tech brief - nef mali t- agricultural water

7/27/2019 Tech Brief - NEF Mali t- Agricultural Water

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MAL

Technical Brie

432CrouseHindsHall•900S.CrouseAvenue•Syracuse,NY13244•315-428-8670•www.neareast.org

INNOVATIVE WATER MANAGEMENT:

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN MALI

For almost 30years, NEFhasworked innorthernMali to improve the productivity of natural

resources – such as agricultural land, forests,

pasture,wetlands,andwaterways–asameansof

achievingsecure,sustainablelivelihoods.

Themajorityof people inthis regionare farmers,

herders,fishers,andcollectorsofforestproducts.

For thosewho rely onnatural resources for their

livelihoods, productivity and wellbeing are tied

directly to the availability of water. They face

growing threats from climate change and water

scarcity and additional barriers due to lack of

technologyandtraining.

To address these challenges, NEF has developed a suite of innovative strategies that have

demonstrated success in delivering reliable water supplies, improving governance, and reducin

conflictacrosstheregion.NEFseekstoexpandthesestrategiesinadditionalcommunities;documen

andshareexperiences;andinformgovernanceanddecision-makingonwaterresources.

OVERVIEW

In 1992, NEF began pioneering creative andrealistic long-term solutions to the waterchallenges facing people in northern Mali, with afocus on the Mopti region. Together with localpartners, we introduce simple technologies to

improve the efficiency of water collection, storageand use, including rainwater harvesting, surfac water management, and spring catchment.

Our work helps villagers better manage theiscarce water resources, so that a greater number opeople have access to a more abundant, stablsupply of water for multiple uses. Because ever village faces unique water resource constraints –based on rainfall patterns, groundwater availabilityand springs – NEF has developed a range o

strategies to adapt to a given area’s water supplyand needs. In some cases, traditional techniqueare re-introduced or upgraded to improvefficiency and scale.

NEF has demonstrated success in deliveringreliable water supplies for agricultural, livestockand household use. As a result of ongoing NEF

GuidingPrinciplesofNEFWaterStrategies

• Harnessbothconventionalandnon-conventionalwater

resources(e.g.,rainwaterrunoff)formultipleuses

includinghousehold,agricultural,andlivestock

• Employsimpletechnologiesandprovidetrainingto

enablesystemstobemanagedlocally• Buildskills,costrecovery,andgovernancesystemsto

ensurelong-termsustainability

• Engagepeercommunitymentoringandlocalservice

providerstoscaleupandexpand

• Involvethefullrangeoflocalwaterusers–men,women,

andyouth–indesign,implementationandgovernance

ofwatersystems

SimplebundsandgatesallowsMalianfarmerstocontrolrainwaterrunof

allowingthemtogrowriceinareasstrugglingwithchronichunger.



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water management projects, communities acrossthe region are increasingly able to better controlthe water on which their life depends and tocapture and use scarce water resources—whether

rainfall, springs, wetlands or a combination of sources. Community members are able to leadmore stable and prosperous lives.

There is still enormous unrealized potential toexpand into additional communities in the Moptiand Timbuktu regions, where it is estimated thatonly 30 percent of demand has been met.

NEF’s goals are to:

• Reach an additional 50 percent of communities in the

Mopti and Timbuktu regions by 2015 • Document and communicate challenges and successes

with a multi-sector audience

• Inform regional water management strategies and

policies

CHALLENGES

Water challenges are inherent and increasing inthis part of the world. Among the most notableare: Water Scarcity . The amount and timing of rainfall affects every aspect of life in this semi-aridregion—a mosaic of savannah, woodlands,seasonal waterways, and aquatic grasslands— which come together in the vast inland delta of the Niger River. While rainfall has always beenunpredictable in the region, over the past 15 yearsit has significantly decreased and become evenmore erratic.

Climate Change. Increasing temperatures, heat

waves, high winds, and drought alternating withfloods are impacting all life in northern Mali andin much of Sahelian Africa. These intense,fluctuating climatic conditions place additionalstress on already scarce water supplies.

Lack of Technology and Training. Sometimes asimple well can improve lives dramatically.However, in most villages, wells are not possible

either because of groundwater hydrology, obecause they are not a realistic way to sufficientlyaddress the spectrum of local needs, which includ water for drinking, gardening, livestock and

pastures, and agriculture.

Simpledamscapturerainwaterrunofftosupportagricultureand

livestockwhileimprovinginfiltrationandgroundwaterlevels.

NEF’S APPROACH NEF has developed a range of innovativeapproaches to match the unique conditions andneeds of a variety of communities. NEF

emphasizes simple technologies, mobilizes locaresources, develops local skills, and promotecommunity-based governance and cost-recovery.

The simple technologies NEF employs increasthe efficiency of water harvesting and use; theyhelp communities adapt to climate variability andunpredictability, and build local capacities. Planning & Appropriate Technology . NEFbegins by working with the community to evaluatthe water resources of a given area and then

determines the best strategy given the amount andlocation of water sources and the needs of thcommunity. Selection and siting of technology ibased on landscape-level planning, which takeinto consideration current natural resourcdistribution, land use, tenure, and zoning.

