Ø African Development Bank, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and World Bank Call for Increased Investments in Agricultural Water in Africa to Achieve the MDGs

Ø European Union (EU) Announces €107 Million Support Package for South Africa Water Sector

Ø The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (Dwaf) Continues to Develop Hartebeespoort Dam Resource Management Plan for South Africa

Ø Rwanda: Nile Basin Discourse Forum Launches Three Studies on Water Resources Management

Ø US Invites 64,000 Farms to Sign Up for Watershed Management Program

DONORS’ LENDING AND SUPPORT FOR IRRIGATION & DRAINAGE PROJECTS

World Bank

Ø World Bank Supports Water Resources Planning and Dams Safety in Sri Lanka

Ø Malawi Receives US$25 Million Additional Financing for Water and Sanitation

African Development Bank (AfDB)

Ø Madagascar and AfDB Sign US$ 15 Million Loan and Grant for Irrigation Project

Upcoming Regional and International Meets and Events

Ø Water in India: Policies, Investment and Technologies
21-22 April 2008

New Delhi, India

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 Second International Conference on Sustainable Irrigation Management, Technologies and Policies

11 - 13 June 2008

Alicante, Spain

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 IV International Symposium on Transboundary Waters Management

15-18 October 2008

Thessaloniki, Greece

Ø International Convention on Water Resources Development and Management

23-26 October 2008

BITS Pilani Rajasthan, India

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

Ø International Symposium on Multiple-Use Water Services

04-06 November 2008

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

NEW PUBLICATIONS

Ø Multiple Use Water Services for the Poor: Assessing the State of Knowledge,” Winrock International: Arlington, VA.

Ø Groundwater for emergency situations

Ø Water Politics and Development Cooperation

Ø The EMPOWERS Approach to Water Governance: Guidelines, Methods and Tools

Fellowship and funding opportunities

Ø University of Groningen PhD Fellowship

Ø Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

Ø Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Program

CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAININGS

Ø Knowledge Management for Decision Makers in the Water Sector

14-25 April 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

Ø Applied Groundwater Modelling

16 June-4 July 2008

DELFT, The Netherlands

Ø Managing Organizations and Change

16 June-4 July 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)
17-28 November 2008 (Lao PDR)

Ø Spate Irrigation and Water Management under Drought and Water Scarcity

10-21 September 2008

UNESCO-IHE

DETAILS

NEWS

Indonesia Water Resources Management Project: Community Participation at Work

A decade ago, farmers had little say over irrigation and water-use management. Nowadays however, recognizing the impossible task of managing irrigation channels on its own, the Indonesian government – with the support of the World Bank – have now began to actively engage with farmers.

Farmers associations are now encouraged to unite under the Water Users Federation (Gabungan Perkumpulan Petani Pemakai Air) to strengthen their voice, and make better choices. In the province of West Nusa Tenggara, these federations have become the beneficiaries of the Water Resources and Irrigation Sector Management Programme (NTB-WRMP), which put farmers squarely in the driver’s seat: they determine their own priorities and work together to effectively manage their own water resources. This community-driven development program is supported by a 2006 government regulation and funding from the World Bank.

The District of East Lombok Timur in West Nusa Tenggara is home to nine Water Users Federations. One of them, the Rutus Water Users Federation demonstrates that when communities participate, both construction and betterment works can be done in less time, with less cost, and with better results.

The federation, founded in 2005, brings together farmers associations in the villages of Suradadi, Santong, Swangi and Sukarara. The membership spans across nearly 2,000 households managing over a thousand hectares of cultivated land. The Rutus Federation initially received funding to improve over 500 meters of irrigation channels. However, they managed to extend the work to 670 meters within time frames which did not interfere with cultivation period something which is often overlooked by private contractors.

(Source: The World Bank, www.worldbank.org)

Water-user Bodies Registered Under European Union-Funded Project “Social Management of Water in Afghanistan” (SMWA)

The European Union-funded project Social Management of Water in Afghanistan (SMWA) is supporting 15,000 rural families to rehabilitate traditional irrigation infrastructures in line with their needs in the northern Kunduz province.

