The Mechanisms to Involve People in Water Policy: The Community in the East Coast Gulf River Basin of Thailand

Abstract

Many international organizations, such as the United Nations, encourage public participation in formulating water policy; however, there is a lack of research evaluating the impact of this input. This study explored the mechanisms and analyzed how those mechanisms influence community involvement in making water policy in the East Coast Gulf River Basin of Thailand. The study used a qualitative research approach, involving interviews with 39 key informants and questionnaires with 403 respondents. Findings indicate that water user groups, water committees, and consultation processes serve as the primary mechanisms for engagement. Secondary mechanisms—those fostering deeper collaboration, reflective learning, and ongoing knowledge sharing—are less commonly utilized. If implemented, these mechanisms could contribute to transforming institutional, community, and cultural norms. To improve water policy and its desired outcomes, forms of engagement must move beyond legal compliance toward learning and behavior change. Such a shift must emerge from the bottom up, grounded in the local context. Further study is required to examine forms of consultation and their temporal impact on longer term policy outcomes within a continuous feedback process.