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THE INPIM E-NEWSLETTER February 14, 2008; Number 73 http://www.inpim.org ihussain@inpim.org
Welcome to the INPIM E-Newsletter # 73 NEWS Ø Project for Optimizing Canal and Groundwater Management for Maximizing Crop Production and Managing Salinization in Pakistan and Australia Launched Ø Modernization Plan of Punjab Irrigation & Power Department (IPD) Ø 54330 Water Users Associations formed under Participatory Irrigation Management in India Ø Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made a US$306 Million Commitment to Agricultural Development Ø Goldman Fund supports Water Micro-Credit Facility in India and Africa Ø International Development Enterprises (IDE) provided US$27 to India for Micro-Irrigation to Enable Smallholder Prosperity Ø Norway Contributing NOK60M to ADB's Multi-Donor Trust Funds for Water, Energy Ø African Development Bank (AfDB) and Niger River Basin Officials Meet Ø Announcement from ARCADIS Euroconsult – Euroconsult Mott MacDonald
DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS
World Bank
Ø World Bank Supports Bangladesh’s Agriculture Sector Ø World Bank provides Additional Financing for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project in Yemen
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Ø Japan Special Fund and ADB’s Grant Targets Water Resource Management Improvements in Bangladesh Ø Bangladesh Receiving $190M to Fund Recovery from Floods and Cyclone Ø ADB Backs Huge Infrastructure Project in Nepal to Ease Water Shortages
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
Ø IADB approves US$21 million for Community Water Program in Bolivia
Upcoming Regional and International Meets and Events
Ø 3rd General Meeting and Workshop of NARBO (Network of Asian River Basin Organizations) 20-22 February 2008 Solo, Indonesia Ø Second International Symposium on Water Resources and Renewable Energy Development in Asia 10-11 March 2008 Furama Resort, Danang, Central Vietnam Ø International Conference on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Lessons from Implementation in Developing Countries and the 2nd Africa Regional Meeting of the National Committees of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme 10-12 March 2008 South Africa Ø First African Water Week 26-28 March 2008 Tunis Ø 33rd WEDC International Conference “Access to Sanitation and Safe Water: Global Partnerships and Local Actions” 7-11 April 2008 Accra, Ghana Ø Water Down Under 2008 15-18 April 2008 Adelaide, Australia Ø Second MEDA Water Regional Event on Local Water Management 28-30 April 2008 Morocco Ø 7th International Congress on Hydraulic Engineering: ‘Enough Water for Sustainable Development!’ 15-18 May 2008 Juventud Island, Cuba Ø Irrigation Australia 2008 : Conference and Exhibition 20-22 May 2008 Melbourne, Australia Ø Urbanization of Irrigated Land and Water Transfers: A USCID Water Management Conference 28-31 May 2008 Scottsdale, Arizona Ø Conference "Water Resource Systems Management in Extreme Conditions" 4-5 June 2008 Moscow, Russia Crocus Expo Exhibition Center Ø Groundwater and Climate in Africa - An International Conference 25-28 June 2008 Kampala, Uganda Ø 10th International Drainage Workshop of ICID Working Group on Drainage 06-11 July 2008 Helsinki, Finland Ø World Water Week in Stockholm 17-23 August 2008 Stockholm, Sweden Ø 13th World Water Congress 01-04 September 2008 Montpellier, France Ø Africa Water Resources Management 2008 (AfricaWRM 2008) 8-10 September 2008 Gaborone, Botswana Ø WaterTech Central Asia: Central Asian International Water Technology Exhibition & Conference 16-18 September 2008 Almaty, Kazakhstan Ø ICID’s 20th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage 13-19 October 2008 Lahore, Pakistan
NEW PUBLICATIONS
Ø Rethinking Governance in Water Services Ø Hydropower Development in India: A Sector Assessment
Fellowship and funding opportunitiesØ University of Groningen PhD Fellowship Ø Amsterdam Merit Scholarships Ø Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program capacity building and trainings
Ø Groundwater Control 10-14 March 2008 Colorado State, USA Ø Financial Management of Water Organisations 07-25 April 2008 DELFT, The Netherlands Ø Groundwater Exploration and Monitoring 07-25 April 2008 DELFT, The Netherlands Ø Knowledge Management for Decision Makers in the Water Sector 14-25 April 2008 DELFT, The Netherlands Ø Applied Groundwater Modelling 09-27 June 2008 DELFT, The Netherlands Ø Public Private Partnerships in the Water Sector 07-25 July 2008 DELFT, The Netherlands Ø "2008 Integrated Water Resources Management Advanced International Training Programme"
