Linking governance awareness and community participation for sustainable water management: evidence from the Gambia River (West Africa)

Abstract. Sustainable water governance is essential for maintaining water security in river basins subject to growing pressures from agriculture, livestock and climate variability. This study investigates how governance awareness, community participation and water-use attitudes influence water management along the Gambia River. A structured household survey of 290 respondents from 15 riverine villages in three communes was combined with key informant interviews and focus group discussions to examine regulatory awareness, participation in management structures and sources of water-related conflict. The results show generally low awareness of water regulations and limited involvement in local water management organisations, which constrains effective governance and compliance. Conflicts over water use, particularly between crop farmers and livestock herders, are widespread and are reinforced by resource scarcity, weak institutional coordination and limited administrative presence. Qualitative evidence highlights the important role of community-based organisations, notably the Gambia River Valley Producers Cooperative (COPROVAG), in mediating conflicts, facilitating coordination and promoting more equitable water sharing. The findings indicate that strengthening regulatory communication, improving institutional–community linkages and supporting locally rooted governance structures are key to improving water management in data-scarce river basins.