Is there water sector transformation evident in policies? Experiences from Asia and Africa

With climate change and political uncertainties, policies worldwide have undergone several reforms, promising transformation for improving water access and usage. However, unsustainable and unequal outcomes persist in several countries. The article investigates the gap between the rhetoric and reality of transformation within the existing water-related policies in two South Asian and two East African countries. We unravel the key elements of transformation within the water sector by employing an analytical framework of policy characteristics, scalability, power-sensitive-inclusivity, reflexivity, institutional flexibility, and temporality (SPIRIT). Our study analysed the presence of these characteristics in the existing water-related policies in four countries: Bangladesh, India, Kenya, and Tanzania. A total of 65 policy documents were analysed from India (n = 26), Bangladesh (n = 19), Kenya (n = 12), and Tanzania (n = 8). Our findings show that the policies from India and Bangladesh follow a techno-managerial approach to transformation and have short-term vision with a national focus. The policies have limited focus on power sensitivity and do not include marginalised actors such as fisherfolk and small boat traders. The East African policies advocate change at multiple scales (local, and transnational), value the participation of marginalised groups in the policy-making process, and encourage collaboration across various sectors and stakeholders to address emerging issues, but lack temporality. We conclude that water sector policies in these countries are not transformative despite years of reform and promises made. Therefore, there is a need for politicisation and pluralisation of the transformation process to design pathways. • What is the transformative nature of water policies in the Global South? • This paper analyses water sector policies in South Asia and East Africa. • Water sector policies are not transformative and devoid of socio-political context. • Need for politicisation and pluralisation of transformation process. • Understanding factors driving social inequalities is key for a sustainable future.