The role of strategic performance indicators in enhancing water security governance (an analytical study of the opinions of a sample of leaders in the Ministry of Water Resources

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the role of strategic performance indicators (KPIs), with their five dimensions (efficiency in water resource management, level of institutional integration, response to water risks, transparency in water decision-making, and effectiveness of investments in the water sector), in enhancing water security governance, with its five dimensions as well (adaptive governance, multi-level governance, social learning, polycentric governance, and social power). The problem of the study arises from a clear gap in achieving sound governance of water security in the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, despite the escalating existential challenges such as climate change and the impact of upstream countries, questioning the pivotal role of these indicators in addressing the issue. The study relied on the descriptive-analytical method and was applied to a community and sample of senior and middle management in the ministry (with 409 valid questionnaires). Data were analyzed using SPSS V.29 and AMOS V.26 software, and hypotheses were tested through structural equation modeling. The results confirmed a statistically significant and very strong positive impact of strategic performance indicators on water security governance, where the indicators collectively explained

64.7% Of the changes in water governance, which led to the acceptance of the main alternative hypothesis; the most important conclusion was that increasing the ministry's effectiveness in resource use and adopting rationalization policies and modern technologies is a fundamental pillar that leads to a comprehensive and sustainable improvement in the water security governance system. Based on that, the most important recommendation is the urgent need to invest in advanced technologies to reduce water waste and implement strict consumption rationalization policies, along with deepening institutional coordination and enhancing transparency to ensure sustainable water security.