Project Title: Irrigation Impact on Poverty and Environment

A. Brief Description of the Project 

Project Duration  2004 - 2007

Project Donor: 

Austrian Government

Project Leader: 

International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Visit: www.iwmi.org or Contact Dr. Seleshi Bekele about the project at s.bekele@cgiar.org

Project Partners and Implementers

Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna)
ARC Siebrsdorf Research
Arba Minch University (AMU), Ethiopia
Haromaya University (HU)
Ethiopian Institution of Agricultural Research (EARO), Ethiopia
Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), Ethiopia
Other important partners:
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD), Ethiopia; Addis Ababa University (AAU), Ethiopia; Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ethiopia; Central Statistical Authority (CSA), Ethiopia; and Regional Governments of Ethiopia

Goal of the Project

Improving rural livelihoods and food security, reducing poverty, achieving greater gender equity, and protecting the environment in Ethiopia in particular and Sub-Saharan Africa in general

Objectives of the Project

1. To quantify the significant positive and negative impacts of irrigation development
2. To generate information that can be used to improve the performance of irrigated agriculture and enhance its positive benefits while minimizing its negative externalities
3. To help guide future irrigation investments and fill the gaps in knowledge about the total impact of irrigation development on the economy, society and environment.
4. To develop methodological guidelines for assessing the impact of irrigation investment
5. To strengthen Ethiopian capacity for such inter-disciplinary research and for using research results for policy implementation.

Major Activities

1. Analyses of the impacts of irrigation investments at a broad national scale,
2. detailed case studies of irrigation schemes,
3. synthesis of the results from the analyses of broader national issues and detailed case studies, and
4. developing, testing and refining irrigation impact evaluation methodologies and guidelines

Project Components and Inter-Linkage

Expected Outputs

1. Knowledge base on performance of irrigated agriculture
2. Assessment of contribution of irrigated agriculture to the national economy
3. Analyses of efficiency, linkages, and coordination of support services for irrigated agriculture
4. Analysis of institutional frameworks relevant to irrigation sector
5. Guidelines for EIA of irrigation schemes in Ethiopia
6. Assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of water control and management systems
7. Database detailing important characteristics and performance of the selected irrigation schemes
8. Analysis of the impacts of the selected irrigation schemes on poverty, environment, health and household food security.
9. Recommendations for improved efficiency of the selected irrigation schemes developed jointly with appropriate stakeholders
10. Comprehensive irrigation impact assessment framework and guidelines
11. Knowledge base on impacts of irrigation development in Ethiopia
12. Reports, refereed journal articles, policy briefs, guidelines and strategic options for future interventions (investments, management, etc.)
13. Capacity building to undertake interdisciplinary problem oriented research
14. Ph.D. and M.Sc Students
15. Dissemination of results through published reports, articles, brochures, guidelines, workshops, training and conferences
    

Implementation Plan

• Forging viable partnerships with relevant national, sub-national and international research, academic and development institutions, and communities,
• Recruitment of the best postgraduate students from both North and South (Ethiopia) with diverse disciplinary backgrounds to undertake the bulk of the fieldwork,
• Selection of the specific case study irrigation schemes, and
• Liaising with the on-going research activities to avoid duplication of efforts and share information
  

B. Relevant Documents

1. Methedologies and Work Plan

Contact Project Leader to obtain information and document on work plan and methodologies

2. Summary of Student's Project

i. Ph.D Proposals

1. The Socio-economic Impact of small-scale Irrigation in Tigray, G/Hawaria G/Egziabher, Ethiopia Mekelle University Admitted to Oslo University
2. "Environmental Impact Assessment of Irrigation Projects in Ethiopia", Dominique Ruffies, BOKU Student Admitted to BOKU

ii. M.Sc. Thesis Completed

For more details and documents on M.Sc. outputs contact the project leader, Seleshi Bekele.

1. "Analysis of Irrigation Systems Using Comparative Performance Indicators: A Case Study of Two Large-Scale Estate Farms In The Upper Awash", by Abdu Beshir, MoWR-AMU
2. "Environmental And Socio-Economic Impact Of Irrigation Development: Case Study At Amibara Irrigation development project", by Moltot Zewde, EARO-AMU
3. "Dimensions and Determinants of Rural Poverty in North Shewa, Baso ena Werena District" (study the dimensions and determinants of rural poverty in relation to various factors such as access to services, water/irrigation, household characteristics, vulnerability etc), by Solomon Medhane, AU
4. "Assessment of the Socio-Economic And Environmental Impacts of Irrigation In Fincha Valley", by Dereje Chimdessa, AAU
5. "Performance of Dairy Production in Irrigated Areas: Contribution to food self sufficiency and alleviation", by Endalemaw Bayou , AAU
6. "Technical Efficiency of Irrigated Agriculture: A Comparative Study among Irrigation Schemes and with Non-irrigated Farms in the Awash and Rift Valleys ", by Dawit Kelemework, AAU
7. "Assessment of Design Practices and Performance of Small Scale Irrigation Structures in Southern Region" (With special emphasis on failed structures), by Robel lambisso, AMU
8. "Community Based Irrigation Impact Assessment on Health and Environment at Ziway and Holota", by Gizaw Ebissa , AAU
9. "Institutions, Management Practices And Challenges: The Case Of Gibe Lemu And Gambella Terre Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes, Western Oromia, Ethiopia", by Shimeles Dejene, AAU
10. "The Institutional Perspectives for The Development of Community Based Irrigation in the Ethiopian Nile Basin", by Dieuwe De La Parra, University of Toulouse, France
11. "Environmental Impact Analysis of Irrigation Scheme in Ethiopia: Focus on IDRIS and Wonji Watershed", by Katharina Wallner, BOKU
12. "Typology of Irrigation in Ethiopia", by Alexandar Werfreing, BOKU
13. "Geographic Information Systems and remote sensing integrated environmental impact assessment of irrigation in Fincha Valley", by Ahmed Amdihun, AAU
14. "Evaluation of failures and design practices of river diversion structures for irrigation" (case of Oromia Regional State), by Girma Asfaw, AMU

iii. M.Sc. Thesis Ongoing/Pending

1. "The impact of small scale irrigation on household food security and its management system: the case of Godino and Filtino irrigation scheme, in Ada Liben District, East Shoa", Abonesh Tesfaye, AU
2. "Small holder irrigation development in middle Awash: aspects of management and institutional arrangement", Alemayehy Eshete, AAU
3. "Across system comparative assessment of small-scale irrigation system performance: case study on Hare small-scale irrigation scheme in Southern Rift Valley", Belete Bantero, AMU
4. "Assessing irrigation impact on poverty: the cases of two small-scale irrigation schemes in Blue Nile Basin of Amhara National Regional State" (Northwest Ethiopia), Kerealem Salilih, AAU,
5. "Bilate hydraulic performance", Tessema Birhanu, AMU
6. "Impact of Small Scale Irrigation on Household Poverty and Food Security in Ambo District, West Shewa Zone": The Case of Idris Small-Scale Irrigation Scheme, by Dereje Bacha, AU

3. Workshop Reports

April 2004 Workshop Report
December 2005 Workshop Report

4. Sreering Committee Documents

December 2004 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
March 2005 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes
March 2006 Steering Committee Meeting Minutes