Subject: Natural Resource Governance in Light of the 2030 Agenda: The Case of Competition for Groundwater in Azraq, Jordan.

On July 17th, 2022, a research study was conducted in Azraq, Jordan, to assess the governance of groundwater resources in relation to the goals of the 2030 Agenda. The study utilized the Institutional Analysis and Development Framework (IAD) and Networks of Adjacent Action Situations (NAAS) to evaluate the system's alignment with principles such as inclusivity, interconnectedness, and stakeholder partnerships. The findings revealed a conflict among water users, including farmers, households and environmental conservationists, as they compete for limited groundwater resources. This tension is primarily between farmers who heavily rely on groundwater for irrigation and the water authorities responsible for national domestic water supply.

The management of water resources in Jordan is influenced by various factors, including water policies, agricultural practices, environmental concerns, energy considerations, land governance, high-level decision-making, social contracts tied to the monarchy, and informal networks known as "WASTA" (Influence). However, the existing groundwater governance in Jordan falls short of meeting the principles of the 2030 Agenda.)

Nevertheless, a recent study suggests that adopting a system thinking approach may help identify intervention points for an ecological transformation towards sustainability, although there is no one-size-fits-all solution. The study was conducted by: Ines Dombrowsky, Ramona Hägele, Lukas Behrenbeck, Thomas Bollwein, Mirjana Köder, Daniel Oberhauser, Ronja Schamberger, Majd Al-Naber, Dr. Marwan Al-Raggad, and Dr. Elias Salameh.

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