RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES This research for development project envisions that investments in land and water development are sustainable and equitable and informed by open dialogue and cooperation based on transparent and publicly shared scientific analyses that integrates ecosystem services and gender perspectives. Vision statement formulated by project partners at the WLE Nile Basin and East Africa Focal Region WriteShop, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21 October, 2014 WLE Nile Basin and East Africa Focal Region
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RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE
LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
This research for development project envisions that investments in land and water development are sustainable and equitable and informed by open dialogue and cooperation based on transparent and publicly shared scientific analyses that
integrates ecosystem services and gender perspectives.
Vision statement formulated by project partners at the WLE Nile Basin and East Africa Focal Region WriteShop, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21 October, 2014
WLE Nile Basin and East Africa Focal Region
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 1
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 2
Table of Content PART A: SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... 1
9. Gender and equity ............................................................................................................. 4
10 Ecosystems Services and Resilience ................................................................................. 4
PART C: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ............................................................................................ 5
11. Activities and Implementation Plan ................................................................................. 5
12. Indicative breakdown of budget ..................................................................................... 5
13. References and bibliography ........................................................................................... 5
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 3
PART A: SUMMARY
1. Project Outline
Title: Harnessing floods to enhance livelihoods and ecosystem services Lead Organization: Spate Irrigation Network Foundation (www.spate-irrigation.org), the Netherlands Consortium partners (who receive budget): • The Institute of Water and Environment, Mekelle University, Ethiopia. • The Hydraulic Research Centre of the Ministry of Water and Electricity, Sudan. • The Chair Group: Land and Water Development for Food Security of the UNESCO-IHE
Institute for Water Education, the Netherlands. Project Leader (name and contact details): • Full name: Dr. van Steenbergen, Franciscus. • Organization: Spate Irrigation Network Foundation (SpNF). • E-mail: [email protected]. • Tel: 0031 644995010. Duration: 24 months Target start date: January 2015 Finish date: December 2016 Maximum budget requested from WLE (in US$): 495 000 (550,000 as in original EoI minus 10%) Any matching funds offered (provide brief explanation): 150 000 The project will make use of the resources and outcomes of: • IFAD Grant: From Africa to Asia and Back Again: Testing Adaptation of flood-based • Farming in Ethiopia and Sudan. • Two ongoing PhD researches: one by Ms. EF Bashir (from Sudan) on the Gash irrigation
scheme, the other by Ms. M Zenebe (from Ethiopia) on FBFS (Spate irrigation) in Tigray region.
• Netherlands NICHE197 Government Grant: Small Scale Irrigation Development in Ethiopia.
2. Project Summary
What: This research for development explores how to optimize the use of floods for agriculture and ecosystem services to support livelihoods in different landscapes and socio-economic settings in Sudan and Ethiopia. Flood-based Farming Systems (FBFS) divert floodwater and spread it over large areas to grow crops, water rangeland and/or replenish shallow groundwater. In semi-arid environments it is often the only source of water. These systems cover a total of 30 million ha, often serving poor farmers. In the Horn of Africa/Blue Nile Area the area is estimated at 550,000 ha. In Sudan, the systems are several hundred years old, whereas in Ethiopia investments have accelerated in recent years. Despite the high risk due to unpredictable nature of the floods, the high sediment loads and the frequent changes of riverbeds, FBFS contribute substantially to local food security and economic development, particularly for poor farmers and pastoralists in the lowlands. Recognizing the importance of FBFS for local livelihoods and economies, the Ethiopian and Sudanese governments supported by donors such as IFAD started investing in the improvement of infrastructure (weirs, intake and canals) and on-farm practices to enhance agricultural productivity. However, it is unknown how these interventions at scheme level interact with other functions provided by floods at the local and landscape level and how these interventions affect the livelihoods of different stakeholders.
Why: Flood management in FBFS is closely linked to biodiversity and natural vegetation. FBFS are depositories of local biodiversity – collecting seeds from a large catchment and depositing them in moist soils. They feed ephemeral wetlands rich in species. Natural vegetation is often of
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 4
considerable value in providing additional sources of income to local communities although in some places, invasive species, such as mesquite, could negatively affect agricultural production. Diversion and conveyance structures in FBFS stabilize ephemeral rivers. FBFS can also reduce flood damage. Large floods that are too difficult to handle, are not diverted but guided to groundwater recharge basins or reservoirs for domestic and livestock water supply or are spread over large outwash areas serving as rangelands.
FBFS are affected by development elsewhere in the sub-basins and landscapes. For example, upstream watershed improvement to enable agricultural activities in the degraded hills in Tigray can smoothen peak flows and reduce sediment loads.
The aim of this research project is to add value to ongoing decision making concerning FBFS development in Ethiopia and Sudan by including an ecosystems and landscape perspective to current or planned interventions and policies. It will assess and value synergies and trade-offs between the different functions and benefits of FBFS under various development scenarios, for different stakeholders and the environment. It will evaluate the productive functions and ecosystems services provided by FBFS in the current situation and changes thereof as a result of the interventions proposed by farmers, governments and donors. Different stakeholder groups (men, women, youth, pastoralists, farmers, upstream/downstream) may benefit or lose under the different development options. Access to land and water resources is an important boundary condition.
Where: This research builds on ongoing interventions in Tigray (Ethiopia) and Gash area (Sudan).
How: The project will be implemented in three parts: 1) assessment of the baseline situation, separate for men, women and youth; 2) Impact assessment of proposed interventions; and 3) formulation and evaluation of alternative scenarios exploring trade-offs and synergies between benefits, costs and their distribution over stakeholder groups and the environment. Research activities are action oriented and will be implemented together with local stakeholders and relevant staff involved in these ongoing interventions, to enable joint learning. This project will be implemented by a consortium consisting of Spate Irrigation Network Founation (SpNF), Mekelle University (Ethiopia), UNESCO-IHE (Netherlands) and Hydraulic Research Center (Sudan). It will closely work with the Bureaus of Water and Agriculture and local communities.
Outputs: The project will develop a methodology on gender and ecosystems approach to FBFS, validated intervention strategies to FBFS in a landscape perspective, peer reviewed papers co-authored by non-researchers and short courses at partnering universities. Dissemination events include webinars, community meetings, participation in conferences and expansion of the www.spate-irrigation.org website to include ecosystems approach.
