Overview of IWMI's Research in Africa

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IWMI‘s research in Africa covers three sub-regions: the Nile Basin and East Africa, West Africa, and Southern Africa. Water scarcity, poverty, and transboundary conflicts in water management, along with land degradation and loss of biodiversity, are some of the critical issues Africa faces. IWMI’s research in the region aims at improved water management and poverty alleviation

Investing in Agricultural Water Management to Reduce Poverty and Stimulate Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

In Africa, agriculture has the potential to be a major force behind economic growth and to improve the livelihoods of millions of people. Agricultural Water Management or “AWM” involves the use of a range of technologies and practices to ensure that adequate water is available in the root zone when crops need it, and this could be the way forward. IWMI is one of seven partners in a program to identify specific areas where investment will support sustainable growth and reduce poverty in the region.

AWM includes support for infrastructure and innovation in irrigation, drainage, watershed management, the use of re-cycled water, water harvesting, and in-field management. Smallholders can benefit through increased productivity and more stable incomes. In addition, AWM creates agricultural employment opportunities. For AWM to take root it is important that a favorable policy environment be created. The impacts of having legal and institutional support for AWM from governments can significantly improve agricultural productivity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Studies show that, in much of Africa, women are major food producers. In fact it is suggested that 70 to 80 percent of the food produced is generated by women farmers. However, gender-based inequalities in land tenure and poor access to resources inhibit women’s productivity and participation in agriculture. Targeted investment for vulnerable groups, through credit and capital for women-headed rural households or women-led farms, can have a positive impact on livelihoods and food security while raising agricultural growth rates.

Strengthening institutions and building people’s capacities across sectors and skill levels need to happen in parallel and are synergistic. Investment in education will help institutions to be more innovative when in the application of their research. Finally, when investment focuses on strengthening public sector institutional capacity, existing guidelines are better enforced, negative environmental impacts are mitigated and the health and wellbeing of people and their environment safeguarded.

Wetlands – the Interface between Conservation and Agriculture
In Southern Africa IWMI investigates the fragile balance between conservation and agriculture and focuses on wetlands as the delicate interface between these two activities. Here, water management for agriculture needs to look broadly at how farmers – particularly those not using formal irrigation systems – manage water.

IWMI’s research on wetlands and agriculture is not mainstream environmental research. The Institute addresses the issue of utilizing wetland water for agriculture without impacting negatively on the many other ecosystem services provided by wetlands. In Sub-Saharan Africa many farmers take to farming in wetlands, as they lack access to irrigation infrastructure or other suitable land for cropping. These farmers face many challenges regarding water and land management for agriculture. In some cases the solutions required are not the same as for rainfed agriculture.

Health Impacts of Small Dams in Morocco
In countries with arid and sub-arid climates and erratic patterns of rainfall like Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia, small dams are an important tool in rural poverty alleviation, reduction of rural exodus, aquifer replenishment and the prevention of floods and silting. They are also an important source of water for irrigation, drinking and domestic purposes. However, negative health impacts, such as increased transmission of water-related diseases, may be substantial and the investments do not always result in sustainable development.

IWMI and partners from the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) and the Institut National d’Hygiene (INH) are developing a participatory methodology to examine health impacts. For local communities, health problems would normally refer to actual disease and more complicated health risks may be missed, especially ecological changes that increase health risks. The project views health assessment as a scoping process in which the community and the project team act as facilitators, convenors or catalysts who together evaluate rather than assess the health risks and opportunities associated with small dams using a holistic, “eco-health” approach. The project is funded by the International Development Research Centre, Canada.

IWMI and its partners (universities, research institutes, NGOs and government agencies) have analyzed the fast emerging “informal” irrigation sector, in urban and peri-urban areas of Ghana. This sector currently lacks public funding and official recognition and comprises smallholder irrigation along streams, in areas with shallow groundwater, or around small reservoirs. Informal irrigation is crucial for food security and local livelihoods, particularly for women. The results have significantly influenced Ghana’s new draft National Irrigation Policy, the first national policy in Africa supporting urban agriculture, and recognizing the important role of “informal irrigation”.

Under Theme Three, IWMIlaunched the Cities Farming for the Future (CFF) Program to support the development of urban agriculture and its integration into urban planningin West African cities. Starting with Accra (Ghana) in 2005, several activities were implemented through “Multi-stakeholder Processes for Action Planning and Policy Formulation” (MPAP). Another initiative is the recently agreed SWITCH Project that focuses on the Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture for the future cities.

Other projects, funded through CPWF and implemented in Burkina Faso and Ghana, look at the opportunities and risks as well as the impact of wastewater irrigation on human health and food safety, The main goal of these projects is to have evidence-based support for public health policy development that minimizes the health risks of urban wastewater irrigation without compromising the livelihoods and productivity of farmers and traders.

"From Farm to Fork" - A Research Approach to Wastewater Agriculture
In and around African cities, many irrigation water sources are heavily polluted with untreated wastewater and run-off. Due to the high cost involved, appropriate wastewater treatment is not a feasible option for many municipalities. Vegetables such as lettuce and spring onion are consumed uncooked in salads and various dishes. Eating contaminated salad can result in worm infections, diarrhea and other diseases. IWMI, the Challenge Program on Water and Food, and local partners are developing integrated strategies to safeguard public health while sustaining the urban food supply of perishable vegetables.

The project is exploring possibilities for alternative cropping areas and safer water sources. Where wastewater treatment remains insufficient or absent, consumers can be protected through different low cost methods such as safer irrigation techniques, low-tech water filters, and simple water treatment methods. The washing of vegetables using hygienic practices is also recommended in household kitchens and street restaurants, through the stakeholder involvement, training and awareness building generated by the project.

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