#10

INPIM Electronic Newsletter #10

January 2002 - Special Announcement

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Sixth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation management, April 21-26, Beijing China.

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The Sixth International Seminar on Participatory Irrigation Management, organized by INPIM in cooperation with China's Ministry of Water Resources, the World Bank and the World Bank Institute, will be held in Beijing, China, April 21-26, 2002. The theme is "Institutional Options for User Participation in Irrigation and Drainage Management". The seminar will highlight diverse experiences from both host country China and INPIM members. It offers participants the opportunity to learn about the latest developments in irrigation management reform, network with irrigation professionals, policymakers, and donors from around the world, and see firsthand China's approach to improving irrigation services. The program includes three full days of meetings and presentations by first-rate resource persons, two days of field visits, and one day of sightseeing (optional) in the beautiful and historic city of Beijing.

Call for Papers / Poster Session

Papers and posters are invited on (1) project or country case studies, (2) conceptual issues, and (3) methodological issues relating to user participation under various types of institutional arrangements (see discussion of the topics below). Paper abstracts and poster proposals should reach INPIM by email or by mail as soon as possible to allow time for translation, and no later than March 1, 2002.

Background Information

The seminar is sponsored by China's Ministry of Water Resources, the World Bank and the World Bank Institute. It is organized by the International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management (INPIM), the Chinese Irrigation and Drainage Center (CIDC), and the China Irrigation Districts Association (CIDA). The Governments of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom (DFID) are providing additional support.

The theme of the Sixth International Seminar focuses on institutional options for user participation in irrigation and drainage because different countries have developed different approaches to irrigation reform. These include full or partial transfer of operation and maintenance to Water Users Associations or local communities, contracts, and public-private partnerships. Participants will review and critically evaluate institutional models, and assess their applicability to their own countries or regions.

China began irrigation management reforms on its own and with World Bank assistance developed the concept of 'Self-managing Irrigation and Drainage Districts' (SIDDs) in 1995. This concept is based on the principles of participatory irrigation management. Reforms include: (a) the user pays principle; (b) decentralization of services delivery; (c) market oriented development; (d) treating water as an economic good; and (e) the participation of water users. The goal is improved performance and sustainability of irrigation systems.

Under the SIDD program, responsibility for water delivery is transferred from Provincial Water Resource Departments under the Ministry of Water Resources line to non-profit utilities called Water Supply Corporations or Organizations (WSCs/WSOs). The WSCs/WSOs operate and maintain the main canal systems and sell water to local Water User Associations, which have responsibility for water allocation, fee collection, and operation and maintenance in their areas. The creation of SIDDs benefits from strong support from the central and provincial governments and farmers, and has yielded positive results. Seminar participants will see firsthand how provincial governments have implemented and financed reform programs during field visits to irrigation districts in the provinces of Hunan, Hebei or Jiangsu.

Seminar Program

Besides offering the opportunity to review state-of-the-art thinking on irrigation reform, the international seminar provides an opportunity for networking with irrigation professionals from around the world. The seminar will be conducted in English, with simultaneous English/Chinese translation. The seminar program is outlined below. The detailed program will be provided at registration.

04/20 Registration of participants.
04/21 Opening ceremony; Keynote address, Presentations
04/22 Presentations on institutional options for user participation; Discussion in working groups
04/23 Field visits to provincial irrigation districts in small groups; Choice of three sites
04/24 Field visits continued
04/25 Group discussion on field visits and discussion of country action plans
04/26 Valedictory function and sightseeing around Beijing
04/27 Departure from Beijing.

Seminar Fees, Venue, Travel, and Visa

INPIM offers a pre-arranged package including all meals, lodging, local transportation, and field visits at US$1,100. Kindly make your check payable to INPIM. Participants may also transfer the amount directly to INPIM's bank by wire transfer:
Bank: SunTrust Bank
Address 1925 K street NW, Washington DC, USA
Account name: International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management
Acct. No.: 206 652 674
ABA Routing No: 051 000 020
Participants should also specify their names and mention "Sixth International Seminar."

The seminar venue is the Shen Zhen Hotel in downtown Beijing. Participants may check in to the hotel after 12:00 noon local time on Saturday, April 20. They should check out no later than 12:00 noon on Saturday, April 27. Participants arriving before, or staying after, the stated times, should arrange for accommodations at their own expense. The address of the Shen Zen hotel is No.1 Guang An Men Wai Street, Xuan Wu District, Beijing 100055, China. The hotel may be contacted directly via telephone +86-10-63271188 or fax + 86-10-63263320.

Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements from their respective countries to Beijing. They are requested to provide flight details to allow the organizers to receive them at the airport.

Participants must arrange to obtain their own visas for entry into China. They are requested to fill up the registration form and send it to INPIM at the earliest to enable the Ministry of Water Resources, China to issue a letter of invitation which would help participants to obtain a visa from the embassy of the People's Republic of China. INPIM will facilitate the issuance of letters of invitation. It is important for participants to start the visa application process immediately after receipt of the letter of invitation.