Workshop 1 - Water management for sustainable agriculture

Contents

IRRIGATION ADVISORY SERVICE STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE PRIVATE WATER USER ASSOCIATIONS

Eng. Essam BARAKAT, General Director of Irrigation Advisory Service (IAS) -

EGYPT

1. Background of private water user associations

2. Impact of the EWUP (Egyptian Water Use Management Project) research and experiments under the regional irrigation improvement project

3. The new legislation

4. Significant lessons learned

a. clear policy guidelines

b. strong IAS leadership and well-trained staff

c. benefits of new technology

d. building strong linkages

e. systematic process documentation

f. regular meetings

g. training and communication support

5. Basic missions of the IAS

a. organizational unit within the MPWWR (Ministry of Public Works and Water Resources

b. WUAs (Water User Associations), their major roles

6. Process approach for building sustainable WUAs

Major attributes of a seven-phase process :

phase 1 : entry

phase 2 : initial organization

phase 3 : preparation for MESQA improvement

phase 4 : participation in MESQA improvements

phase 5 : regular WUA operations (continuous)

phase 6 : WUA federation of the branch canals

phase 7: continuous monitoring and evaluation

7. performance criteria for WUA managed technology

8. Essential ingredients of sustainable WUA