What will change? Due of this project government officials, researchers, farmers and other stakeholders increasingly recognize the importance of ecosystems services provided by FBF and their importance for local livelihoods in downstream and upstream. Decision making concerning investments in FBF will incorporate ecosystem services approach, benefitting women and youth, in particular. A broader perspective to land and water resources development will be developed, looking at the entire landscape or sub-basin and not a single interventions at certain points.
2.1 Problem statement Recognizing the importance of FBFS for local livelihoods and economies, the Ethiopian and Sudanese governments supported by donors such as IFAD started investing in the improvement of infrastructure (weirs, intake and canals) and on-farm practices to enhance agricultural productivity. However, it is unknown how these interventions at scheme level interact with other functions provided by floods at the local and landscape level and how these interventions affect livelihoods of different stakeholders.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 5
Decision makers, development planners and investors do not integrate ecosystem services and gender in their land and water programs and often investment criteria are narrowly defined in terms of production targets. Methodologies to incorporate gender and ecosystem services and evaluate tradeoffs are not available. Decision making is not informed by careful analysis of winners and losers. This may lead to an inequitable distribution of benefits and costs of investments programs. It may also preclude ‘upstream-downstream’ solution, where by sedimentation issues are addressed for instance by developments upstream.
2.2 Previous work on related challenges
Previous work MetaMeta and UNESCO-IHE jointly established the Spate Irrigation Network Foundation (SpNF) to bring the vital role of FBFS to the attention of policymakers and donors, and share experiences to increase the knowledge base. Two projects implemented by our partners are relevant here: the IFAD funded spate irrigation projects (phase 1 and 2) and the GiZ sponsored capacity building in FBFS. These projects were instrumental in the proper understanding of the unique features of FBFS in design, organization and importance for food security. FBFS are characterized by a high uncertainty in the timing and quantity of water, huge sediment loads and potential destructive nature of floods, if not properly managed. Further, these projects provided deep insights in the traditional governance structures to ensure fairness of water distribution and reduce conflicts. The projects also contributed to mainstreaming FBFS in national policies and educational systems. Two annual training are now institutionalized in Ethiopia (Mekelle University) and the Netherlands (UNESCO-IHE). Results from the projects informed new investments in FBFS such as under PASIDIP (Ethiopia) and GSLRP (Sudan).
Recently, IWMI in collaboration with the SpNF organized a conference to bring together professionals and practitioners in FBFS systems. With support from IMAWESA knowledge sharing exchange visits were organized among farmers from Yemen, Sudan and Ethiopia.
Lessons learnt The lack of a gender, watershed and ecosystems perspective and a narrow focus on crop production to interventions in FBF leads to 1) missed opportunities related to the multi-functionality of FBFS such as range lands, groundwater recharge, biodiversity, village & livestock water supply; 2) unequal distribution of benefits and costs among men, women, farmers, pastoralists, villagers upstream and downstream; 3) risks of degrading landscapes and ultimately affecting sustainability of the FBFS.
What will we do differently? • This project will take a watershed perspective to identify the basin wide benefits and costs
from floods and minimize adverse impacts on FBFS. We will analyse the impacts of upstream agricultural activities on downstream stakeholders, such as pastoralists and village communities depending on flood based activities.
• We will identify winners and losers of interventions upstream and downstream to ensure that the multiple benefits and uses beyond crop production are properly acknowledged and the resulting costs and benefits are shared in an equitable manner, in particular for vulnerable groups such as women and pastoralists.
• This project will develop methodology to evaluate synergies and trade-offs. • We will develop inclusive investment criteria that take into account ecosystems services and
gender equity. Further, we aim at developing a proper methodology that investors can use to ensure sustainable and equitable development program in FBF.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
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2.3 Links to on-going projects 1) In Ethiopia the proposed project links to ongoing investment programs in small scale irrigation, such as Agricultural Growth Program and regional investment programs particularly the IFAD supported PASIDIP (Participatory Small Scale Irrigation Development Program) that has substantial FBFS investment programs for the period 2015 to 2019 in line with the Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II).
2) In Sudan the proposed project links to interventions in the Gash Agricultural Scheme (GAS) and investments under the Gash Sustainable Livelihoods Regeneration Project (GSLRP) and Kuwait Fund. These activities are geared to formally recognized farmers of the Gash River. It is unknown how the interventions might impact or have affected other users in the Gash delta (“Gash die area”).
In the two investment programs above, the proposed project will interact with key decision makers and beneficiaries and aim at incorporating a gender and ecosystems approach in order to broaden their scope beyond production and include an assessment of trade-offs and synergies between a range of ecosystem services provided by FBFS.
3) In the Tigray region (Ethiopia) the proposed project will inform the ongoing debate on the impact of upstream soil and water conservation and improvement of degraded hillsides for agriculture on the downstream FBFS as well the intensive road development underway. Mekelle University (a key partner in the consortium) is tasked by the Tigray Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development and REST (Tigray Relief Society) to evaluate possible impacts of terracing upstream following complaints by farmer groups downstream.
4) The IFAD Grant “From Africa to Asia and Back Again: Testing Adaptation of flood-based Farming” that will be implemented from 2015 to 2018 is focusing on capacity building of national professionals and practitioners in Ethiopia and Sudan (among others) and strengthening the network of farmers. Our research outcomes will inform the capacity building activities. Outputs such as methodologies and case studies will be converted into course material.
5) The project will be informed by two ongoing PhD researches: one by Ms. EF Bashir (from Sudan) on the Gash irrigation scheme. Results from the PhD study will be used as inputs in the project. The other by Ms. M Zenebe (from Ethiopia) on FBFS (Spate irrigation) in Tigray region will contribute data and insights to the assessment of the impacts of investment scenarios.
6) FAO/IWMI/FAO water accounting project. Our project through the PhD candidate will test and evaluate the gender module of MASSMUS (Mapping Systems and Services for Multiple of Water Services) tool in two FBFS in Ethiopia. This tool assesses the multiple uses of (flood)water management systems and their values for women.
7) Lastly, one of the action research sites under the ongoing capacity building program (NICHE) on Small Scale Irrigation managed by Mekelle University partly overlaps with the study area of the proposed project. This will create opportunities for cross-fertilization and synergies between the two projects. For example, MSc students working under the NICHE project will contribute to the proposed project, and results from the proposed project will feed into the curriculum being developed in the NICHE project.
