May 2016, Volume 3, Issue 5 JETIR (ISSN-2349-5162) JETIR1605008 Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (JETIR) www.jetir.org 38 Equitable Allocation of Water: Effectiveness of River Basin Game Wilfred Clement Kayombo 1 , Prof. Siza. D. Tumbo 2 , 1 Regional Irrigation Advisor, Economic and Productive Sectors, Mbeya, Tanzania, 2 Professor, Department of Agricultural Engineering and Land Planning, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania Abstract—A dialogue approach was utilized using the River Basin Game (RBG), a tool that aids decision-making process. The aim was to assess effectiveness of RBG in facilitating Equitable Allocation of Water (EAW) by comparing communities with and those without RBG. Structured questionnaire was adopted, and data analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), Cross tabulation designs and test statistics. Key findings indicated that communities with RBG had implemented 66.6% of strategy to improve local water management institutions. However, despite significant differences in improving intakes (P<0.01), and reduction in number of Livestock (P=0.04) there was no significant difference in implementing strategies on improving performance of infrastructure and water saving for EAW. RBG was effective in creating awareness and improving local water management institutions. There is a need to intensify use of RBG and explore possibilities of promoting it for sustainable management of river water resources in small river basins particularly in developing countries like Tanzanania. Keywords — Component, Rufiji River Basin, Sub-catchment, River System, Decision Making Process, Sustainable. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I. INTRODUCTION Water is a basic natural resource, which sustains other resources and provides for various needs but is unevenly distributed. Often, we cannot find water in the right place, at the right time, and in the right quantity and quality. Giving proper regard to this, the second World Water Forum acknowledged the pivot role that integrated water resource management (IWRM) plays in the process of sustainable development. The term “integrated” embraces planning and management of water resources: conventional and non-conventional (De Wrachien and Fasso, 2002). IWRM requires that there should be awareness and equity in water management. Recent studies (Kayombo, 2016, Sokile et al., 2003 and Kossa et al., 2006) have shown that most farmers in improved traditional irrigation schemes are diverting and conveying more water than required. EAW is a step forward towards an integrated approach; it takes into account the economic, social and ecological factors as a whole and aims for a balance (McCaffrey, 2001). In the context of small river basins, which are major sources of water for, among others; irrigation and livestock sectors in Tanzania, deliberate participatory efforts are needed to enable stakeholders be part of the decision making process. There are several constraints and potentials for intersectoral water management in Tanzania (Kashaigili et al. 2003). Major driving factors are a growing population, economic development, improved living standards and increasing demands that call for the need to improve EAW. According to GWP (2000) meaningful participation occurs when local water users come together to formulate supply, management and use choices. To change the distribution of water between sectors in river basins needs the resolution to among others; establish a strategy for water allocation. The approach may either be top down or bottom up depending on the execution process. Since 2002 (Lankford et al., 2004 and Lankford and Sokile, 2004) Mkoji subcatchment, has implemented a bottom up approach using a dialogue tool, the River Basin Game (RBG). This is a role-playing board that has a physical representation of a catchment with upstream and downstream intakes. Participants attempt to hoard glass marbles, acting as flowing water, as they seek to gain a livelihood, often depriving downstream users of their „water‟. By the end of the game, particip ants have a good understanding of what is going on, what needs to be targeted and what solutions might be considered. The game becomes highly animated. The play is followed by discussions on lessons learnt from the play, what needs to be done, by whom and how to bring together various institutions to assist in improving EAW. RBG was invented by Bruce Lankford and initially developed as a teaching tool for students in 2000 at the University of East Anglia (Mabiza, 2006). In 2002 RBG was proposed by the project: Raising Irrigation Productivity and Releasing Water for Intersectoral Needs (RIPARWIN) as a new approach in the country that would involve water users in conflict resolution and finding solutions to problems brought about by dwindling water supplies. The aim of this approach was to create a harmonized environment for water users from different sectors to come together and talk about how to share water. In Mkoji sub-catchment several river systems used and others that did not use the RBG. Investigating and comparing the use of RBG strategies in communities with and without RBG can give a picture on the extent of EAW, hence the effectiveness of RBG in facilitating EAW. The objective of this study is to present the effectiveness of RBG in facilitating implementation of strategies on EAW, which may help in managing small river basins effectively