![Webinar: Irrigation development and agricultural water management in Africa: transitioning implementation for sustainable adaptation](https://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/IDAWM-1200-1.jpg)
Thursday 15 October 2020 | 11:00-13:30 GMT
Organized by the African Union (AU) Commission in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The World Bank, this webinar aims to promote AU member states’ internalization of the Framework for Irrigation Development and Agricultural Water Management (IDAWM). Published in June 2020, the framework consolidates the most relevant approaches to and priority actions for agricultural water management (AWM) in Africa and serves as a blueprint to align and harmonize national and regional water management policies.
Learning from and building on previous AWM implementation efforts, the framework proposes investment in four parallel pathways.
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- Pathway 1: Improved water control and watershed management under rain-fed farming
- Pathway 2: Farmer-led irrigation development
- Pathway 3: Irrigation scheme development and modernization
- Pathway 4: Unconventional water use for irrigation (including wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse)
The webinar will provide a platform to present the four pathways in relation to design and implementation challenges and the external and internal factors that influence use and sustainability.
The objectives of the webinar are, among others, to:
- Share experiences and update knowledge on IDAWM implementation challenges;
- Discuss key systemic and policy-related changes needed to facilitate a transition to sustainable irrigation development and AWM practices;
- Increase awareness of and galvanize investment interest in agricultural intensification measures as proposed in the framework and promote their sustainable adaptation to scale.
Expected outcomes
The webinar is expected to:
- Increase awareness among planners, policy makers, donors and implementers on the use of irrigation and AWM practices for agricultural intensification;
- Provide an update on implementation challenges for each of the pathways;
- Increase the knowledge of actors and implementers on success factors needed for sustainable use of AWM schemes.
Webinar format and target audience
The target participants are regional- and national-level irrigation and AWM planners and policy makers, donors, project implementers, partners, experts, farmers’ organization representatives and other stakeholders.
The 2.5-hour live-streamed webinar will discuss specific implementation and use-related challenges for the four pathways. Country-specific success factors that can be leveraged to mitigate these challenges will also be discussed for each of the pathways.
Featured speakers
Opening remarks and presentation of the IDAWM framework
Abebe Haile-Gabriel Assistant Director General and FAO Regional Representative for Africa |
Mark Smith Director General, International Water Management Institute |
Mark Lundell Regional Director, Sustainable Development Eastern and Southern Africa, The World Bank |
Josefa Sacko Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission |
Mure Agbonlahor Senior Agricultural Production and Marketing Officer, African Union Commission |
Pathway 1
Nuhu Hatibu Regional Head, East Africa, AGRA |
Boubacar Barry Hydraulician and Research Associate, IPAR |
Pathway 2
Gabriella Izzi Senior Irrigation and Drainage Specialist, The World Bank |
Regassa Namara Senior Water Economist, The World Bank |
Olufunke Cofie West Africa Regional Representative, International Water Management Institute |
Petra Schmitter Research Group Leader – Sustainable and Resilient Food Production Systems, International Water Management Institute |
Pathway 3
Valere Nzeyimana Senior Water Development and Management Officer, FAO Regional Office for Africa |
Bancy Mati Director, Water Research and Resource Center |
Jonathan Denison Independent Irrigation and Agricultural Water Consultant and CEO of Water Development |
Abraham Mehari Haile Principal Researcher, MetaMeta |
Pathway 4
Josiane Nikiema Research Group Leader – Water Pollution and Circular Economy, International Water Management Institute |
Hans Komakech Senior Lecturer and Centre Director WISE – Futures |
Presentation