3. Consortium Details
3.1. Lead institution Spate Irrigation Network Foundation (SpNF) is well placed to lead the consortium and ensure smooth implementation of this proposed project. SpNF has strong local presence in the project target countries Ethiopia and Sudan. In these and several other countries in the Global South, it has for the past decade, actively been and is still promoting FBFS both at policy level and
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program level and counts 1000 local professionals, practitioners and farmers among its members. SpNF has a proven track record in bringing together varied stakeholders: farmers, community organizations, development agencies, practitioners, researchers and policy makers. Working in partnership with several national and international institutions including UNESCO-IHE, Mekelle University and the Hyraulic Research Center, it has successfully operationalized several spate (flood) irrigation capacity building projects funded by IFAD, the World Bank and GIZ. The knowledge-base on spate (flood-based) irrigation the SpNF has generated along with its partners could be appreciated at: www.spate-irrigation.org. 3.2. Project partners
Institution 1: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, the Netherlands UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education brings in solid FBFS knowledge necessary for technical support in implementing the research programme. It has co-authored the most downloaded FAO Water publication: Guidelines on Spate Irrigation; led the publication of the book: FBFS in Ethiopia Lowlands - Status, Potential and Investment Guide; and contributed to several technical notes including in local languages. For the past 6 years, since 2008, it has run a successful annual course ‘Spate (flood) Irrigation and Water Management under Drought and Water Scarcity;’ and has implemented large scale spate (flood) irrigation capacity building and knowledge networks strengthening projects funded by IFAD and GIZ. UNESECO-IHE brings in about 100 alumni in higher government positions in Ethiopia and Sudan that will be instrumental in creating an enabling environment for smooth local logistical and technical support and pilot testing of any promising research outputs. PhD and MSc fellows supervised by staff at UNESCO-IHE in collaboration with Mekelle University and HRC will ensure scientific quality.
Institution 2: Mekelle University, Ethiopia Mekelle University is a leading knowledge centre in Ethiopia in land and water development and management in general and watershed management and FBFS in particular. It is well connected to the Regional Water, Rural Development and Agricultural Bureaus, the Gender and Youth Departments and several institutions important for the smooth implementation of this proposed project. The University has some concrete achievements: 1) facilitated the mainstreaming of FBFS in the Tirgray Region GTP (Growth and Transformation Plan) in collaboration with SpNF and UNESCO-IHE. 2) As part of the IFAD project, developed a hybrid FBFS design that combines traditional and modern principles and practices. 3) Working together with UNESCO-IHE and GIZ, initiated and successfully run in 2013 and 2014 an annual short course on Watershed Management and FBFS benefiting a total of 90 participants from Ethiopia and the GAD region. 4) It has, jointly with local government bureaus and universities as well as International Institutions such as UNESCO-IHE, conducted several action-oriented research focusing on management, design, governance and hydrology.
Institution 3: Hydraulic Research Centre, Sudan The Hydraulic Research Centre (HRC) is a well-known research centre in Sudan, established in late 1970's. The centre has obtained a good reputation through successful implementation of applied research projects in Sudan, and in the Nile region, either alone, or in partnership with other organizations, such as UNESCO-IHE, Nile Basin Initiative, and IWMI among others. The HRC has been actively engaged in applied research in Gash Flood-based Agriculture including, hydrology, morphology, irrigation design and management within the scheme. Partnering with UNESCO-IHE, IWMI, MetaMeta and the SpNF, the Centre has successfully implemented two FBFS specific projects funded by IFAD: 1) Spate Irrigation for Rural Economic Growth and Poverty Alleviation. 2) SMART ICT.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 8
PART B: PROJECT IMPACT PATHWAY
4. Outcomes
These are the main outcomes foreseen by the project:
Outcomes - within Project Period: • Importance of gender and ecosystem approach in FBF development is endorsed by next
users (by end of 2015). • The methodology applied by the next users for FBFS development scenarios includes gender
and ecosystem services, identification of winner and losers and trade-off analysis (in 2016) and linked to watershed development activities.
• Integration of gender and ecosystem approach into curriculum of UNESCO-IHE, Mekelle University and Sudan Gezira University/Hydraulic Research Center (by end of 2016).
Outcomes - 5 Years after project period: • Some 40 professionals per year develop skills in gender and ecosystems approach to plan and
implement land and water programmes and investments. • New investments in land and water are guided by principles of gender equity and balanced
ecosystem services.
During the very successful Proposal WriteShop organized by WLE, the NILE Basin and East Africa Focal Region, we identified the next users of our project outcomes and related outputs. As it can be inferred from the Figure below, we are well connected to various decision making institutions, donors, civil societies and community organizations as well as research, knowledge centres and networks. Three strong government institutions based in our study areas have already sent us official Letters of Support expressing their full commitment to ensure the smooth implementation of the project. They are: the Bureau of Water Resources (BoWR) and the Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development (BoARD) in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia; the Kassala State Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Irrigation, Animals, Wealth and Fisheries (MoAFIA).
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CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 9
We have high expectation that the project outcomes and related outputs will lead to the following changes in policy, attitude, knowledge and skills among the next users.
Next users of project outcome Expected change in Government officials - decision makers at: Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity (Sudan); Ministry of Social Welfare, Woman and Child Affairs (Sudan and Ethiopia); Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy (Ethiopia); Ministry of Agriculture (Ethiopia and Sudan); Kassala State Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Irrigation, Animals, Wealth and Fisheries (MoAFIA); Women and Youth (Sudan), Tigray Bureau of Water Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, Women and Youth (Ethiopia)
Attitude and policy: thinking beyond narrowly defined production targets and single intervention, but taking into account inclusion of other ecosystem benefit for all stakeholders including women and youth
Technical experts from the above institutions: responsible for designing, planning and guiding implementation of investments in land and water
Skill and practice: inclusion of gender and ecosystem approach in land and water investment and development programs
Civil societies and community organizations: in charge of implementing investment programmes: Gash Development Authority (Sudan), Relief Society of Tigray (Ethiopia); Raya Valley and Gash Water Users Associations (Sudan and Ethiopia)
Attitude: thinking beyond short term benefits and immediate environment Knowledge: Recognition of interdependent and competing users
Donors: IFAD, GIZ, World Bank and others active in Flood-based Farming Systems (FBFS) investment and development programmes
Policy: formulating investment strategies and development programs including synergies and trade-offs in ecosystem benefits for range of stakeholders including women and youth
Research and knowledge centres: Mekelle University (Ethiopia), Gezira University and Hydraulic Research Centre (Sudan), UNESCO-IHE (the Netherlands)
Practice: Change in curriculum and research approach and methodology to properly include gender and ecosystem perspectives
5. Output users and use
The evidence of demand for the project outputs, the capacity and incentives the respective users will need to overcome current barriers and better understand and effectively apply the project outputs are as described below.
