Organizational Dynamics, Resilience and Contentious Futures: 20 Years of Water User Associations in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

This project will investigate the dynamics and resilience of collective action of Water User Associations (WUAs) – locally known as Perkumpulan Petani Pemakai Air (P3As) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia in managing irrigation systems under several drivers, including evolving socio-economic, climate variability, emerging irrigation technologies, and policy shifts. Originally established under the Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) framework formalized through the promulgation of 2004 Water Law, P3As were envisioned to empower farmers in the operation and maintenance of tertiary irrigation networks. However, the drivers have potentially challenged their resilience and sustainability. It is not known which drivers have proven key in affecting P3A performance. Focusing in the Kartamantul Agglomeration, particularly the Opak-Oya Watershed, this research wants to (1) identify key evolving challenges of P3A performances;(2) identify farmer adaptation measures to the challenges; (3) examine how the dynamics (challenges and their adaptation) have tested their resilience, and (4) project future scenarios of the challenges and to assess how they will affect P3A future resilience and sustainability. Eventually, this research will also critically evaluate the viability of P3As and overall IMT framework for future water governance in Yogyakarta. Using a mixed-method approach – archival research, surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, geospatial, and climate modelling and analysis, this study will grasp organizational dynamics and resilience of P3As, today and in the future. This will result in outcomes, including, but not limited to evidence-based recommendation for improving water governance, strengthening farmer organizations, and exploring alternative water governances that best suited to Yogyakarta and Indonesian contexts.