB·English

by  Christopher Rowan

Christopher Rowan was awarded a PhD in International Relations
from Nottingham Trent University. Prior to his academic research,
he spent ten years living and working in different parts of the
‘developing world’. During his time in Africa he witnessed first-
hand the problems associated with drought, which spurred this
study of EU aid to water projects in the Southern African Develop-
ment Community of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group.
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THE POLITICS
OF WATER
IN AFRICA
The European Union’s
Role in Development
Aid Partnership
CHRISTOPHER ROWAN
Tauris Academic Studies
LONDON • NEW YORK
Published in 2009 by Tauris Academic Studies,
an imprint of I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd
6 Salem Road, London W2 4BU
175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010
www.ibtauris.com
In the United States of America and Canada distributed by Palgrave Macmillan
a division of St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10010
Copyright © 2009 Chris Rowan
The right of Chris Rowan to be identified as the author of this work has been
asserted by the author in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patent Act
1988.
All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in a review, this book, or any
part thereof, may not be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval sys-
tem, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photo-
copying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the pub-
lisher.
International Library of African Studies 24
ISBN: 978 1 84511 685 9
A full CIP record for this book is available from the British Library
A full CIP record is available from the Library of Congress
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: available
Printed and bound in India by Thomson Press India Limited
From camera-ready copy edited and supplied by the author
CONTENTS
Foreword vii
Acknowledgements ix
Glossary and Abbreviations xi
1. What of Water? 1
2. Friends or Foes? 11
3. Development or Dictatorship? 55
4. The Partnerships Between Lesotho and Brussels 67
and Mozambique and Brussels
5. EU-ACP Partnership: Does the Rhetoric Match 111
the Reality?
6. The Next Step 123
7. The Current Position: After the Mid-Term Review 133
8. Conclusions 141
Notes 145
Appendix 1 155
Appendix 2 179
Bibliography 193
Index 201

FOREWORD
This book examines the concept of partnership as expressed with-
in the current relationship between the European Union (EU) as an
aid donor and certain countries of the African, Caribbean and
Pacific group (ACP) – primarily Lesotho but also Mozambique – as
aid recipients. The concept of partnership is central to this work
which shows how, although its meaning has evolved, the concept
remains an important organising idea in EU development policy,
and an important ideological framework. The way the parties use
it or put it into action is examined through a study of the policy of
the EU to help improve the water supply, and sanitation, of
Lesotho. The emerging position is then considered to search for
comparisons and differences in the case of Mozambique.
This idea began with a document from the Stockholm
International Water Institute (SIWI) entitled: Water and
Development in the Developing Countries – A study commissioned
by the European Parliament (SIWI Report 10, 2000). The executive
summary of the report stated that the EU should provide aid ‘in
particular for the SADC region’, and should work to help SADC
implement its own water protocol and bilateral agreements. I also
have a personal interest because I have experience of living in
Southern Africa.
Taking into consideration international security issues as well as
the more personal security issues raised by various other authors
such as Buzan, Waever, de Wilde and Little, the relationship
between the EU and the ACP is particularly interesting when the
human right to water1 is under consideration. The relationship can
be seen in two ways: as representing all that is good in partnership
between two groups, or as evidence of the use of development dis-
course by the EU to continue the domination of areas of the Third
viii THE POLITICS OF WATER IN AFRICA
World in the postcolonial era.
The contrasting theories of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau provide
possibilities for the basis of the EU–ACP relationship as each of
them has a different idea of the concept of partnership. A study of
current EU documents and evidence gathered from officials in
Lesotho and Mozambique enable an examination of the relation-
ship up to the position where the EU is considering (at the time of
research) a ‘postparticipation paradigm’, thus in reality making a
definitive statement about the type of partnership that actually
exists. The impression of a balanced relationship between respect-
ed equals is dashed by the empirical evidence and by the position
taken by the EU under the midterm review which is part of the
Cotonou Agreement.
I will suggest that the apparent disagreement and friction could
be avoided and a closer, more harmonious working relationship
enjoyed if the two ‘sides’, the EU and ACP, were to choose to work
to the same version of partnership rather than taking different start-
ing positions, as seems to be the current case.
Christopher Rowan
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I wish to acknowledge the help of a wide variety of people. I am
grateful to the university I was attending at the time for the finan-
cial support that enabled me to undertake two vital field trips.
These provided me with a great deal of empirical data.
In Lesotho my initial contact with the EU delegation was with
Julie Stewart and her knowledge and the speed with which she
replied to enquiries made the field trip to Africa much more pleas-
ant and profitable. A special mention must be given to the lady
staffing the telephones at the EU delegation in Lesotho who spent
time and energy arranging a wide variety of meetings for me
whilst in Lesotho, thus allowing me to make the best use of my
time there. Further thanks to the EU delegation in Lesotho – its
cordial relationship with many in Lesotho paved the way and
helped me gain access to many people I may not have met with-
out their help.
In Mozambique the EU delegation again provided me with a
great starting point and a list of suggested people to meet. My
hotel’s receptionist made lots of initial contacts, speaking
Portuguese to a wide variety of secretaries, taxi drivers and door-
men on my behalf.
At home I would like to express thanks to my parents, who
allowed a room in their house to be turned into an office, a filing
cabinet, a desk and a communication centre. Their patience in the
face of a long project exemplifies the support I have had through-
out life.
To Rosie, the only one who really knew what it was about and
who has provided support, computer help, typing skills and many
other distractions; I hope you get to see the fruits of our labours.
Finally, this is dedicated to my son Samuel, now eleven years