Next user of project output
Capacity needed to apply and use project outputs
Barrier/incentive Evidence of demand
Government officials - decision makers who will use our testimony/briefing videos , media articles on added value of including gender and ecosystem service in investments; impacts of upstream interventions on downstream livelihoods.
Openness to alternative approaches and ideas. Ability to properly understand analyses by experts with regard to consequences of alternative investment options.
Barrier: Lack of flexibility in policy interpretation. Lack of incentive to think differently. Incentive: Better integrated repertoire of interventions. Reduced risk of conflict, getting (re)elected.
In Tigray, Ethiopia the pilot bench-terrace based agricultural development of hillsides has stopped awaiting a better understanding of impacts on downstream users of Flood-based Farming Systems (FBFS).
Technical expert - Investment planner who will use our methodologies
Knowledge and skills in FBFS development scenario formulation that integrate gender and ecosystem service perspective. Applying models and tools (such as HEC-HMS, SWAT, Invest) that analyse varied impacts of basin-wide interventions.
Barrier: Lack of existing curriculum (courses) and good examples. Incentive: Career perspective.
Increased interest by donors and potential national government and educational institutions. Non-inclusive planning leading to degraded ecosystems and unequal benefit sharing.
Civil societies and community organizations using our video products, briefing notes and forums.
Being able to evaluate the usefulness of long-term thinking that goes beyond immediate benefits and environment. Understanding the characteristics of interdependent and competing users (winners and losers).
Barriers: Lack of incentive to change a weak social fabric. Power differences. Lack of knowledge of integrated approach. Incentives: Reduce risk of conflict, successful community programs.
Inequity in access to resources. Failed projects due to conflicts or inappropriate design. Programs leading to inequalities and short lived program due to conflicts.
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Donors using our knowledge products and methods
Being able to formulate investment strategies and development programs- including synergies and trade-offs in ecosystem benefits for range of stakeholders including women and youth.
Barriers: The need for short terms success stories - pressure from national government and backing agencies Incentives: To be seen as progressive and innovative donor on the forefront of new thinking
Increasing demand for concrete action and results on gender and sustainability.
Research and knowledge centres reading our journal articles, using our course material and other knowledge products
Curriculum review and evaluation. Formulate integrated and gender inclusive research approach
Barriers: Lack of conviction that taking an ecosystem and gender perspective is a better approach. Incentives: Funding opportunity and possibility of experimenting and exploring new approach
Demand for innovative concepts and research products Number of students in participant in short courses Availability of research fund
We will implement an effective strategy that combines user-specific engagement, networking and communication mechanisms to ensure that our project outputs are widely used. The following table provides details. Next user of project output
Engagement mechanisms
Intermediaries/connecting institutions
Communication activities to reach them
Government officials - decision makers
Key staff attends project launch. Attendance to and presentation at their quarterly evaluation meeting.
Project members are well connected and existing strong institutional collaboration.
Presentation. Study tour/ learning route. Stories in media (television) outlet with their involvement.
Technical experts -Investment planners
Joint research, scenarios development and formulation of alternative investment plans. Short training courses. Participation key project meetings.
Members of the project consortium are well connected with relevant agencies. There already exists strong institutional collaboration.
Joint research outputs. Presentation in national and international gathering such as ICID, Stockholm, Nile conferences.
Civil societies and community organizations
Attendance of representative at the launch and key project meetings. Involvement in scenario development. Feedback on project output in community meetings.
While the consortium members already have good connections, the following institutions will further strengthen the partnership: Ethiopia: Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Development. Sudan: Gash Agricultural Scheme (GAS) authority. Sudan and Ethiopia: Woman and Youth Institutions, UNESCO-IHE alumni.
Joint field visits. Country exchange visits between project sites. Videos with their involvement.
Donors Short visit to project site combined with mid/final evaluation missions. Possibly attendance to and presentation at their annual meeting. Proposal responding to calls.
WLE, UNESCO-IHE, University Water Sector Partnership (UWSP), IGAD
Success stories and glossy reports. Web stories and blogs.
Research and knowledge centres
Presentations, seminars MSc and PhD and alumni Reports and publications. Wiki. Website of key implementing institutions
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6. Outputs
The anticipated project outputs are as outlined below.
Knowledge products Gender specific products
Methods and Tools Forums and partnerships
Two briefing notes on: 1. Added value of gender and ecosystem approach - comparing current and new investment plans that incorporate gender and ecosystem perspectives. 2. Impact of upstream watershed management activities on downstream Flood-based Farming Systems (FBFS) and livelihoods. Blog: Investing in FBFS from an ecosystems perspective: who wins and who loses? Briefing videos: before and after project implementation that gauge the change in perspectives among key project output and outcome users with regards to ecosystems services provided by FBFS and their importance for livelihoods. Three peer reviewed journal articles co-authored by non-researchers and local partners on: added value of ecosystems approach; added value of gender approach; and impact of upstream activities on downstream livelihoods. Course material such as case studies for the annual short courses at Mekelle University and UNESCO-IHE.
Three blogs on: 1. What is the bargaining power of women who manage FBFS for livelihood 2. Are FBFS where wome are actively involved in management performing better? 3. Importance of rehabilitating degraded lands by managing floods for productive use by landless women and youth. 3.Methodology for gender inclusive planning and implementation of investments in FBF? 4) tested and updated gender module in MASSMUS
Methodology for: 1. including gender and ecosystems perspective in FBFS investment and development programmes and evaluating the trade-offs and synergies. 2. Participatory scenario formulation and inclusive investment criteria development. Tools: 1. Floodwater assessment tools specific to Gash (Sudan) and Raya (Ethiopia) basins: identifiying and quantiying the multiple use of floods.
Forums: 1. Testimony videos by policy makers/farmers explaining the importance of gender and ecosystems perspective in FBFS investments 2. Articles in the media featuring our next users comparing benefits and costs of current and newly developed investment plans that include gender and ecosystem perspectives 3.Dissemination events including webinars on www.waterchannel.tv; Communities meetings bringing together farmers (male, female), practitioners, investors and policy makers; Farmer and local politicians’ participation in conferences. Partnerships: Expansion of the Spate Irrigation Network membership and webste (www.spate-irrigation.org) to better represent farmers and policymakers, include different sources of knowledge and perspectives on ecosystems and gender.