While registering the first three Water User Associations at the Kunduz Water Management Department as part of the project, the European Union and implementing partners said since October 2005, SMWA has been working with water users and farmers in the Kunduz river basin.

A statement from EU office here said SMWA assisted users to form Water User Associations to democratically represent the farmers in the upcoming River Basin Agencies, new institutions which would be responsible for integrated watershed management in the Kunduz/Taloqan river basins.

The associations would strengthen the traditional institution of the elected master of water and together they will be accountable for irrigation system management and ensuring equitable distribution and sustainable use of water resources. A fair distribution of irrigation water is important for the prevention of conflicts as well as to ensure food security and income generation, the EU statement added. Implemented by Welthungerhilfe and the Centre for Development Research of the University of Bonn (Germany), the project is funded by the European Union with 1.5 million.

(Source: http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=125635)

New Hydrological Station to Help Manage Afghan Water Resources

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has helped open a new hydrological station at a dam near the Afghan capital, Kabul, as part of its joint efforts with the country’s authorities to better manage water resources in Afghanistan. The station, at Qargha Dam, is one of a network of 174 hydrological stations and 60 snow gauges and meteorological stations being erected around Afghanistan to measure water levels, precipitation, temperature and water quality.

The network of stations, a joint effort of FAO, the World Bank and the national Ministry of Energy and Water, is designed to assist in the planning of water supply, irrigation and hydropower projects, as well as in the mitigation of possible droughts and the operation of reservoirs.

FAO engineers attending yesterday’s formal opening stressed that Afghanistan – which is slowly trying to recover after decades of war and misrule – can have no food security without water security. A lack of reliable water supplies hampers Afghanistan’s rural economy and can lead to increased rural poverty.

FAO said that aside from the building of the new station, Qargha Dam itself went through partial reconstruction work. The dam serves as a popular recreation site for Kabul residents and also provides water for the western part of the city and for 2,000 hectares of land.

(Source: Water & Wastewater News (March 27, 2008)

http://www.environmental-expert.com/newsletter/News_Water_27032008.htm)

More Functions Delegated to Pani Panchayats (Water User Associations)

Devolving more functions to pani panchayats (water users associations), the State Government today decided to hand over water management, repair and maintenance of canal system to interested panchayats.

Each of the pani panchayat is free to submit project proposal worth Rs 3 lakh to the Government for repair of canal system for better water management.

The current year being declared as ‘irrigation year’ and the Government promise bound to increase irrigation potential of each village, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the progress of irrigation potential created.

He directed Water Resources Secretary Aurobinda Behera to make a district-wise review of the irrigation potential created in each village having less than 35 percent irrigation facility. The Government is ready to spend Rs 5 lakh for development of the water source for irrigation in each village having natural sources of water.

The meting was informed that election to 11,939 out of 16,618 pani panchayats have been completed while election process for the rest of the associations are on progress.

Panchayati Raj Minister Raghunath Mohanty, Development Commissioner RN Bohidar, Panchayati Raj Secretary RN Dash and other senior officers of the water resources department were present.

(Source:http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20080407022133&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0)

Managing Water Resources in a Holistic Way for India

Following politics over diversion of Hirakud water and farmers’ support, the issue of water has become too hot to handle in Orissa.

On the contrary, the State, which has claimed to have bagged over Rs 4 lakh crore mega investment plans so far, still goes without a specific policy or plan on uses of water for industries. So how the issue of water would be managed in future?

When the State Government has already announced 2008 as ‘year of irrigation’ this needs immediate attention. With a national theme ‘Integrated water resources development and management,’ this year’s World Water Day on March 20 would perhaps see several debates on the ‘sharing front’ for ‘specific sectors’.

According to Central Water Commission (CWC) sources, the Government of Orissa has been a front runner in initiating integrated development and management of water resources.