11 August-2 September 2008 (Sweden) Ø Spate Irrigation and Water Management under Drought and Water Scarcity 10-21 September 2008 UNESCO-IHE
DETAILS
NEWS
The Vietnam Participatory Irrigation Management Project under VWRAP through the Japanese Special Development Fund (JSDF) Grant
Under the framework of Vietnam Water Resources Assistance Program (VWRAP), Participatory Irrigation Management project (PIM-JSDF) has been implemented with the establishment of about 80 Water User Organizations at 13 pilots of 6 sub-projects. In addition, the project conducts training programs for capacity building for WUOs beneficiaries and supports them to develop and implement the Agricultural Development Plans (ADPs) through a program of Sub-Grants.
The government of Vietnam has, additionally, requested International Development Association (IDA) to mobilize additional support to fund the empowerment of farmers for PIM in the 13 pilot irrigation areas of 6 sub-projects under VWRAP. This support will be provided through the Japanese Special Development Fund (JSDF) Grant for the supplemental and complementally support to VWRAP’s Institutional Development, Capacity Building and PIM component in general.
The project will (i) create institutions representing stakeholders and farmers of each irrigation system, allowing the Irrigation Management Companies (IMCs) and Project Management Units (PMUs) to discuss and consult with stakeholders on major project implementation and system policies and issues; (ii) develop representative, efficient and self-reliant water user organizations (WUOs) in the command areas of the irrigation systems, receiving bulk water delivery services from IMCs and providing irrigation water distribution services to farmers-members; (iii) provide a third level of training to Water User Organizations (WUOs) and its federation, the Water User Associations (WUAs), farmer group representatives and lower-level irrigators, delivered by adequately trained staff of IMCs at the provincial and district levels;
According to the project design, the PIM sub-component will be implemented in phases, viz: · Phase 1: Evaluation of present setups in each sub-project, development of PIM models for each sub-project, validation and planning of PIM activities at national and provincial levels, development of relevant training materials and guidelines, and creation of stakeholder representative consultation boards in each sub-project; implementation in the 13 pilot areas in the 6 sub-projects, including training of trainers, creation of WUOs, participatory planning, design and construction of canal improvement works and, review of experience at sub-project and national level and revision of strategies, training materials and guidelines; · Phase 2: Extension into the areas in conjunction with improvement of lower level infrastructure in those areas, and review followed by a final revision of strategies, training materials and guidelines; and · Phase 3: Implementation to fully cover the remaining command areas in each sub-project, federation of water users associations at system level and creation of system supervision boards, review of the PIM sub-component and development of recommendations for national PIM policies and strategies based on project experience.
Project at present has been implemented in Phase 1. The experience and lessons learnt from PIM implementation in 13 pilots of 6 sub-peojects selected in this Phase will be applied and upscaled in remaining areas in the future.
The Objectives of Project/ProgramØ Empower local communities in the management of irrigation schemes through capacity building and participatory approaches; Ø Reduce rural poverty by improving irrigation services and raising farm incomes; and Ø Facilitate the involvement of women in local irrigation management.
ActivitiesIn Phase1 the project consists of the following parts:
Part A. Development of Water Users Organizations (WUOs)
1. Establishing farmer-managed WUOs in the pilot areas covering about 20% of each of the six VWRAP irrigation sub-projects. 2. Conducting capacity building trainings for WUOs on financial, administrative and technical issues related to water management through the collaboration of local NGOs and MARD affiliated institutes and agencies. 3. Promoting the active participation of women as members of the WUOs by providing them with access to special training and to the decision-making process.
