World Water Day 2016: Water at work
The theme for this year’s World Water Day, is “Water and Jobs”. From reversing the over-abstraction of groundwater, to improving the water productivity of irrigation systems across Asia and Africa, the relationship between water and productive livelihoods underpins much of IWMI’s research. Almost half of the world’s workers – 1.5 billion people – work in water related sectors and nearly all jobs depend on water and those that ensure its safe delivery. To mark World Water Day, this photo series highlights the part water plays in people’s productive lives, and how IWMI’s work in water management research can provide evidence-based solutions to sustainably manage water and land resources for food security, people’s livelihoods and the environment.
“We consider the efficiency of water in producing crops and the virtual water embedded in trade. It is time now to think more about the influence of water investments on jobs and social stability.”
— Jeremy Bird, Director General of the International Water Management Institute
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