It has in place State Water Policy 2007, in line with the National Water Policy of 2002, thereby bringing out its priorities and focus areas. It has led the way in simultaneous development of ground water and surface water, major/medium projects along with minor, irrigation and command area activities.

"The State has also been a pioneer in the field of participatory irrigation management, actively involved in the on-field activities and equitable distribution of water. However, the initiative taken by the State Government in this direction is to continue further, with more and more issues such as industry versus irrigation conflicts, needing to be addressed," said CWC local director A S Goel.

"Integrated water resources management for a region is a process of developing and managing water resources in a sustainable way and from a holistic perspective. It takes into consideration all the different uses of water from various sources for sustenance of environment and socioeconomic benefit of the people," he added.

(Source:http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20080318014547&Page= Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0)

African Development Bank, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and World Bank Call for Increased Investments in Agricultural Water in Africa to Achieve the MDGs

The African Development Bank (AfDB), the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and the World Bank called for an increase in funding and a renewed focus on agricultural water management in Africa, including irrigation, drainage and rainwater harvesting.

Representatives of AfDB, NEPAD and the World Bank issued the call after a special session on agriculture water use in Africa held in Tunis at the First African Water Week. The meeting discussed challenges facing agriculture water development in Africa and a proposal for a new Initiative aimed at scaling up investments and ensuring a more reliable, broad-based and sustained flow of funds for agricultural water, as well promoting analytical work and supporting sectoral strategies in the field of agricultural water.

The Initiative would promote knowledge sharing, dissemination and capacity strengthening. It would launch innovative business lines in support of agricultural water management and sustainable development. It will also foster regional integration, coordination and partnerships, and empowerment of national and regional stakeholders.

According to the World Bank's latest World Development Report, growth in the agricultural sector in Africa is vital to poverty reduction and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

"Strategic public and related private investment in water management will be essential for the intensification of agricultural production and for meeting targets for poverty alleviation, food production and economic recovery by 2015," said Richard Mkandawire, NEPAD's Agriculture Advisor. "Reliance on irregular and unreliable rainfall for agricultural production is a major constraint on crop productivity in the region," Mkandawire added.

The Tunis meeting discussed the agricultural water strategy: Investment in agricultural water for poverty reduction and economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa, which was jointly prepared by the World Bank, AfDB, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI), in response to NEPAD's desire to implement land and water management (Pillar I) of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP). The CAADP encompasses among other objectives an increase in the area under sustainable water management in Africa to 20 million hectares; up from less than 7 million hectares at present.

“Developing water resources and rural infrastructure are among the key priority areas of the African Development Bank in Africa. The ongoing agriculture portfolio of the Bank comprises 240 projects covering 28 countries with a total investment of US$3 billion. More than a third of the investment portfolio, ie US$1.37 billion, has been assigned to agriculture water development covering 53 projects and programs, and benefiting 23 African countries,” said Aly Abou-Sabaa, Director of the Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department of the AfDB.

“The initiative is timely in view of the rising food prices across the globe and the World Bank is committed to investing up to US$1 billion in sustainable agricultural water projects over the next 5 years”, said John Stein, Acting Director of the Sustainable Development Department, Africa Region, World Bank.

(Source: African Development Bank, www.afdb.org)

European Union (EU) Announces €107 Million Support Package for South Africa Water Sector

The third phase of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry's (Dwaf's) Masibabane programme was officially launched on Monday, at the first day of the third National Water Summit at Gallagher Estate, in Midrand.

South Africa’s Water Affairs and Forestry Minister, Lindiwe Hendricks, and European Union (EU) Ambassador Lodewijk Briët jointly announced a EU support package of about €107-million for the period 2007 to 2012 of which €102-million was for Masibambane for a three-year period and €50-million for international technical support.

Masibambane is a partnership between Dwaf, the Department of Provincial and Local Government, the South African Local Government Association, the EU and its member states, the Swiss Government and Irish Aid.

The EU has been a firm supporter of Masibambane since its inception in 2001, and has to date provided funding of about €135-million.

