The research question

The main question is how to catalyze increased investment in agricultural water development for crop production in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives

• To identify changes in the current global development context related to agricultural water development
• To identify innovative approaches and technologies for agricultural water use, including water harvesting and water conservation, as well as issues related to institutional and capacity building
• To propose better approaches to future agricultural water use development in the region than those of the past, both in terms of implementation and lending. The program is expected to contribute to improving the ability of donors and governments to develop appropriate investment strategies for agricultural water use and to catalyze increased investment.

Methods

The study was carried out beginning with comprehensive and critical desk reviews and followed by field work and case studies.

Theme or component reports were written around the 8 key study areas:

• Demand for products of irrigated agriculture
• Assessment of potential of agricultural water management for food supply
• Agricultural water development for poverty reduction;
• Costs of agricultural water development
• Private sector participation in agricultural water development
• Health and environmental aspects
• Irrigation development planning and implementation
• Integrated water-livestock-crop production.
• The last phase was synthesizing the component results and findings and coming up with key recommendations on the directions of agricultural water management in sub-Saharan Africa.
• The study components were carried out by IWMI staff and African consultants and collaborative program partners particularly the FAO and IFAD together with their respective regional consultants. The desk reviews were comprehensive reviews of literature and included:
  
  
  1. General/global experience in agricultural water management
  2. Key agricultural water issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
  3. Relevant existing case studies
  4. A summary of lessons from past irrigation and water in agriculture projects, and conclusions and recommendations on directions for future agricultural water investments.
• The case studies highlighted findings of field work which may use a rapid appraisal approach or structured survey questionnaires. Each case study discussed the case context and setting and highlighted specific issues and lessons from past agricultural water projects, and general lessons applicable to other cases and future agricultural water management projects.
• The component reports contained the main analyses and integrated results and findings of desk reviews, case studies and field work. The reports were to expound and analyze the key issues and problems of agricultural water management investments in sub-Saharan Africa, highlight key findings, and identify major lessons for increasing investments in water in agriculture in SSA.
• A final draft of overall synthesis report is now about to be endorsed with a final meeting this September and dissemination to SSA governments and donor community will follow. The synthesis report sums up the key lessons and comes up with policy recommendations. These recommendations will then be ‘field tested’ in a workshop to ensure their relevance and practical feasibility. As part of the review process for the final version of the synthesis report, bilateral donors active in Africa will also be invited to provide comments, and become involved in discussions. It is our aim that the final output will be endorsed by the respective collaborating institutions, as well as by the NEPAD Secretariat.

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