Annexes

Annex 1. Country papers and complementary papers - abstracts

STRENGTHENING CAPACITY FOR IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE RESEARCH IN TUNISIA

In Tunisia, about 22 percent of the population is associated with the agriculture sector and 40 percent depend directly or indirectly on this. The irrigated sector provides 30-35 percent of the mean value of the total agricultural production, 13-15 percent of the gross domestic product, and 20 percent of the agricultural export products. In the near future, 50 percent of the agricultural production should be provided by 7 percent of the effective agricultural area. However, the development of the irrigated sector has to face sustainability problems owing to overexploitation of the shallow groundwater, and risks of degradation of the soil properties and environment pollution problems when marginal waters are applied inadequately. The mobilization of additional water resources is technically increasingly difficult and expensive. Moreover, the new scenario of agricultural trade liberalization requires an increased competitiveness from the irrigation sector with a better and higher valorization of the allocated water resources. Therefore, water research must resolve efficiency, productivity and environment integrity imperatives, i.e. sustaining farmers and guaranteeing a satisfying quantity and quality of food while preserving natural resources.

The research programme "Water saving in irrigation" is in progress and some goals have been achieved regarding research management, capacity strengthening, and uptake of research findings. An increase in the research capabilities has occurred during the implementation of the research programme. Partnerships have been forged with national and foreign institutions. Training has been provided in order to build the capacities of the researchers, engineers and technicians involved in the programme. The linkage between research and extension is part of the research actions.

Akissa el Bahri

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING OF USERS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE PERUVIAN COASTAL VALLEYS

The paper examines the institutional strengthening of water user organizations, known as user boards, in Peru. Irrigation in Peru was traditionally top-down, but in recent years the government has been actively pursuing a policy of management transfer. The case study describes a programme of participative training for 64 user boards to encourage them take on the full responsibility for local water management including the collection of fees from farmers and to encourage private funding in irrigation. Evaluations showed significant increases in the number of boards setting up plans for water distribution and prioritizing maintenance as well as increases in the collection of funds from farmers.

Alvaro Ledesma

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR WATER USER ASSOCIATIONS IN ALBANIA

This case examined capacity development of WUAs in Albania and presents a detailed history of the development of water user groups as part of a major investment in irrigation following Albania’s transition from a command to a market economy. It describes the steps taken at farm level to introduce the concept of WUAs to farmers, who were more accustomed to being directed by others, and at a national level were changes were made to the legal structure in order to establish the rights and responsibilities of associations. It is still too early to evaluate the success of these significant changes and time is needed for people to change "after 46 years of repressive communism". However, the author is optimistic about the eventual outcome.

Ylli Dedja

CAPACITY BUILDING FOR PARTICIPATORY IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT - LESSONS LEARNED FROM ANDHRA PRADESH

Governments and irrigation agencies across the world have been encouraging farmers to play a larger role in irrigation management. Such changes have stemmed from changes in government policy and fiscal crises, or they have formed a part of the overall reforms in the state. Although the process has been highly varied in modality and approach, the overall trend in decentralizing irrigation management in favour of local communities has been quite consistent. Transferring irrigation management to farmers calls for new skills not only among farmers but also among irrigation agencies, governments and civil society. While the need for capacity building is well recognized, very often, token funding for training and capacity building coupled with training being accorded a low priority makes it a wasteful if not redundant exercise. As the process of reforms progresses, new capacities among policy-makers, governments, civil society and WUAs are required in order to cope with increasing challenges. Only a sustained attempt at capacity building will enable policy-makers, agencies and farmers to cope with the increasing challenges and consequences of irrigation management transfer. This paper summarizes the author’s experience in launching a major capacity building exercise as a part of the irrigation reforms launched in Andhra Pradesh in 1997. Despite training needs assessment and an effective communication strategy for addressing knowledge gaps and imparting skills, further involvement of farmers can be achieved effectively through farmer networks that can play a significant role in the capacity building process. Farmer networks comprising activist farmers can be very important intermediaries between the state and the farmers, and could play a vital role in providing inputs and articulating views and opinions among farmers and the government.

J. Raymond Peter

GENDER MAINSTREAMING IN WATER MANAGEMENT - CHIPAPA IRRIGATION SCHEME, ZAMBIA

The case study gives a physical contextual setting of the Chipapa Irrigation Scheme in the country. The original objectives as conceived by the colonial government for setting up the scheme are reviewed and the assistance provided thus far by different stakeholders to the scheme is explained. The Empowerment of Women in Irrigation and Water Resources Management for Improved Household Food Security, Health and Nutrition (WIN) approach is described, which after its implementation resulted in gender mainstreaming and overall community empowerment. The study provides lessons learned using the WIN approach to development. In so doing, identified gaps will be taken as possible areas of future concentration at the Chipapa Irrigation Scheme.

