Irrigation is underused in Sub-Saharan Africa as only 7% of farmlands are irrigated – this is the lowest proportion for a region in the world according to the International Water Management Institute. In light of this acute condition, the World Bank pledged to collaborate with the African Development Bank and other relevant organizations in this area to provide up to $9 billion to support the efforts of Governments in Africa in improving irrigation. Additional investment will also be needed to improve infrastructure such as electricity, ports, and motorable roads in the hinterlands. Even though the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) will allow to a large extent the free flow of agricultural products among member African countries, this may not be enough as policymakers should also implement policies that will support agribusiness, technology incubators and the processing industry in the agriculture sector.
Population pressure and increasing water competition in a changing climate require us to take stock of the availability and use of water across scales. Water availability not only influences farmers’ commercial prospects but also irrigation-related enterprises and agri-businesses. Greater water scarcity could jeopardize irrigation and agricultural markets while excessive water use can lead to declining ecosystems, water quality and soil health. IWMI advises development partners and the public and private sectors on all aspects of water resource availability and use through a variety of advanced modeling and remote-sensing products and tools, including 
The ability of farmers to engage in or expand irrigation depends on the prevailing socioeconomic, ecological and political contexts, which are often complex, non-linear and changeable. Overcoming systemic barriers to farmer-led irrigation development while taking advantage of existing opportunities 
A lack of affordable credit, particularly for women and resource-poor farmers, is one of the main barriers to expanding farmer-led irrigation in low- and middle-income countries. But 
Scaling farmer-led irrigation requires strengthening human capacity and knowledge exchange among all actors and stakeholders involved. IWMI takes an action research approach, working with national and international research institutions, governments, extension agents and public and private organizations to co-develop the scaling ecosystem and strengthen capacity to drive scaling networks and collective action. We support the