What groundwater governance challenges and opportunities arise in arid regions? Lessons from the Middle Drâa Valley, Morocco

Abstract Groundwater resources in arid regions are under increasing strain, making effective governance critical for mitigating resource degradation. Recognising the context-specific nature of water governance, and challenging the prescription of universal solutions, this study examines groundwater governance challenges and opportunities in Morocco's Middle Drâa Valley through three case studies: Faija, Fezouata, and M’hamid. Guided by governance modes, the social-ecological system framework, and incentive structure analysis, we analysed 76 semi-structured interviews, 30 structured interviews, and 2 focus group discussions. Our findings highlight diverse governance challenges shaped by each area's unique social-ecological characteristics and emerging hierarchical, self-governance, and hybrid models. Our results also indicated that institutional misalignment between self-governance institutions and governmental bodies remains a key challenge. While government-proposed aquifer contracts may provide a framework to address this issue by promoting a unified governance system, adjustments are needed to enhance resource user involvement in decision-making and ensure water users adhere to the rules. Graphical abstract