Sustainable Water Harvesting and Institutional Strengthening in

Amhara, SWHISA

What, How, Where, and Status

20th April 2007,

Bahir Dar

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SWHISA

• is a six-year undertaking –to be implemented by ANRS

–with support from CIDA

–through the CEA (Hydrosult-Agrodev-Oxfam Canada),

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SWHISA’s purpose

to strengthen the capacity of institutions involved in water harvesting to work together effectively to strengthen farmers’ associations, communities and families in planning, designing, implementing and managing sustainable water harvesting and use of water for irrigation.

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SWHISA will contribute to the ultimate goal of increasing food security of poor farmers through improved water management

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Key participating institutions

–BoARD

–BoWRD

–ARARI

–CPA – their representatives at the woreda level, (EB, WB,WI,GSE,DD,LM)

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Farmers will participate through

•water users associations and •other community organizations

• Other collaborating agencies will input to and benefit from the Project activities, (EPLAUA, WAB…)

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Project Design and Implementation Approach

• Design Phase completed by ANRS + CEA

• November 2002 to March 2004

• This work allowed for the definition of – Project organization and performance

measurement; – activities, outputs and outcomes; – resources and timing;

– training and procurement plans,

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work broken down into five outcomes

OC 1000 :

improved knowledge and skills of farm families and community-based organizations in household water harvesting, irrigated agriculture and watershed management;

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OC 2000 :

schemes owned and sustainably managed by

their owners;

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OC 3000:

strengthening the woreda and the development of integrated institutional platforms there;

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OC 4000:

strengthening the regional institutions and their

cooperation;

OC 5000

strengthening sector agency coordination and cooperation

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A total of 32 specific outputs and hundreds of activities

Work on the Implementation Phase started in late January

2005

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Major Achievements• OC 1000

Improved knowledge and skills of farm families and CBOs in household water harvesting,

irrigated agri culture and watershed management.

• OP 1100 Farmer Focus Group (FFG) formation

– 6 household water harvesting FFGs

– 6 irrigated agriculture FFGs– …

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OP 1200

Technology Development Team (TDT) formation and training

• TWO TDTS formed in the two woredas

• ….

STATUS

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1. Water harvesting1.1 Household water harvesting

• 9 HHWHS (85 m3) completed at end June 2006. Most operational

• Drip irrigation facilities installed and training given to beneficiaries and DAs

– Crops are planted, some harvested, data being collected.

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Construction of new structures, including the third project woreda, is to begin soon (plan is to have 10 per woreda)

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1.2 Improving the efficiency of irrigation schemes

• PRAs conducted on six irrigation schemes

• PRA underway at Debremewi Exp Watershed

• Dry season cultivation underway on Six schemes

• Training of FFGs in EB by Woreda TDTs on irrigated agriculture.

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1.3 Underground dams

• Part of capacity building to BoWRD, a team of experts organized by the project from different bureaus to undertake the activity.

• Training organized for them by a private consultant

• Underground dam sites selected in East Bellesa woreda,

• geotechnical investigation and scheduling for construction to be undertaken

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1.4 The Gonj watershed study

– pre-feasibility study conducted. A learning-by-doing capacity building exercise. Almost everyone from the project was involved.

– Revised work plan for feasibility study prepared,

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1.5 Bathymetric surveys

• The surveys were done in four reservoirs in collaboration with experts from Ministry of Water resources. Report under preparation

It served as an excellent capacity building opportunity for BoWRD

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1.6 Installation of facilities for collection of data for rainfall-runoff modelling

• staff gauges and automatic and manual rainfall measuring devices are installed in four reservoirs, and daily data is being collected

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2. Agricultural Extension

2.1 Organization of FFGs and TDTs and training provided

• FFGs are established in E.Bellesa, Kobo, Mecha, Woreillu and Yimana Densa Goncha woredas.

• TDT in 5 woredas trained on irrigated agriculture, water harvesting systems, management of Drip systems and extension methodologies

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2.2 Provision of Diaries for DAs

• 500 diaries prepared, printed and distributed for all 6 project woredas..

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2.3 Provision of equipments for FTCs

A variety of equipments distributed.

( 360 wooden arm chairs, 6 black boards, 6 display boards, 18 office desks, 36 file cabinets, …)

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2.4 Design of an FTC with a built-in water saving structure at East

Bellesa

• A special design prepared by project staff under the leadership of the late Dr. Ramiro. BoARD had commented it, construction awaits budgetary decisions.

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3. Agricultural research

3.1 Running PRA surveys on selected irrigation schemes

• Six surveys conducted (traditional and modern).

• Short temers involved in some. • Bureau experts involved as part of a

capacity building effort.• Development plans prepared, action started

for the current irrigation season • PRA reports distributed to partners.

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3.2 Agricultural plan document prepared for HHWHS

3.3 Demonstration of low cost water lifting technology (Rope and washer pump) underway in East Bellesa Woreda.

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3.4 Publication and distribution of workshop proceeding

• Proceeding of ‘Irrigation water management research in Ethiopia, with particular emphasis on Amhara Region’

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3.5 Establishment of Experimental watershed

• SWHISA assisted ARARI in identifying broad agricultural water management research thematic areas to be the basis for strategic plan for the experimental work.

• A diagnostic PRA survey currently underway

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4. Organizational development activities

4.1 Situational analysis of Woreillu Woreda

• A full analysis of the organizational situation of the woreda successfully completed, discussed on a workshop

• Implementation work plan prepared with emphasis on Records Management

• Important regional institutions showed interest for further expansion

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4.2 Situational analysis of East Bellessa Woreda

– Field assessment work on data collection began

4.3 Assessment of the situation in the bureaus explored,

Detail studies and recommendations will follow

4.4 Top-It-Up: Empowering Women

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5. Community Development5.1 Establishment of Irrigation

cooperatives• 4 irrigation water users cooperatives

newly established in 3 woredas

• 3 coops legally registered at CPA

• Training provided to the cooperative leaders and Woreda cooperative experts by SWHISA.

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5.2 PRA surveys

5.3 Works on Gender and HIV/AIDS

• trainings conducted for Farmers, Woredas as well as for bureaus.

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6. Capacity building trainings Major trainings:

• 1652 Total No of participants• 70% Woreda + Kebele

• 30 % Region + Zone

• > 352 Training days

• Few International tours

• Msc thesises supported

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The ‘minor’ changes initiated by ANRS

• According to ANRS:

• An imbalance b/n Technical Assistance and physical development component of the project.

• Considerable changes in situation between the period of design of the project and the present,

Hence, the need to make some adjustment.

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ANRS wants to see some project fund allocated for :

More Water resources development including developing traditional irrigation schemes

Human resources development (long term local trainings, …)

Environment related

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• Project kept on hiatus until negotiations completed

• The issue was resolved after a long process of negotiation that involved the senior leadership at ANRS, at CIDA, and at CEA

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What next?Two plans to be produced:

1. A comprehensive plan reflecting the agreement. i.e. an addendum to the original PIP

2. An annual plan for the period July/07—June/07

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THANK YOU