7. Research questions and methodologies The proposed project will address three main questions:
Question 1: What is the impact of current investment plans of upstream agricultural development on downstream flood based farming systems and livelihoods, in particular for women? The methodology to answer this question consists of the following parts: • description of the baseline situation, developing map images and assessing the hydrologic
situation (using tools such as SWAT, HEC-HMS), the governance situation (using 20 indicators approach1
and strategic choice) different uses of floods (expert interviews) and traditional adaptive management strategies in flood based farming by men and women (focus group
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
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discussions) – this will set the basis for the identification of issues and planning subsequent research and discussion activities;
• stakeholder analysis to identify the different beneficiary groups such as upstream, midstream and downstream; men, women, youth;
• livelihood and eco-system services mapping upstream and downstream in the basin, differentiated between men and women;
• participatory mapping of resources and access by different groups, identifying spatial patterns in distribution of benefits;
• landscape wide transects identifying inter-linkages (livelihood systems, water availability, moisture distribution, flooding patterns and flood water use, sediment transport, landscape interventions, productive uses, infrastructure development), during the dry season and flood/rain season;
• economic valuation of benefits derived from these resources by different stakeholder groups, and trade-offs, negotiations and existing conflict resolution mechanisms;
• scenario evaluation exploring current and ongoing investment plans: physical/hydrologic aspects using models such as SWAT, HEC-HMS; socio-economic and gender aspects through focus group discussions and interviews of key experts.
Question 2: What is the added value of incorporation of gender and ecosystems perspective in investment plans in flood based farming? - how can gender and ecosystems perspective be incorporated? - who are the winners and losers of different investment scenarios? - to whom do benefits and losses accrue? - what is the difference in costs and benefits for men, women and youth?
The methodology to address these questions consists of a comparison of impacts under baseline and alternative investment scenarios, as follows:
a) Assessment of the baseline situation (separate for men, women and youth), see above. • Valuation of ecosystems functions with direct and indirect benefit to different stakeholders
(using tools such as INVEST and TEEB) b) Impact assessment of alternative investment scenarios • Participatory formulation and evaluation of alternative scenarios that incorporate gender and
ecosystems (Focus group discussion) and relate this to specific interventions • Evaluation of scenarios, including winners and losers and exploring trade-offs and synergies
between benefits, costs and their distribution over stakeholder groups (see above) and the environment (using tools such as SWAT, HEC-HMS, Ribasim, INVEST, and focus group discussions in different stakeholder forums at local and policy level).
Question 3: What is the most ‘efficient’ use of floods (from different angles) in the Raya watershed and valley and Gash basin? And what interventions and set of intervention support this? • Based on the results of question 1 and 2, Focus group discussions in different forums of the
next users. All proposed research activities are action oriented and will be implemented together with local stakeholders and relevant staff involved in these ongoing interventions, to enable joint learning.
8. Measuring Progress towards Outcomes
8.1. Indicators The verifiable time-bound indicators we will employ to realize the proposed outcomes are as summarized below.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 13
8.2. Baselines Current investments in land and water development programmes, particularly in FBFS, are not properly informed by open dialogue and cooperation based on transparent and publicly shared scientific analysis. Many led to unequitable sharing of benefits and costs among various stakeholders (upstream, downstream, men, women, youth), and have contributed to ecosystem degradation.
Among the root causes are: Criteria of investment are narrowly defined in terms food security and single interventions
disregarding gender and other ecosystem service or inter-linkage between watershed and flood-based farming improvement.
Expected outcome Progress indicator towards achieving the outcome Information or data to verify progress
1) Importance of gender and ecosystem approach in FBFS investment programmes is endorsed by government officials/decision makers (by end of 2015).
Following discussion with project staff, key government officials/decision makers (in Ethiopia: Bureau Heads of Water Resource, Agriculture and Rural Development; in Sudan: State Minister, Kassala State Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Animal Resources, and Director General of Gash Agricultural Scheme) commit to facilitate the implementation of the project (end of November, 2014).
These government officials/decision makers attend the launch and the session introducing gender and ecosystem service approaches (Jan/Feb, 2015).
Informative video featuring interviews with winners and losers of current investment plans and highlighting the added benefits of a gender and ecosystem perspective presented at the mid-year meetings of the government institutions (June/July, 2015).
Government officials/decision makers officially recognize importance of gender and ecosystem approach in their investment programmes (by end of 2015).
Official letter of support by key government officials/decision makers.
Video documentation: opening speeches and media interviews involving the government officials. Project inception report.
Media interviews with key government officials. Official minutes of the meeting.
Testimony videos.
2) The methodology applied by the technical experts/investment planners for development scenarios of FBFS includes gender and ecosystem services, identification of winner and losers and trade-off analysis (by mid 2016).
Methodology co-developed with key investment planners/technical experts (June, 2015).
Methodology is agreed upon by investment planners and civil society and community organizations (by September, 2015).
Methodology is endorsed by government officials/decision makers (by end of 2015).
Methodology is pilot tested by key investment planners/technical experts in one of their sites (by mid 2016)
Joint publication with key investment planners/technical experts.
The technical expert guest lectures in existing spate irrigation course at Mekelle University or UNESCO-IHE. Memorandum of understanding signed.
Joint publication with logos and foreword written by relevant ministries and regional authorities. Endorsement letter.
Different scenarios formulated. Winners and losers identified. Trade-off analysis conducted.
3) Integration of gender and ecosystem approach into curriculum of UNESCO-IHE, Mekelle University and Sudan Gezira University/Hydraulic Research Center (by end of 2016)
Based on preliminary project findings, draft Syllabus prepared and subsequently endorsed for the course/module: Gender and Ecosystem Services Approach for Sustainable FBFS Investment Programmes - Challenges and Opportunities (March, 2016).
Project outputs (videos, articles, briefing notes, and blogs) are converted into comprehensive course material consisting of case studies, lecture notes and PowerPoint (by Mid 2016).
The course/module officially integrated into curriculum and pilot run (by October, 2016).
Official endorsement communication by the Institute of Water and Environment (Mekelle University); Irrigation Water Management Institute (Gezira University); Chair Group Land and Water for Food Security (UNESCO-IHE).
Publication of course materials by the above three educational institutions.
Official approval communication by the Senates of Gezira and Mekelle Universities and Programme Committee of UNESCO-IHE. Project staff lecture/guest lecture in the existing FBFS courses at Mekelle University and UNESCO-IHE.
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 14
Lack of appropriate methodology incorporating gender, ecosystem services and tradeoff. Non inclusive decision making and information sharing. Decision making without clearly identifying winners and losers. Lack of skill to incorporate gender and ecosystem services and evaluating tradeoff.
