Poster #119 - Understanding nonprofit engagement in water resource management during periods of drought

• In Event: Friday Poster Reception

Abstract

Nonprofit organizations occupy a unique space in policymaking and implementation as intermediaries between citizens and government institutions. Their positions as advocates and service providers make them experts on issues affecting their respective communities and regions as well as on the type of policy approaches that are most suitable to address these issues, making nonprofits a beneficial actor to include in collaborative efforts. However, for nonprofits’ expertise to be known and utilized by decision makers, they must be able to participate in and influence governance. Nonprofits are among a network of actors interacting in multiple forums at different geographic scales on a variety of interconnected issues. Given limited resources, nonprofits have to be strategic when deciding which policy forum to participate to pursue their goals. Understanding what perceptions they hold on decision-making processes can shed light into their choice to engage with governments and how they decide to be involved in these spaces. 

This research evaluates how nonprofit organizations perceive their role in public management through 29 interviews with California-based nonprofits about their engagement in drought governance at local or state levels. Drought is a complex policy problem given its diverse causes and manifestations, the challenges around delineating its boundaries, varying perceptions about it, and its disparate impacts. Nonprofits whose mission statements reflect their interest in water issues were targeted for this research. Additionally, organizations with varying capacities and focus areas – such as those interested in the environment, labor, and social justice – were interviewed to capture different perspectives on and experiences with drought governance. Questions that were asked during the interview include what type of governance activity their organization engages in, why they engaged in this activity over others, who they see as key players in decisions around drought, and what they would like to see as a response to drought. 

Using a grounded theory approach to identify emerging themes and patterns, this research finds that nonprofit practitioners perceive drought-related discourse and governance as being strongly influenced by certain stakeholders, the state’s water rights system, and bureaucratic limitations. Many practitioners also described governance as being underrepresented and inaccessible for low-income communities of color. Despite these perceptions, nonprofits engage by serving on committees and collaborating with their partners to collectively advocate for certain drought measures, including adaptation practices. Those who spoke on stakeholder influence placed significant efforts in empowering their community members to share their experiences with drought at public forums and even run for office. 

This research advances our understanding of water governance structures and how actors, specifically nonprofits, navigate these forums and participate in them. Studying nonprofits presents the opportunity to learn about their priorities, their roles and positions in policy conversations, and the receptiveness of these structures to their input.

Author

• Claudia Valencia Uribe, University of California, Irvine
  Presenting Author