Spilling Bhd over Water? The Case of Ethiopia 261A large number of non-governmental organisations and development agen-
cies are involved in projects to enhance rural water supplies, mainly by provid-
ing pipes, tankers and constructing dams, wells and/or storage tanks. Although
many projects have benefited rural populations, the effectiveness of some proj-
ects is que~tionable.~~ Local ownership of projects is rare." Lack of local own-
ership means that local peoples have little incentive to help in the upkeep and
development of water supply projects. Thus, the infrastructure of many projects
deteriorates after the organisation or agency that implemented the project leaves.
Many large-scale donor-funded water development projects have generated
greater problems. The donor funded Jijiga Dam and irrigation scheme in the
Somali region of Ethjopia, for example, has cost an estimated USS 24 million to
date, but is still not operational. One assessment of the project reported that,
"the dam leaks, has insufficient input flow to fill even during heavy rains and is
completely unacceptable to the local pastoral community who have demon-
strated their displeasure with the project by breaking everything that is breakable
and canying away stones in the sluice-way that are useful for other purposes.""
The report concludes that unless local issues and concerns are appreciated and
addressed, "the dam will be a source of future insecurity in the area"."Power Sector Development and Hydroelectricity
Water management problems and investment in inappropriate development
projects are common in the hydroelectric sector as well. Although Ethiopia
has a large potential for hydroelectric development, only 1% has been
exploited to date. For example, it is estimated that the 'economic' (that which
could be exploited at economic costs by present-day technologies) hydro-
electric potential is nearly 100 times Ethiopia's demand for electricity.
However, the supply system itself is currently capacity constrained, with
hydro generation capacity challenged to meet demand in terms of peak power
and annual energy output. Variable rainfall and recurrent drought further
constrain hydroelectric development. At older installations siltation of reser-
voirs has reduced storage capacity, thereby accentuating spillage require-
ments in flood situations and worsening water shortages during dry periods.
Furthermore, many hydroelectric projects were suspended owing to:
Lack of spare parts for the older plants (with the original suppliers of
equipment, all foreign, often having changed addresses or no longer
manufacturing the required parts);
Lack of design details and references ro be used in ordering the replace-
ment parts; and
Shortage of water for running the plants, which are all run-of-river types,
especially during the dry season when neighbouring peasants compete to
access and use water for irrigating the farms.63