9. Gender and equity
The aim of the project is to improve investments in flood based farming to ensure an equitable distribution of costs and benefits of the impacts of proposed interventions. Hence, gender and equity is at the core of this project. Gender and equity will be addressed at different levels and through different approaches.
Firstly, the research activities explicitly recognize and analyze the differentiated needs, priorities and constraints of both women and men. Following the gender-responsive research approach all relevant data and analyses are gender differentiated. For example, the impacts of current and future investment plans in flood based farming on livelihoods are analyzed for women and men separately. It also involves research to identify constraints for women in business opportunities and livelihood options and ways to overcome these gender specific constraints.
Secondly, the proposed research probes into the role that women play in traditional management and conflict resolution structures. It analyzes the position and bargaining power of women within the management of FBF and the representation of women in community organizations and Water Users’ Associations. It then poses the question if the flood based systems in which women are relatively well represented perform better in terms of equitable access to resources and distribution of benefits (gender-specific research).
Thirdly, the project aims at contributing to women empowerment by involving women at all levels and in all project stages. For example, efforts will be made to ensure that in community and project meetings women will be well represented. A special effort will be made to engage women leaders in the spate irrigation network. A good part of local researchers and MSc students involved in the project will be female. The two PhD fellows contributing to this project are both female (and from the region).
Gender outputs foreseen in this project include blogs addressing gender-specific questions and a methodology for gender inclusive investments in flood based farming.
10 Ecosystems Services and Resilience
The aim of this research project is to add value to ongoing decision making concerning FBF development in Ethiopia and Sudan by including an ecosystems and landscape perspective to current or planned interventions and policies. Flood based farming systems provides several ecosystems services that are often overlooked in current interventions. For example, large floods that are too difficult to handle are not diverted for agriculture but are spread over flood plains that provide grass for cattle and herbs (provisioning service). Managing floods contributes to groundwater recharge (regulating service). Flood management in FBF systems is closely linked to biodiversity and natural vegetation. FBF systems are depositories of local biodiversity – collecting seeds from a large catchment and depositing them in moist soils (regulating service). They feed ephemeral wetlands rich in species (regulating service). Natural vegetation is often of considerable value providing additional sources of income to local communities (provisioning service) although in some places, invasive species, such as mesquite, if not properly managed, negatively affect agricultural production.
The proposed research will assess and value synergies and trade-offs between the different ecosystems functions and benefits of FBF under various development scenarios, for different stakeholders and the environment. It will evaluate the productive functions and ecosystems
RESEARCH PROPOSAL: HARNESSING FLOODS TO ENHANCE LIVELIHOODS AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES
CGIAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMME ON WATER, LAND AND ECOSYSTEMS: NIE BASIN AND EAST AFRICA FOCAL REGION 15
services provided by FBF systems in the current situation and changes thereof as a result of the interventions proposed by farmers, governments and donors.
The research takes a landscape perspective by considering the impact of upstream activities on downstream flood based activities. For example, upstream storage development and watershed improvement that are proposed to enable agricultural activities in the degraded hills of Tigray (Ethiopia) can smoothen peak flows and reduce sediment loads. This may adversely affect communities downstream who depend on sediment loaded floods for their traditional farming practices. The Tigray Bureau of Agriculture decided to temporarily suspend upstream activities after concerns raised by downstream communities. This research will shed light on the downstream effects of upstream activities. It will add a landscape perspective to current investment approaches and adapt investment criteria to include gender and ecosystems.
PART C: IMPLEMENTATION PLAN The GanntChart is detailed in the "Project Workbook" file submitted along with this document.
13. References and bibliography
Frank van Steenbergen, Philip Lawrence, Abraham Mehari Haile, Maher Salman and Jean-Marc Faurès, 2010. Guidelines on Spate Irrigation. FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 65, ISBN 978-92-5-106608-09
Abraham Mehari Haile, Demissie, A., Embaye, T.G., Getaneh, A.2013. Flood-based Farming for Livelihoods in Ethiopia Lowlands. Status, Potential and Investment Guide. ISBN:9789490792022
Frank van Steenbergen, Abraham Mehari Haile, Alemehayu, T., Alamirew, T, Geleta, Y. 2011. Status and Potential of Spate Irrigation in Ethiopia. Water Resource Manage. 25:1899–1913.
Abraham Mehari Haile, Frank Van Steenbergen, Schultz, B. 2011. Modernization of spate irrigated agriculture: A new approach. Irrigation and Drainage. DOI: 10.1002/ird.565
De Fraiture, C., A. Fayrap, O. Unver and R. Ragab. 2014. Integrated Water management approaches for sustainable food production. Irrigation and Drainage 63(2): 122-231.
GIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 2014. Gender strategy. Colombo, Sri Lanka: IWMI, 27p. doi: 10.5337/2014.204
Marieke Adank, Barbara van Koppen, and Stef Smits, 2012. MUSgroup, Guidelines for Planning and Providing Multiple-Use Water Service. IRC and IWMI, ISBN/EAN: 978-90-6687-079-6
Frank van Steenbergen and Albert Tuinhof (2014), Managing the Water Buffer for Development and Climate Change Adaptation: Groundwater Recharge, Retention, Reuse, RW. Wageningen: MetaMeta.
Abraham Mehari Haile, Van Koppen, B., McCartney, M., Lankfordd, B., 2009. Unchartered innovation? Local reforms of national formal water management in the Mkoji sub-catchment, Tanzania. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 34: 299-308
De Fraiture, C., D. Wichelns, E. Kemp Benedict, J. Rockstrom. 2007. Scenarios on water for food and environment. In Molden (ed): Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture. International Water Management Institute.
A: Team leader and team member’s C.V.s. One full CV (Team Leader) and 15 CVs of project members have been submitted together with
this proposal (see "CVs" file). B: Letters of intended association and/or contracts We have included six letters of association and support (see file "Letters_ Association). C: Project Workbook: see attached file, "Project Workbook" for details on budget, contacts, outcome planning.