Part B. Support for the WUOs’ Agricultural Development
Assisting WUO beneficiaries through a program of Sub-Grants provided to finance the start-up operations and the Agricultural Development Plans (ADPs) of the WUOs.
The project will be executed by the VWRAP-PMO under the MARD. PMO will procure the services of the Vietnam Institute for Water Resources Research (VIWRR) for program management under single source procurement. Under this contract, VIWRR provide guidance to and supervise consultants for all services procured under the project including three sub-contracts NGOs and PIM international PIM consultant, with the exception of audit and management and supervision services to PMO, regionalized as follows: Ø Part A-A Development of WUOs: Cam son-Causon, Ke Go and Yen Lap Ø Part A-B Development of WUOs: Phu Ninh and Ke Go Ø Part A-C Development of WUOs: Dau Tieng
Implementation period is 20 months (6/2007-12/2008).
Due to subjective and objective reasons, the project has been delayed in 1 and a half years. The activities therefore have to be implemented in very tense schedule in order to meet original time schedule.
(Source: http://www.pim.vn/En/Web/Content.aspx?distid=503)
Project for Optimizing Canal and Groundwater Management for Maximizing Crop Production and Managing Salinization in Pakistan and Australia Launched
A project launching ceremony was held on Jan 5, 2008 at University of Faisalabad by the ACIAR. The project was approved in Central Development Working Party (CDWP) meeting held on Nov 13, 2007 and appreciated to be expanded to other provinces too.
In this pursuit, Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Professor, Charles Sturt University (CSU), Australia and a member of Australian Center for Irrigation and Agriculture Research (ACIAR), who is a leading exponent of this project, paid a visit to Pakistan and held meetings with the Secretary IPD, chairman P & D and members of the Planning Commission and Agriculture from Dec 26, 2007- Jan 6, 2008 to highlight the significance of the project. This effort was fortified by a workshop held in the syndicate hall of the University of Agriculture and attended by Irrigation & Power Department (IPD), Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority (PIDA), On-Farm Water Management (OFWM), FOs and University of Agriculture, Faisalabad.
The project has two components. One deals with Optimizing Canal and Groundwater Management to Assist Water User Associations in Maximizing Crop Production and the other with Managing Salinization in Australia and Pakistan.
The proposed project will be executed in the command area of the LCC in Pakistan and Coleambally Irrigation Area (CIA) in Australia. It is envisaged that by linking the CIA initiatives with the Punjab Governments’ initiatives in LCC (the oldest irrigation canal system in Pakistan; also serving the largest area in Punjab) administered through the PIDA irrigation management could be improved in both countries by sharing and learning from each others’ experiences.
PIDA initiated the Lower Chenab Canal System Rehabilitation Project. The costing of AU$200 millions is being provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). This project will realize the need for the PIDA initiative to study the existing and evolving systems of water distribution within the FOs jurisdiction to improve livelihoods through better crop production and salinity management thereby reducing rural poverty.
The project would look into options for engagement of FO and stakeholder groups in both the countries and provide support to PIDA for smooth implementation of sustainable canal and groundwater management. It would also propose cropping options that would use minimum water and explore salt tolerant species. It aims at translating production from the proposed cropping pattern into economic values. Farm sector is the pivot of Pakistan’s economy. Therefore, the farm sector production needs to be reflected in and used for macro-economic development.
(Source: Punjab Irrigation E-Newsletter, January 2008)
Modernization Plan of Punjab Irrigation & Power Department (IPD)
Asian Development Bank is providing technical assistance for carrying out the study for IPD modernization plan and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Punjab. PC-II prepared by Strategic Planning Reform Unit (SPRU) has been approved by Central Development Working Party (CDWP). A team of international and national consultants is on board. A series of meetings were held initially with the consultants and Secretary IPD, Chairman Planning & Development and Punjab Irrigation & Drainage Authority (PIDA) staff in December 2007. Discussions were provoked on the future options for IPD & FO under the participatory management, impacts of reforms and ways forward. It is anticipated that a comprehensive plan of Modernization would guide the reforms program in the right direction. Dr. Mark Svendson has been fielded as international consultant for the preparation of IPD Modernization Plan.