In addition to donor funding, South Africa will commit a total of R69-billion of its own resources to Masibambane III. The programme has become known for its achievements in institutional support and fostering strong water sector collaboration in order to take the country beyond the provision of basic services and move forward under the overarching theme of ‘water for growth and development’.

Speaking at the launch, Hendricks said that the theme was in recognition of water playing a key role in support of economic growth and social development, as well as strategic use of water infrastructure as a means to contribute and stimulate growth and development.

“We are also seeing ‘water for growth and development’ as contributing towards bridging the gap between the first and second economies by bringing marginalised people into the mainstream economy. It is not only having access to clean water and decent sanitation that will contribute to growth and development, but also involving communities in provision of some of the goods and services required by the water sector such as brickmaking. We also see that through access to water a number of new enterprises and small-scale agricultural activities become possible,” said Hendricks.

She added that it was essential as a water-scarce country to make the best shared use of limited resources to ensure sustainable growth and economic development.

“We are extremely grateful for both the financial and institutional support of our donors, especially the EU.” Masibambane III will also focus firmly on further developing the water sector by ensuring that water resources management and the provision of water services meet both social and economic priorities over the next five years in order to achieve the government’s targeted 6% annual growth rate.

“The EU is proud to be a supporter of this ground-breaking initiative. Masibambane is pioneering best practices not only in the water sector, but is setting an example for many other sector programmes where strong sector leadership can make an enormous difference to the lives of those most in need,” said Briët.

(Source: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=129340)

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (Dwaf) Continues to Develop Hartebeespoort Dam Resource Management Plan for South Africa

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (Dwaf) held the fourth technical task team workshop with its stakeholders in February this year at Broederstroom, to develop the resource management plan (RMP) for Hartbeespoort dam.

The RMP is one of the projects of the Harties, Metsi a me (my water) biological remediation programme, which is being undertaken at the Hartebeespoort dam, to improve the water quality of the dam.

The stakeholders involved in the development of the RMP are contributing to the process by participating in their respective interest groups, namely government, landowners, resource managers, and industry (commercial and recreational users).

The main aim of this fourth workshop was to consolidate the different contributions made during the previous task teams workshops by the participating stakeholders. The expectations of the different sector groups will now be analysed along with the proposed solutions. One of the key aspects for the RMP is to determine the most appropriate institutional structure required for the management of the dam.

Section 82 of the National Water Act (No 36 of 1998) makes provision for five potential options in whereby the dam can be managed. The options available include a management agency, a management committee, a water-user association, a public sector institution or the management of the programme through a private sector agency.

It is expected that a draft version of the management plan will be available for comment early in April 2008.

Dwaf's deputy regional director at Hartebeespoort and Harties Metsi a me programme manager Petrus Venter says that the RMP is at a crucial stage of its development as the institution proposed will be responsible for overseeing and managing the remediation efforts in order to ensure sustainability over a period of time.

Venter says that although Dwaf will guide the process to develop the RMP it is important that the stakeholders take responsibility for the development and implementation of the plan.

The RMP forms part of the Hartbeespoort dam remediation programme that has been initiated by the department in conjunction with the North West Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment to improve the quality of water in the Hartbeespoort dam.

The remediation programme calls for the investigation of different aspects to improve water quality at the dam. Various activities have been identified which might include, but are not limited to, controlling and removing algae on the dam, preimpoundment and treatment options upstream of the dam basin, long term monitoring of the water quality, sediment removal and the reduction of the inflow of phosphates and nitrates.

(Source: http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article.php?a_id=128802)

Rwanda: Nile Basin Discourse Forum Launches Three Studies on Water Resources Management

The Nile Basin Discourse Forum recently launched three new projects, the implementation of which should start next year. The Nile Basin Discourse Forum (NBDF) is a regional partnership to promote collaboration between the different countries that share the river to achieve sustainable socio-economic development through the equitable utilization and the benefits of the Nile Basin water and other sources.

Rusizi II hydropower generation center, which will be upgraded to become Rusizi III.

