Avaliação de políticas públicas para o desenvolvimento regional/local: o caso do Programa Água Doce no semiárido paraibano

Abstract

The aim of this research was to analyze public policies meant to face water shortages in Brazilian Northeast within a context in which the debates about regional/local development are resumed. Apart from that, it also drew historically and critically upon different policies, focusing on Programa Água Doce and its impacts on communities in the State of Paraíba. Their analysis took into account, among other things, the following aspects: nature; process of elaboration; different actors involved; results; assessment, especially regarding the benefits which they brought to the assisted communities. It is a qualitative study which uses different complementary procedures: visits, observation, open interviews, informal talks, and analysis of documents. Some of its findings show technical fragilities, financial insolvency of the communities, low participation rate of local people and limited socio-environmental results in the promotion of access to drinking water.