The growth of groundwater irrigation poses opportunities and challenges, particularly in Africa where substantial potential exists for increased groundwater irrigation but has been constrained by limited access to energy, technology for pumps and drilling, markets, and other factors. Conventional groundwater governance concepts for state-led regulation or co-management are problematic for conditions where state capacity or political support for regulation to reconcile conflicting interests is limited. Experience in Africa and elsewhere does offer examples that may help recognize feasible patterns for collective action that can influence the equity, efficiency, and sustainability of groundwater development. An extended ladder of participation helps look beyond state-led water governance and co-management to a more diverse range of opportunities for supporting local autonomy and initiative to expand opportunities and solve problems in groundwater development. Collective action in groundwater governance can include well spacing; sharing of wells, pumps, and pipes; protecting domestic water sources; crop coordination; groundwater recharge; water imports; and aquifer management. Even where non-state organizations and collective action play primary roles in water governance, they may still be empowered by, receive advice from, or share information with government agencies and other actors. Polycentric groundwater governance can be supported by improving information, facilitating cooperation, endorsing standards, providing a legal framework for resolving conflicts and constituting governance agreements, and through polycentric social learning. Polycentric institutional artisanship by water users and their organizations can help find feasible solutions for improving groundwater governance.

中文翻译：

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撒哈拉以南非洲地下水治理的多中心解决方案：在广泛参与的阶梯中鼓励机构工艺

地下水灌溉的发展带来了机遇和挑战，特别是在非洲，那里存在着增加地下水灌溉的巨大潜力，但受到能源，泵和钻探技术，市场以及其他因素的限制。对于国家主导的监管或共同管理的常规地下水治理概念，在国家调解冲突利益的监管能力或政治支持受到限制的情况下，存在问题。非洲和其他地方的经验确实提供了一些示例，可以帮助人们认识到可能影响地下水开发的公平性，效率和可持续性的集体行动的可行模式。扩大参与范围有助于从国家主导的水治理和共同管理中寻找更多机会，以支持地方自治，并主动扩大机会并解决地下水开发中的问题。地下水治理中的集体行动可包括井距；共用水井，水泵和管道；保护生活用水；作物协调；地下水补给；进口水；和含水层管理。即使非国家组织和集体行动在水治理中起主要作用，它们仍可能会获得政府机构和其他参与者的授权，从中获得建议或与他们共享信息。多中心地下水治理可以通过改善信息，促进合作，认可标准，通过多中心社会学习，为解决冲突和制定治理协议提供法律框架。用水者及其组织的多中心机构技术可以帮助找到可行的解决方案，以改善地下水治理。