In order to achieve this, NBDF Rwanda recently launched three projects based on studies carried out late last year. Their implementation is to begin by next year, so the Forum also called on the members of the civil society to see how these projects can best benefit the population.

The first project is the Impact of Efficient Water Use in Agriculture Production and Water Harvesting Project (NBI-Ewuap). The study area of this project included Gitarama, Muhanga and Ruhango districts in Southern Province. Its aim is to use natural water resources more efficiently in order to produce enough on the available cultivated land.

The area constitutes about 90 % of the total cropped land, which is to be brought under irrigation. The study also included Bugesera district, where more than half of the surface receives small scale irrigation which is sufficient for crop production. Despite this fact, the whole area is subjected to drought conditions especially in the dry season and in the months of January and February.

Another district included was Gatsibo in Eastern province, where about 600 ha will be brought under drip irrigation in a project financed by World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA).

During the launch of this project, it was pointed out that one of the socio-economical aspects that will positively influence its implementation is the fact that the people of Muhanga district are used to work into cooperatives while doing agricultural activities, constructing houses and excavating fish ponds. This also the case in Bugesera.

Among the constraints for this project are the fact that the people in Muhanga use to grow grasses for animal production as well as the production of cereals, and that the adoption of water harvesting techniques will not be easily achieved.

The main problem to be overcome in Bugesera is that orphans and widows might not participate in project implementation.

The project will also see to it that regional consultation on community-managed irrigation is strengthened, that there is awareness on efficient irrigation water use, best practices for community-managed irrigation are explored and taught, and that national capacity for community-managed irrigation is enhanced.

Frank Habineza, the national coordinator of NBDF further explained that the members of the civil society recommended that sensitization is needed within the ministry of agriculture, and the synergy with other undergoing or under development related projects must be ensured.

The second study that concerned Communities' Involvement in the Power Development and Trade on Rusumo and Rusizi III.

The NBDF national coordinator remarked that this project aims at the construction of a hydroelectric power plant at the Rusumo Falls at the border between Rwanda and Tanzania, as well as the construction of transmission lines linking the plant to the power grids of the tree participating countries Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi.

The third study launched deals with stakeholder's participation in NBI's five projects and programs in Rwanda which are the Nile Trans-boundary Environment Action Project; Micro-Grant Program, Confidence Building Stakeholders Involvement Project; Socio-economic Development and Benefit Sharing; Kagera Trans-boundary Integrated Water Resources Management Project; and the Applied Training Project.

Amongst the various constraints about these projects were the fact that many stakeholders, whether local people, expert institutions or other government agencies, lack the time or financial resources to participate in these projects and that low levels of education, and the technical nature of many development-related issues, can be a major barrier to effective participation of the community in these projects.

(Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200803260701.html)

US Invites 64,000 Farms to Sign Up for Watershed Management Program

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer has announced a sign-up for the Conservation Security Program (CSP) that will be available starting on April 18 to approximately 64,000 potentially eligible farms and ranches in 51 watersheds covering more than 23.7 million acres. 'As President Bush has said, those who depend on the land to make a living are the best stewards of the land,' said Schafer. 'Since the first sign-up in 2004, CSP has offered payments for enhancing natural resources, rewarding those farmers and ranchers who are model conservationists, and providing incentives for other producers to achieve those same high standards of conservation in agriculture.'

The CSP sign-up is open in the 51 watersheds from April 18 to May 16. The sign-up announcement and specific program requirements are being published in the Federal Register.

CSP is a voluntary conservation program that supports ongoing stewardship of private, agricultural working lands and rewards those producers who are meeting the highest standards of conservation and environmental management on their operations.

Payments can include three components: 1) an annual stewardship component for the base level of conservation treatment, 2) an annual component for maintenance of existing conservation practices, and 3) an enhancement component for exceptional conservation effort. Enhancement activities could include limited pesticide applications, renewable energy generation, and widening existing riparian forest buffers for restoring critical stream habitat.