What was the challenge?
Effective water governance depends on informed communities that understand the relationship between everyday practices and the condition of their local water resources. While technical training and community meetings reached Water Resource Users Associations (WRUAs) and local leaders, there remained a need to engage wider audiences, including households, farmers, youth and other water users who influence how catchments are managed. Reaching these groups required communication approaches that were accessible, locally relevant and capable of sustaining public dialogue.
What did CESPAD do?
Under the Promoting Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Kenya project, CESPAD integrated communication and public awareness into its governance approach. Working with media practitioners, local radio stations and sector partners, the project strengthened the capacity of journalists to report on water resources management and environmental conservation. Training focused on improving understanding of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), catchment conservation and the role of communities in protecting water resources.
The project supported the production and broadcast of radio programmes that addressed water governance, catchment degradation, sustainable land management and community responsibilities in protecting shared water resources. These programmes provided a platform for dialogue between technical experts, government institutions and community members, allowing local experiences and concerns to be discussed alongside practical approaches to water conservation.
What was produced?
Community radio expanded opportunities for public participation beyond formal meetings. Listeners were able to engage with discussions on issues affecting their catchments, while information on water governance reached audiences that were not directly involved in project activities. The use of local media also supported wider dissemination of messages on sustainable resource management and reinforced ongoing community awareness initiatives implemented through WRUAs and county stakeholders.
What changed?
The project recognised communication as an important component of governance rather than a standalone awareness activity. By strengthening the capacity of journalists and creating regular platforms for public discussion, the initiative contributed to a more informed dialogue on water management and environmental conservation. Media engagement complemented technical interventions by increasing public understanding of the challenges affecting local water resources and the collective actions required to address them.
What did we learn?
The experience demonstrated that effective water governance relies not only on institutions and policies but also on informed citizens. Community radio provided an accessible channel through which information could be shared, local perspectives could be heard and dialogue between communities and public institutions could be strengthened. As a result, communication became an integral part of the broader effort to promote participatory water governance and encourage shared responsibility for the sustainable management of water resources.