(Source: Punjab Irrigation E-Newsletter, January 2008)
54330 Water Users Associations formed under Participatory Irrigation Management in India
13 States of India namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have enacted the Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) till December 2007. So far, 54330 Water Users Associations (WUAs) covering an area of 12.32 million hectare have been formed in various states.
(Source: http://www.indlawnews.com/DE0D979113684FC5317BCD94B097FE3F)
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation made a US$306 Million Commitment to Agricultural Development
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced a US$306 million package of agricultural development grants designed to boost the yields and incomes of millions of small farmers in Africa and other parts of the developing world so they can lift themselves and their families out of hunger and poverty.
Announcing the grants at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Bill Gates, co-chair of the foundation, said that support for agriculture in the developing world had been relatively neglected in recent decades, but was a critical tool to drive development in rural areas, where the vast majority of the world's poorest people still live. Gates was joined by Dr. A. Namanga Ngongi, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and World Bank President Robert B. Zoellick.
"If we are serious about ending extreme hunger and poverty around the world, we must be serious about transforming agriculture for small farmers—most of whom are women," said Gates. "These investments—from improving the quality of seeds, to developing healthier soil, to creating new markets—will pay off not only in children fed and lives saved. They can have a dramatic impact on poverty reduction as families generate additional income and improve their lives."
The grants nearly double the foundation's investments in agriculture since the launch of its Agricultural Development initiative, part of the foundation's Global Development Program, in mid-2006. The foundation believes that with strong partnerships and a redoubled commitment to agricultural development by donor and developing country governments, philanthropy, and the private sector, hundreds of millions of small farmers will be able to boost their yields and incomes and lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. To that end, the foundation plans to invest a total of $900 million through 2008.
The largest grant in the package is $164.5 million to AGRA to establish a Soil Health Program that will complement its existing Seeds Program and help small-scale farmers make full use of new high-yielding varieties of Africa's staple food crops. The Rockefeller Foundation will contribute an additional $15 million.
The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, an Africa-based and African-led partnership, is focused on helping small farmers increase their productivity and incomes through a comprehensive approach that addresses issues from seeds, soil and water to markets, agricultural education and policy. AGRA announced the Soil Health Program earlier at its offices in Nairobi, Kenya. AGRA was established in 2006 with an initial $150 million investment from the Gates and Rockefeller foundations.
"Africa's soils are among the poorest in the world, and poor soils produce poor crops," said Kofi A. Annan, Chairman of the Board of AGRA. "This program aims to revitalize Africa's severely depleted soils in order to increase the fertility and sustainability of small-scale farms while safeguarding the environment."
The other five grants—to CARE, Heifer International, International Development Enterprises, International Rice Research Institute, and TechnoServe—total $141.5 million. The grants will primarily support work in country, including the development of local science, technology, farmer extension services, and market systems. Gates said the grants illustrated the range of intervention needed to ensure small farmers in Africa and around the world have the tools and opportunities to improve their lives: rice that can tolerate extreme weather conditions, more fertile soil, affordable microirrigation systems, improved farmer training, and enhanced connections to local and global markets in areas such as dairy and premium coffee.
"It is of little use if a farmer, through access to better seeds or soil or irrigation, boosts production but doesn’t have a market to sell the surplus," said Gates. "Our approach focuses on the entire agricultural value chain—from seeds and soil to farm management and market access. We believe that is the only way to get long-term, sustainable results."
