Social Capital Transformation in the Ecuadorian Highlands: A Case Study of the Pillaro Irrigation System, Tungurahua

Abstract

"In this paper I show, based on the case study of the Pillaro Ramal Norte Irrigation system how a new autonomous supra-community water user organization conformed with the support of an external agent. I describe how the water user organizations consolidated based on the trans-formation of inward and outward looking social capital. I argue that the support of external agents was important in bringing about this trans-formation. External agents facilitated the development of a shared new normative framework in newly created water user organizations and developed technical and organizational water management skills of water users within the confines of the irrigation systems. Nevertheless in creating new water management organizations it shifted existing power positions and social capital at the detriment of the already existing community and second tier organizations that initially struggled for the construction of the irrigation system."