Applying Ostrom's SES framework to groundwater management for climate change adaptation in northern Ethiopia

Groundwater resources act as a vital buffer against climate change, yet this resilience is compromised by poor management and weak institutional structures. This study analyzes institutional innovations for promoting climate-resilient groundwater irrigation management in the Hormat Golina watershed using Elinor Ostrom’s Social-Ecological Systems (SES) framework. The study investigates how different policy interventions, such as managed aquifer recharge programs, demand-side management tools, and the promotion of water-efficient technologies, interaction with existing social and ecological dynamics. A qualitative research approach was utilized, with primary data collected through household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus groups discussions involving Water User Associations (WUAs), farmers, and other stakeholders. The SES framework was utilized to assess interactions among the groundwater resource system, resource units, actors, and governance systems. The analysis reveals that the management of groundwater in the study area nested within a multi-level governance structure, but the institutional linkages are weak. Coordination between federal and regional levels and the local user groups is insufficient for integrated groundwater management. The analysis also showed the proliferation of unrecorded private wells presents a critical challenge to groundwater resource sustainability. The proliferation of unregulated Groundwater resource units and actors indicated a failure in the governance framework. Effective climate change adaptation requires moving from fragmented management to a unified, community-driven approach that prioritizes public engagement and managed aquifer recharge. This study suggests that enhancing local institutional abilities and integrating socio-ecological metrics into water policy is crucial for the enduring sustainability of the Hormat Golina aquifer amid a shifting climate.