Designing a strategic model of water governance with a sustainable development approach in order to protect human communities and animal habitats

Abstract

Introduction: The water crisis is one of the most important issues for the progress of our
country, which will certainly cause many problems in the near future. Although successive
droughts and the loss of available water resources have caused this situation, issues related
to governance and management of water resources have also contributed greatly to this
crisis. Issues caused by the water crisis are causing great damage and problems to human
communities and animal habitats. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to design a strategic
model of water governance with a sustainable development approach in order to protect
human communities and animal habitats.
Materials & Methods: In this study, Delphi method and confirmatory factor analysis were
used to design and validate the research model. After reviewing the theoretical foundations
and previous research, water resources governance strategies were identified. Then, based
on the identified strategies, the Delphi questionnaire was designed and 15 academic and
executive experts were polled about the importance of strategies in water governance, which
finally reached a consensus among experts after 3 round trips. In order to validate the
research model, confirmatory factor analysis method and Smart PLS software were used.
Results: Based on the research findings, 11 main strategies and 45 sub-strategies for optimal
governance of water resources were identified. Key strategies include trust-building and
partnership, accountability, legality, water economics, legitimacy, water resources
management, innovation and diversity management, water management, efficiency, macro
management and policy-making, and comprehensiveness and integration. The results of
confirmatory factor analysis also showed that the structure of the research model is approved
and among the strategies, efficiency, management and macro-policy with coefficient values
of 0.803 and 0.802 have the highest priority.
Conclusion: The results showed that the use of strategic approach can provide the basis for
good governance of water resources and sustainable development goals and protect human
communities and animal habitats. Also, due to the complex and multiple nature of water
resources governance, macro-operational strategies need to be applied.