Mwase Phiri

THE ROLE OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION IN CAPACITY BUILDING - EIER-ETSHER IN WEST AND CENTRAL AFRICA

To support their socio-economic development, 14 countries of West and Central Africa created the Ecole Inter-Etats d’Ingénieurs de l’Equipement Rural (EIER) and the Ecole Inter-Etats des Techniciens Supèrieurs de l’Hydraulique et de l’Equipement Rural (ETSHER). According to its mission and activities, the EIER-ETSHER Group plays a leading role in capacity building generally in the agricultural engineering sector and particularly in the irrigation and drainage sector in West and Central Africa. To date, some 2 500 higher technicians, engineers and graduates from country members have succeeded in the different training and education courses. Some 4 500 trainees have followed various extension courses, including 280 in irrigation and drainage extension programmes. The EIER-ETSHER Group is an example of integrated interregional cooperation between French-speaking countries of West and Central Africa for capacity building support.

Laurent Compaore

OUTPUTS ON CAPACITY BUILDING FROM THE 9TH INTERNATIONAL DRAINAGE WORKSHOP

The 9th International Drainage Workshop (IDW9) "Drainage for a secure environment and food supply" was held in Utrecht, the Netherlands, from 10 to 13 September 2003, immediately prior to the ICID meeting in Montpellier.

The theme of the workshop was the role of drainage in IWRM. Four topics were discussed:

• Innovative drainage technologies in agriculture;

• Drainage: a tool for IWRM in agriculture;

• Drainage institutions for participatory development;

• Capacity building in drainage.

The workshop required active participation of those present and went beyond presentation of papers. The working method adopted is called "open space technology".

The output of the workshop was action plans for all topics. This presentation focuses on the topic of capacity building.

Before the workshop started, the challenge for each topic was formulated, and a picture was chosen to represent the challenge. For capacity building it was: How can we provide effective capacity building?

The picture shows a person. People are central to capacity building, even though capacity building goes beyond individuals. The working environment forms the basis on which the person stands, as how in reality, people depend on their working environment for their capacity development. The person in the picture is standing on two feet. At the start of capacity building there are also two pillars: the knowledge and skill of the person involved; and the organization in which the person is working. The achievement of the person in the picture, i.e. the weight lifted, comprises aspects of IWRM and good job performance. These are the main objectives of capacity building.

The workshop discussed the idea that drainage as such is no longer the main focus of our work. Drainage is to be seen within the context of IWRM. It needs our effort to be able to think and act based on this. For example, so far we have often considered agriculture alone when calculating drainage requirements. However, drainage could have other functions, there could be nature/environmental concerns with regard to drainage. We should be able to design and operate drainage systems for this.

With regard to capacity building, there has also been a change. We should stop thinking that we need fill people with information during training and that that is it. At present, there is an overload of information rather than a shortage. People should become problem solvers, and be able to deal with information in an efficient way. This they can learn, by doing it themselves. For that, we need to build capacity. This needs to go beyond formal training. It should also include on-the-job training, collaborative research, joint action, and partnerships. Furthermore, the content and structure of training should change in order to allow people to develop problem-solving skills.

Show the shift

In summary, we should be able to show the shift that needs to be made:

• drainage to IWRM;

• capacity building approach.

Shift the show

Moreover, we should shift the show. We should stop working based on what we think we should do. Our work should be demand/client oriented. Furthermore, we should stop pushing drainage. When working from the wider view of IWRM, we should be able to indicate the role of drainage, not the other way around.

• work based on demand/client;

• stop pushing drainage.

  In brief, the conclusions were:

• Capacity building is more than training. It also includes education, research, organizational development, and awareness raising - among individuals as well as organizations, policy-makers, and bureaucrats.

• More work needs to be done to put drainage in the context of IWRM: Capacity building is required for this at different levels and through different actions.

• Partnerships are a good conduit for building capacity to solve water management issues.

• Longer-term commitments and partnerships are essential.

Action plans

The workshop did not conclude with a "Declaration of Utrecht". Action plans were prepared and presented at the end of the workshop. All the workshop participants were in a position to add their action items to the action plans of other working groups. With regard to capacity building, the action plans concentrated on:

• textbooks, readers and other materials;

• curriculum development;

• training of trainers;

• research on multifunctional aspects of land and water development;

• ICID working group on drainage in IWRM;

• drainage ambassadors (in the context of IWRM).

