The SIMA purpose is to promote research and capacity building that will increase the understanding of the links between malaria and agriculture, and to validate innovative interventions that could strengthen and complement  existing malaria strategies in clearly-defined settings.

IWMI-IPTRID Collaborative Research in Irrigation and Drainage (2001-2006)

Under the framework of The Netherlands Trust Fund for IPTRID-IWMI Collaborative Research in Irrigation and Drainage, research and technology transfer activities under the themes, Program Development, Provision of Content, Research and Analytical tools and Networking, are addressed.

African Models of Transboundary Water Governance   (2004-2007)     Project website        

The project goal is to improve the livelihoods of rural poor women and men through more productive and equitable water use by facilitating hydro-economic cooperation between nations sharing transboundary water resources in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.   

Multiple-Use Systems (MUS) is a partnership of professionals from the productive and domestic water sectors and from the research and implementation communities, focusing on multiple-use water services delivery as the most effective way to use water for poverty alleviation and gender equity.

The program operates in two river basins (the Thukela river basin in South Africa and the Pangani river basin in Tanzania) representing typical semi-arid to dry sub-humid climates. at field, watershed and basin scale together with rural communities studying the potential and consequences of introducing water system innovations to upgrade rainfed agriculture. The program will generate knowledge on the extent to which rainfed farming can sustainably be upgraded and what capacities are required among local farmers, community institutions and formal watershed and basin authorities to make a process of sustainable agricultural water use possible.

Waternet: The Challenge of Integrated Water Resource Management for Improved Rural Livelihoods: Managing Risk, Mitigating Drought and Improving Water Productivity in the Water Scarce Limpopo Basin (2004-2008)

Balancing needs of water for food with other freshwater dependant ecosystem and social services poses a tremendous challenge in the water scarce and poverty stricken Limpopo Basin. The project addressing water productivity in the farmers' fields, options for improved water management, human capacity building, institutional and policy development.

Wetlands-based livelihoods in the Limpopo basin: balancing social welfare and environmental security (2004-2008)

The project addresses crop water productivity in wetlands, agriculture in upper and lower catchments, aquatic ecosystems, and integrated basin water management.

Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management Reform in Informal Economies (2005-2007)  Project website

To analyze informal water and land arrangements in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and to identify policy, legislation, and institutional and infrastructure interventions by governments and NGOs that catalyze sustainable and inclusive institutions for improved water harvesting for livelihoods is the goal of this project. 

Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System, Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA) (2005-2007)

This southern Africa based program is one of three regionally focused programs for the implementation of SAKSS in Africa in response to the rural development change facing many sub-Saharan countries, which are characterized by large rural sectors with rapidly expanding populations and stagnating agricultural productivity, both for crops and livestock. 

Crop water technology and markets:  Increased food security and income in the Limpopo Basin through integrated crop, water and soil fertility options and public-private partnerships (2005-2008)

Recognizing that subsistence agriculture alone will neither meet future food needs nor address the growing poverty problem in these drought-stricken environments. There is need to strengthen linkages through a systems approach that integrates improved water and soil management with varietal improvement, markets and other institutional arrangements which facilitate farmer investment in improved production practices.

Sustainable Management of Inland wetlands in Southern Africa: A Livelihoods and Ecosystems Approach (2005 – 2009)  Program website

Southern Africa is endowed with many inland wetlands that, in addition to supporting a variety of flora and fauna and providing various ecosystem goods and services, also support livelihoods through supporting crop and livestock production, supporting aquaculture, and provision of domestic and livestock water. Wetlands also provide materials for handicraft purposes (vegetal materials); for building purposes (clay for brick making); and for fuel (peat and wood). In addition, they have other water supply functions that are extremely important to humans and ecosystems.

There is ample evidence to suggest that there is potential for using water resources in small inland wetlands for small-scale agricultural production. Seasonal water accumulation and shallow groundwater in these wetlands present an opportunity for small-scale farmers to cultivate both in the rainfall and dry seasons. Agricultural practices with water management interventions are followed in the rainfall season, while in the dry season use of residual moisture and shallow groundwater facilitates crop production, resulting in increased land and water productivity and food security.

Despite being attractive ecosystems for agriculture, wetlands are also sensitive environments. On the one hand, they may be exposed to the risks of over-abstraction of water by crops leading to declining water tables locally. On the other hand, downstream areas are vulnerable to the risks of flooding or reduced flows as a result of upstream groundwater depletion. Seasonal or permanent drying up of wetlands caused by land degradation induced by agriculture and other interventions have possible negative impacts on the plant and animal life dependent on the ecosystem, and on the wetland’s ability to perform its natural functions.

While wetland ecosystems have the potential to substantially support livelihoods, continued unplanned development and conversion of wetland ecosystems to agricultural land use could severely compromise not only the multitude of plant and animal species in these wetlands but also the hydrological regime of the river catchments in which the wetlands lie and the livelihoods of people depending on the ecosystems.

Very little is known, let alone quantified, about the fragility of wetland ecosystems and threshold water abstraction and use levels that are needed for sustainable agricultural production while maintaining outflow for downstream users and sustaining the ecosystem. Moreover, the limited knowledge from various disciplines and stakeholder groups remains scattered and is not integrated into an all encompassing framework.

This project aims to address this startling lack of knowledge in order to provide policy and intervention options for ecologically sound wetland-based livelihood strategies. It is based on the premise that wetlands can be managed in a sustainable manner, and that a balance between protection and production can be achieved, ensuring optimal use of wetlands. Such planned use is infinitely preferable to the over-exploitation and inevitable destruction of wetlands and their ecosystems that will ensue from unplanned, unregulated use resulting from human population pressure.

SADC Monitoring IWRM Demonstration Projects (May 2006 - December 2007)

The SADC/DANIDA Regional Water Sector Program has initiated IWRM demonstration projects in five SADC countries. IWMI contributes to this by co-designing and implementing a participatory monitoring methodology and by documenting the processes and impacts of improved water management on poor women’s and men’s livelihoods.