Challenges of Participatory Monitoring for Water Management

The article focuses on the analysis of various methodologies and challenges of participatory monitoring for the management of water heritage at the global level, as well as the application of a method in a region of Colombia. The Prisma methodology was used for the analysis of the information using different databases, processed with the Vosviewer and Bibliometrix software. The analytical hierarchy methodology (AHM) was applied with the qualification of experts to prioritize indicators. This involved the establishment of comparisons, calculation of priority values, consistency analysis, aggregation of values and decision-making. The study identified 244 indicators used in participatory processes. These were categorized into management, landscape, hydrological, socio-cultural, biological and physicochemical. Finally, a pilot test was carried out in 6 peasant communities, highlighting the diversity of socio-ecological contexts in the monitoring points. This showed that approaches adapted to each situation are required. The main challenges in monitoring were of a technical nature, such as the need to maintain data coherence, permanent monitoring and adjustment of indicators and of an administrative nature related to the empowerment of communities for the sustainability of monitoring projects.