Adding an implementation phase to the framework for flood policy evolution: insights from South Africa

South African flood risk management policy changed radically after the end of apartheid (1994), with the Disaster Management Act 2002 promoting a modern proactive approach. However our policy document research and two case studies show an implementation deficit. The pre-existing ‘crises and catalysts’ theoretical framework we used for analysing flood policy evolution needs more attention to implementation issues, and the learning involved. Future flood policy change in South Africa or elsewhere should ensure that the process of learning is purposefully embedded within the structures, procedures and practices that are promoted to facilitate policy implementation, rather than being left to chance.

Attached full text: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Water Resources Development on 21/03/2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/07900627.2016.1142860

Published online: 21 Mar 2016