(Source: www.gatesfoundation.org)
Goldman Fund supports Water Micro-Credit Facility in India and Africa
The
Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund has awarded a US$500,000 (EUR
344,000) grant to WaterPartners International projects in Africa
and India. The
Contact:
WaterPartners
International, USA Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, USA, mailto:info@goldmanfund.org
(Source: Source Weekly No. 16 (22 January 2008))
International Development Enterprises (IDE) provided US$27 to India for Micro-Irrigation to Enable Smallholder Prosperity
International Development Enterprises (IDE) provided a grant of US$27 million to India to develop affordable microirrigation technologies for small farmers, create the private sector supply chain to deliver the technologies, promote and train farmers to use microirrigation, and link farmers to high-value crop markets. In partnership with IDE-India, the project expects to reach 250,000 smallholder farmers with microirrigation technologies in four years, significantly increasing their net annual income.
For details please contact: Zenia Tata (Phone: 303.232.4336 ext. 214)
(Source: www.gatesfoundation.org)
Norway Contributing NOK60M to ADB's Multi-Donor Trust Funds for Water, Energy
Norway has agreed to contribute NOK60 million for 2007-2009 to multi-donor trust funds under the Water Financing Partnership Facility and the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility.
Norway joins Australia as the second contributor to the multi-donor trust funds. The funds are administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The Water Financing Partnership Facility was established in 2006 to provide ADB’s water financing program with resources to support demonstration projects and to support the quality of the program through knowledge, capacity and innovation services; engaging civil society; and regional cooperation.
The objective of the Clean Energy Financing Partnership Facility, which was launched in April 2007, is to improve energy security in ADB’s developing member countries through increased use of clean energy. The multi-donor funds support grant components of investment projects and technical assistance.
“Contributions from bilateral, multilateral and individual sources, including companies and foundations will be accepted. They will be used for promoting clean energy and for funding projects in the water sector that will ensure stable water supply and sanitation, most especially for the poor and disadvantaged,” said Xianbin Yao, Acting Director General of ADB’s Regional and Sustainable Development Department.
The Norwegian government will allocate NOK10 million every year from 2007 to 2009 for each fund. The allocations are conditional upon the annual appropriation by the Parliament of Norway. “We welcome this significant contribution, which will strengthen the support to water and energy sectors in the region,” said Werner Liepach, Principal Director of ADB's Office of Cofinancing Operations. All of ADB's developing member countries are eligible for support for activities prioritized under the clean energy and water programs. Activities funded by the multi-donor funds may be made available to central and local governments, government agencies and other entities, including government organizations.
(Source: www.adb.org/water)
African Development Bank (AfDB) and Niger River Basin Officials Meet
A Niger Basin Commission delegation, led by Niger’s Minister of Water, Aminou Tassiou, discussed the development of the Niger basin. The two-day meeting between Bank Group officials and Niger River Basin authorities, which started on January 21, 2008, aimed at updating Bank Group officials on the progress made regarding Niger’s shared vision process and preparations for a roundtable on the basin’s sustainable development action plan. Created in 1980, the Niger Basin Commission is a sub-regional organization comprising Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Chad.
The commission’s objective is to promote cooperation among member countries and ensure the basin’s development is integrated into all sectors of the economy through resource development. The objective of the basin’s development plan is to help check the silting process in the Niger River which has adverse effects on food production. The programme has already resulted in 7,540 ha being protected and the silting checked in May 2007. The ADF has provided a UA15 million funding and the project is expected to be completed in December 2010.
Since its creation, the Niger Basin Commission has undertaken various actions focusing mainly on water forecast systems in the basin, the creation of a large document stock on the Niger River, the fight against wild hyacinth and the dissemination of a technical manual designed to help efforts aimed at fighting desertification. The shared vision comprises a common sustainable development vision of the Niger River negotiated and accepted by all key players in member countries. In 2004, heads of state of member countries of the basin signed a statement in Paris confirming their political commitment to the sustainable development of River Basin.
(Source: www.afdb.org)
Announcement from ARCADIS Euroconsult – Euroconsult Mott MacDonald (From: Pieter van Stuijvenberg, Managing Director, Euroconsult Mott MacDonald, BMB Mott MacDonald, Email: euroconsult@mottmac.nl) | |||||||||||||||||||