Partners in these action plans are: FAO, World Bank, ANGRAU, India, Malaysia, Alterra- ILRI, and the Wageningen University and Research Centre (the Netherlands).

All participants of the workshop on capacity building are invited to participate. More information on action plans and participation is available through the IDW9 follow up at www.ilri.nl.

Catharien Terwisscha van Scheltinga, Alterra-ILRI

IPTRID’S NEW CHALLENGE ON CAPACITY BUILDING

World irrigation has grown from 8 million ha in 1800 to 275 million ha today. Irrigated agriculture now meets more than 40 percent of the world’s food and fibre and produces 60 percent of the world’s cereals. World population is expected to grow by a further 30 percent in the next 25 years, mainly in the developing world where water is in short supply. More than 1 300 million people do not have access to enough food at household level and the problem is growing. Many of them live in dry and drought-prone areas. They rely mainly on agriculture for their livelihood, but most of them farm plots of less than 2 ha and live in conditions with unreliable and highly variable rainfall. Many also live in areas where excess water makes agriculture risky. Thus, it is clear that irrigation and drainage will continue to play a major role in food production and poverty alleviation. This situation is not without serious risks and difficulties.

Indeed, the question about irrigation is not "why" but "how". Irrigation history is marked not only by successes, but also by failures and catastrophes. The question is how to avoid problems such as the decline of the Aral Sea (which has shrunk by three-quarters), the salinization of 1.5 million ha of land each year, the rapid depletion of groundwater in many dry regions, and the intrusion of saline water in coastal aquifers. It is also about how to avoid conflicts. It is about how to tackle the fact that agriculture in developing countries uses more than 80 percent of all the water withdrawn, while a great deal of this is misused and mismanaged as a result of weak institutions, lack of expertise, and poor water policies. There is a considerable risk that countries might pursue inadequate policies and practices. If nothing is done urgently about this, more environmental and human disasters could occur.

Why does such a situation exist and how can we avoid it? The reason for misuse and mismanagement of water in agriculture is that irrigation is not just a question of dams, canals, pipes and technologies. It is above all a question of human and institutional capacities. The human factor needs to be taken into account in investment plans much more than in the past. In future, the development of new irrigated areas, and the modernization of existing irrigation schemes, will have to pay more attention to the people and organizations involved. Improving the efficiency and productivity of the use of water for agriculture, while avoiding further environmental catastrophes, is first of all a question of providing the right expertise to all stakeholders involved. It is also a question of improving institutions. Capacity development should be seen as an integrated concept that goes well beyond training, and embraces also the concepts of research and demonstration, technology transfer, participation, empowerment, technical assistance, and institutional development.

The need for investment in capacity development is great. In order to achieve sustainable water management and higher water productivity in agriculture, there is an urgent need to increase the investment in the technical and managerial capacity of people and institutions at all levels - from farmers to governments. New integrated capacity development programmes and projects are needed throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America in order to: enhance research and experimentation capacities; set up demonstration sites and training programmes; produce field guides and training material; develop monitoring and decision-support systems; strengthen water management and planning capacities; and raise awareness. Increased and more effective investment in capacity development is required, partly from country budgets and partly from donors. The amount needed is difficult to estimate, but it should probably be at least US$1 000 million/year. To achieve this, there is a need for strategic planning, project preparation, funding facilitation and assistance for project implementation. This is where the IPTRID comes in, as a partner of governments and funding institutions, to help bridge this gap.

The IPTRID was created in 1990 by the World Bank and the UNDP in collaboration with the ICID. Initially located at the World Bank in Washington, DC, it was transferred to FAO in Rome in 1998. Its initial mission was to enhance research and development in irrigation and drainage technology in developing countries. Between July 2002 and July 2003, the IPTRID Secretariat reformulated the strategy and programme in close consultation with the main donors and members of the IPTRID network. The new strategy was officially endorsed by Consultative Group and Management Committee of the IPTRID at their meetings on 18 September 2003 in Montpellier, France.

The new challenge for the IPTRID is to cooperate with governments and funding institutions in assessing capacity development needs and in formulating sustainable agricultural water management strategies within the framework of IWRM, and to facilitate funding and implementation of capacity development programmes and projects with a central focus on technology transfer and the uptake of research results. Thus, within the broad scope of capacity development, the IPTRID will act as a facilitator. Its niche is similar to that of an architect, designing innovative solutions and helping to implement them in close cooperation with governments and funding agencies. The IPTRID will meet this challenge by mobilizing expertise and resources through its wide network of knowledge institutions and resource centres.

Olivier Cogels, IPTRID’s Programme Manager

Annex 2. Workshop programme

Annex 3. List of participants