Irrigation has significantly influenced Uzbekistan’s economy, but the sector deteriorated after the Soviet Union's collapse, leading to infrastructural issues and tensions among resource users. This prompted several reforms, including the establishment of local Water Consumers Associations (WCAs) through top-down approaches. However, these associations have struggled to achieve effective cooperation in common pool resource (CPR) management, particularly in maintaining irrigation infrastructure. This study investigates the challenges faced by Uzbek WCAs, focusing on the maintenance of irrigation canals and the institutional factors affecting collective action. Empirical research conducted in the Bukhara region involved interviews with government officials, donor agencies, local consulting firms, WCA employees, and farmers. Five key factors were identified as barriers to cooperation in canal maintenance: 1) inadequate skills of WCA chairpersons, 2) lingering Soviet-era behaviors, 3) misalignment between formal rules and informal practices, 4) lack of effective water allocation mechanisms, and 5) poor participatory governance. The findings also highlight the impact of path dependence on traditional irrigation management practices, revealing the complexities of institutional reform in this context.