Family Name Given Name Gender Institution Title/Position Email Mobile Phone Postal Address Country Expertise Role in the project
1 van Steenbergen Franciscis M Spate Irrigation
Network
Foundation
(SpNF)
Research manager fvansteenbergen@m
etameta.nl
31644995010 Paardskerkhofweg 14
5223Aj 's-
Hertogenbosch
The Netherlands Water
management
Overal Project leader, promoting
project at relevant meetings,
endorsement of projects outputs and
outcomes, synergy with other projects
and partners, identifying additional
fuding opportunities, co-author
articles, oversee M&E activities
2 Borgia Cecilia F SpNF Senior Researcher cborgia@metameta.
nl
31617130481 Paardskerkhofweg 14
5223Aj 's-
Hertogenbosch
The Netherlands Water
management,
gender
senior researcher, gender specialist,
guide differentiated data collection and
analyses, for men and women
backstopping support to Stakeholder
analysis, livelihood mapping and
participatory resource mapping, co-
author gender products and articles.
3 Kool Matthijs M SpNF Researcher [email protected] 31630106132 Paardskerkhofweg 14
5223Aj 's-
Hertogenbosch
The Netherlands Spate irrigation junior researcher, support data
collection and organization,
communication and dissemination of
project results, coordination support
Please remember to provide a CV for each person listed below as Annex B to your proposal. Indicate in particular who has responsibility for communications, M&E, knowledge sharing and gender analysis.
4 de Fraiture Charlotte F UNESCO-IHE Professor c.fraiture@unesco-
ihe.org
Westvest 7, 2611 AX,
Delft
The Netherlands Agricultural
Water
Management,
Irrigation water
management,
water and food
Research leader, Economic valuation of
ecosystem services; gender
mainstreaming; synergy with other
research programmes, review project
deliverable, co-author knowledge
products and articles.
Mehari Haile Abraham M UNESCO-IHE Senior Lecturer and
Researcher
a.meharihaile@unes
co-ihe.org
31633334925 Westvest 7, 2611 AX,
Delft
The Netherlands Managing floods
for multiple use;
Agricultural
water
management,
Irrigation desing
and anagement,
water and food
Senior researcher, scenario
formulation and methdology for
analysing added value of gender and
ecosystem services, values of multiple
flood uses, women empowernment,
translating research results to
knowledge and gender products;
Coordination/communication,
contribnute to M&E support, co-author
articles
5 Suryadi Fransiscus
Xaverius
m UNESCO-IHE Senior Researcher f.suryadi@unesco-
ihe.org
31615262368 Westvest 7, 2611 AX,
Delft
The Netherlands GIS, water
resources
modelling,
support for SWAT and related
modelling activities
6 Yazew Hagos Eyasu M Mekelle
University
Director and
Associate professor
[email protected] 251910 170415 P.O.BoX: 231, Mekelle Ethiopia Land and Water
4.d 4.d van Steenbergen List of member organizations, presence
of SpNF at relevant events
Project Name Harnessing floods for livelihoods and ecosystems
Date January 2015 - December 2016
No. Activity/ Milestone (including Deliverables)
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
2015 2016
Responsible Staff
Member (only one)
Evidence of delivery provided by project
to WLE
Activities
Milestones
OUTCOME PLANNING
2019 Outcomes of the WLE Flagship on Integrating Ecosystem Solutions into Policy and Investments (IES)
↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
2017 Project Outcomes ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
Describe below how these outcomes will be achieved. Be as specific as possible and include gender and ecosystems and resilience.
10 Major development initiatives and public institutions at national and subnational levels are using WLE’s science and decision support tools to prioritize and inform project
implementation of equitable ecosystem based approaches
10 Public-private actors (including financing) at national and sub-national levels are using new incentive mechanisms (e.g. novel financial mechanisms) or business
models/markets that explicitly promote ecosystem based approaches in natural resource management especially agriculture using WLE science.
Define Next User 1 (see Definitions tab). Define the change in the next user (e.g. change in knowledge, attitude, skils, practice, etc.) that
is necessary to achieve the outcome. Complete one table for each next user.
Government Officials and Decision Makers
Risks and
Assumptions
Why are next
users (the
research users)
not taking this
action now?
What are the
barriers (e.g.
capacity) and
incentives (e.g.
new policy) for
next users to
take this action?
Specify 1-2
indicators of
progress from
baseline towards
outcomes. The
project will collect
data on these
indicators annually
to measure
progress towards
outcomes.
Data and
evidence to
support your
plan (e.g.
documentation
of next user
demand for
research,
national/subnati
onal priorities)
Barrier: Focus on
single interventions,
decentralized
implementation.
Lack of incentive to
think differently.
Incentive: Better
integrated repertoire
of interventions.
reduced risk of
conflict, model
function (of Tigray)
in landscape
management.
Review your project outcomes in the Expression of Interests. Revise these outcomes if needed based on the workshop discussions. These statements should be specific and
measureable regarding the changes (in skills, practice) anticipated, e.g. "Who is doing what differently as a result of the project activities." Include gender and
ecosystems. Outcomes - within Project Period:
• Importance of gender and ecosystem approach in FBF development is endorsed by next users (by end of 2015).
One or more private sector next users will use ESS safeguard outputs to reduce negative impacts on ecosystem services and/or simulate them.
One private sector and one civil society next users will use genderized eco-system approach to producitve flood management in sub-basins, landscapes
4 relevant government agencies will employ programmatic outputs and systems tod develop investment package, usingappraoch that they have developed by WLE
Official letter of
support by key
government
officials/decision
makers.
Video
documentation:
opening speeches
and media
interviews involving
the government
officials. Project
inception report.
Interviews with key
government
officials. Official
minutes of the
meeting.
Testimony videos.
Joint publication with
logos and foreword
written by relevant
ministries and
regional authorities.
Endorsement letter.
Expected change
in: Attitude and
policy: thinking
beyond narrowly
defined
production targets
and single
intervention, but
taking into
account inclusion
of other
ecosystem benefit
for all stakeholders
including women
and youth
Project strategies to
work with next users
to achieve outcomes.
How will the project
overcome the
barriers?
Outputs produced by
the project for use by
next user
Baseline = what is
the next user (the
research user) doing
now. This is the
current situation.
Following discussion with
project staff, key
government
officials/decision makers
(in Ethiopia: Bureau
Heads of Water
Resource, Agriculture
and Rural Development;
in Sudan: State Minister,
Kassala State Ministry of
Agriculture, Irrigation
and Animal Resources,
and Director General of
Gash Agricultural
Scheme) commit to
facilitate the
implementation of the
project (end of
November, 2014).
These government
officials/decision makers
attend the launch and
the session introducing
gender and ecosystem
service approaches
(Jan/Feb, 2015).
Informative video
featuring interviews with
Two briefing notes on:
1. Added value of gender
and ecosystem approach -
comparing current and
new investment plans that
incorporate gender and
ecosystem perspectives.