In Mali, in addition to conventional wateresources (groundwater wells, pumps), NEF hagained unmatched expertise adapting and working



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with several key technologies for using non-conventional water resources:

• Micro-basins and rainwater runoff

management for rice cultivation• Spring catchment systems for multiple use

(domestic, livestock, and horticulture)

• Wetland and aquatic pastureland restoration

• Rainwater harvesting from rooftops

• Artificial pond construction

Restorationofaquaticgrasslandsreviveslocaleconomics

throughlivestockhusbandryandfishing.

Capacity-building & Implementation. Working with local partners, we help villagers gain skills todevelop and maintain new water managementsystems. Rigorous training and effective gover-nance are essential to both short- and long-termsuccess. NEF specialists train local masons andbuilders to design, construct, and maintain watersystems. NEF helps mobilize community supportfor construction and maintenance.

Governance & Community Ownership. Com-

munity ownership is key to success in watermanagement. Villagers have the greatest stake intheir water resources, and with the proper toolsand training, they are the best stewards. NEFassists communities in forming associations todetermine access and use rules such as waterprices. We provide villagers with training andtechnical assistance, and work with them until they are able to independently manage their water.

Partnerships & Cooperation. Ultimately thsuccess of these systems relies on increasedcoordination among diverse stakeholders who use water resources for a variety of purposes. In

given community or area, the overall process oforging consensus and implementing a watestrategy builds cooperation among public andprivate partners. Projects are designed to creatlinkages that foster ongoing cooperation.

Cost Sharing . In NEF projects throughout thregion, villagers both manage new water systemand share project costs by providing financial andin-kind contributions, such as labor andconstruction materials. From 2009 to 2011, NEF

mobilized $172,000 in cost share for 19community-based projects – an average of 15 percent of total cost.

IMPACT

We deliver real solutions that:

• Increase and stabilize water supply formultiple uses, including household, crops andlivestock;

• Restore wetlands, flood pastures, and

fisheries; • Improve water governance and reduce

conflict over natural resources; and• Improve livelihood quality and stability in

rural communities.

Apublicstandpipe,fedbyspringwaterfromtheescarpment,

haschangedthequalityoflifedramaticallyinMounouwel.



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Economic, social and environmental impacts arediverse: improving agricultural productivity; sup-porting livestock and fishing; meeting domestic water needs; increasing income; increasing the

time semi-nomadic animals stay in villages,increasing milk production and soil fertilization;reducing rural exodus by creating jobs; reducing pressure on forest resources; and regenerating plant species.

Dryfor30years,theNiangawetlandnowsupports

gardening,grazing,andfishingfor3,000people.

A summary of NEF strategies and impact iprovided in the text box. Examples of recensuccesses include:

• In 4 new villages, where NEF has helpeddevelop rice fields using rainwater runoff, 212families produced 90 tons of rice in this yearof near-catastrophic drought.

• A new spring catchment system in Mou-nouwel now delivers more than 40,000 litersper day (0.55 liters/second) in an area wherethere was until recently almost no water.

• Over the past year, the newly restored Nianga wetland – dry for 30 years – provided

opportunities for 3,000 people to fish andgrow high-value horticultural crops.

In addition to the impact on individual communities, these activities provide models to inform water management strategies and policies onmultiple-scales, in areas with similar environmental conditions, stressors, and needs.

SUMMARYOFNEFWATERMANAGEMENTSTRATEGIES&IMPACT

CONVENTIONALWATERRESOURCES

• Rehabilitationoftraditionalwatersources(wells,ponds). NEFhelpedrestoremorethan20wellsand6traditional

pondsfordrinkingwater,irrigation,livestock,andwildlife,

serving38,600people.

• Constructionofmediumandlargediameterwells.Fordrinkingwater,vegetableproductionandtreeplanting,

NEFhelpedconstructmorethan60large-diameterand35

medium-diameterwells.

• ConstructionofwellswithDutchandcircularbricks. Toreducecostsforshallowwellscreatedatashallowdepthforgardening,NEFhelpedconstruct18Dutchand/or

circularbrickwells.

• Mechanical(hand,footandsolar)pumpsonboreholes.NEFinstalledpumpsonmorethan40boreholes,including

asolarpumptosupplywaterfor2000fruittrees.

• Constructionofsuperstructures.NEFhelpedcommunities

constructnumerouswalls,fences,drainageditches,

distributionnetworks,andstoragetankstoimprovewater

points,suchaswellsandboreholes.

NON-CONVENTIONALWATERRESOURCES

• Micro-basins&FieldWaterManagement. NEFhelpedrecoverfourteenabandonedplainsof324hectares

(deemedunfavorableforagriculture)forcollectionof

runoffwaterforricecultivationintheCommunesof:

DongolBoré,KoubewelKoundia,Korarou,Deberé,

Djaptodji,andKorombana,benefiting16,825people.

• SpringCatchment.Inpartnershipwithmunicipal

governmentsandvillagers,NEFdesignedand

constructedsixgravitysystemsusingnaturalspring

waterfordrinkingwater,marketgardensandfruittrees,benefiting7200individualsintargetedvillages

andatleast900individualsindirectly(e.g.,herders).

• RainwaterCollection. NEFbuilt43“impluviums”to

collectrainwaterfromrooftops,providingdrinking

waterforhouseholds,literacycenters,andprimary

schoolsbenefiting9,600individuals.

• BouliConstruction. NEFconstructed2boulis(artificialponds)forhousehold,agriculture,andlivestockuse.

tech brief - nef mali t- agricultural water

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