262 Scarcity and SurfeitDespite this, and in line with the priorities of the new water policy, hydro-
electric development is being accorded far greater attention, with effort being
focused on the rehabilitation of old hydro plants, the study of new schemes,
and the construction of new plants.Institutional Arrangements
The federal government established the Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR)
in 1996 to further develop and implement a new national water resources
plan. The MoWR is mandated to develop water policies, and to undertake
implementation, operation and regulatory work concerning water. Prior to its
establishment, planning and development in the water sector was con-
strained by the lack of a central institution for coordinating all planning,
development and policy related to water. But the design of the ministry has
not proved to be efficient.64
In June 2000, the MoWR released the Ethiopian Water Resources
Management Policy (EWRMP). The overall goal of the policy is "to enhance and
promote ... the efficient, equitable and optimum utilisation of the available
Water Resources of Ethiopia for significant socio-economic development on a
sustainable basis': The basic principles informing the policy are the following:
Water, as a natural resource, is for the common good of the Ethiopian
people.
Every Ethiopian has a right of access to water of sufficient quantity and
quality to satisfy basic human needs.
Water should be recognised as an economic and social good.
Water resources development should be rural-centred, decentralised, par-
ticipatory and integrated in approach.
Water resources shall be managed according to the norms of social equi-
ty, systems reliability, economic efficiency and sustainability.
Participation of stakeholders, especially women, shall be promoted in
water resources development.
The MoWR is responsible for upstream water resources control and develop-
ment activities, including determining conditions and methods for optimal allo-
cation of water, as well as how water that flows between different administrative
regions will be used. The ministry is also responsible for enforcing all water pol-
icy and laws. Activities downstream are carried out by different organisations
under the general guidance of the EWRMP. Within the regions the responsibili-
ty of both urban and mral water supplies has been given to the national region-
al states. As a result regional governments have established water bureaux and
commissions or authorities.