2. Impact of upstream
watershed management
activities on downstream
Flood-based Farming
Systems (FBFS) and
livelihoods.
Blog: Investing in FBFS
from an ecosystems
perspective: who wins and
who loses?
Briefing videos: before and
after project
implementation that gauge
the change in perspectives
among key project output
and outcome users with
regards to ecosystems
services provided by FBFS
and their importance for
livelihoods.
Three peer reviewed
the Ethiopian and
Sudanese governments
supported by donors such
as IFAD started investing in
the improvement of
infrastructure (weirs,
intake and canals) and on-
farm practices to enhance
agricultural productivity.
Current investments in land
and water development
programmes, particularly
in FBFS, are not properly
informed by open dialogue
and integrated multi-
functional approach and
publicly shared scientific
analysis. Many led to
unequitable sharing of
benefits and costs among
various stakeholders
(upstream, doownstream,
men, women, youth), and
have contributed to
opportunities to improve
ecosystem services
foregone.
Among the root causes
Engagement mechanisms:
Key staff attends project
launch.
Attendance to and
presentation at their
periodic evaluation
meeting.
Communication activities to
reach them: Share d
p resentation.
Study tour/ learning route.
Stories in media (television)
outlet with their
involvement Government
officials- decision makers
will use the shared
testimony/briefing videos
and media articles on
added value of including
gender and ecosystem
service in investments;
impacts of upstream
interventions on
downstream livelihoods.
Why are next
users (the
research users)
not taking this
action now?
What are the
barriers (e.g.
capacity) and
incentives (e.g.
new policy) for
next users to
take this action?
Project strategies to
work with next users
to achieve outcomes.
How will the project
overcome the
barriers?
Outputs produced by
the project for use by
next user
Baseline = what is
the next user (the
research user) doing
now. This is the
current situation.
Specify 1-2
indicators of
progress from
baseline towards
outcomes. The
project will collect
data on these
indicators annually
to measure
progress towards
outcomes.
Barrier: Lack of
existing c good
examples.
Incentive: Career
perspective,
professional ethos
Expected change
in: Different
professional skill
set: inclusion of
gender and
ecosystem
approach in land
and water
investment and
development
programs
Risks and
Assumptions
Data and
evidence to
support your
plan (e.g.
documentation
of next user
demand for
research,
national/subnati
onal priorities)
Define Next User 2 (see Definitions tab). Define the change in the next user (e.g. change in knowledge, attitude, skils, practice, etc.) that
is necessary to achieve the outcome. Complete one table for each next user.
Technical expert - investment planner
Engagement mechanisms:
Joint research, scenarios
development and
formulation of alternative
investment plans.
Short training courses.
Participation key project
meetings. Communication
activities to reach them:
Joint research outputs.
Presentation in national and
international gathering
such as ICID, Stockholm,
Nile conferences Technical
expert - investment
planner will use our
methodology
Methodology for:
1. including gender and
ecosystems perspective in
FBFS investment and
development programmes
and evaluating the trade-
offs and synergies.
2. Participatory scenario
formulation and inclusive
investment criteria
development.
Tools:
1. Floodwater assessment
tools specific to Gash
(Sudan) and Raya
(Ethiopia) basins:
identifiying and quantiying
the multiple use of floods.
Current investments in land
and water development
programme, particularly in
FBF miss the modality and
the approach for
integrated development
and maximizing various
ecosystem services
Among the root causes
are:
- Criteria of investment are
narrowly defined in terms
food security and simple
c/b analysis, interventions
disregarding gender and
other ecosystem service or
interlinkage between
watershed and flood-based
farming improvement.
- Lack of appropriate
methodology
incorporating gender,
ecosystem services and
tradeoff.
- Non inclusive decision
making and information
sharing.
- Decision making with out
Methodology co-
developed with key
investment
planners/technical
experts (June, 2015).
Methodology is pilot
tested by key
investment
planners/technical
experts in one of their
sites (by mid 2016)
Joint publication with
key investment
planners/technical
experts,
presentation in
regional meeting
and international
conferences.
The technical expert
guest lectures in
existing spate
irrigation course at
Mekelle University
or UNESCO-IHE.
Memorandum of
understanding
signed.
Different scenarios
formulated. Winners
and losers identified.
Trade-off analysis
conducted.
Baseline = what is
the next user (the
research user) doing
now. This is the
current situation.
Expected change
in: Attitude:
thinking beyond
short term
benefits and
immediate
environment
Knowledge:
Recognition of
interdependent
and competing
user and methods
to balance
interests and
engage local
governments and
other parties
Testimony videos.
Different scenarios
formulated. Winners
and losers identified.
Trade-off analysis
conducted.
Barriers: Lack of
incentive to change
a weak social fabric.
Power differences.
Limited
engagement in
development
programming
beyond community
level, no actual
upstream and
downsteam
interaction.
Incentives: Reduce
risk of conflict,
successful
community
program, better use
of potential od
ecosystems.
Engagement mechanisms:
Attendance of
representative at the
launch and key project
research events
Involvement in scenario
development and
endorsement
Feedback on project
output in community
meetings. Communication
activities to reach them:
Joint field visits.
Exchanges between
farmer groups
Videos with their
involvement.
Civil societies an
community organizations
will use our video products,
briefing notes and will speak
afforums
Two briefing note (see
above) translated and
discussed
Briefing videos: before and
after project
implementation that gauge
the change in perspectives
among key project output
and outcome users with
regards to ecosystems
services provided by FBFS
and their importance for
livelihoods Forums:
1. Testimony videos
farmers explaining the
importance of gender and
ecosystems perspective in
FBFS investments
2. Articles in the media
featuring our next users
comparing benefits and
costs of current and newly
developed investment
plans that include gender
and ecosystem
perspectives
3. Communities meetings
bringing togetheru/s and
Communities have good
understanding on meaustrs
and impact in their
immediate locality but
none so beyond -
Interventions hence aimed
at local benefits and not
taking into account root
poblems that may lay
elsewhere, development
programmes, particularly
in FBFS, are not properly
informed by open dialogue
and cooperation Women
engagement in planning
and discussion is limitedt.
Lack of appropriate
methodology
incorporating gender,
ecosystem services and
tradeoff.
Non inclusive decision
making and information
sharing.
Decision making with out
clearly identifying winners
and losers.
Lack of skill to
Methodology is agreed
upon/ endorsed by civil
society and community
organzations (by
September, 2015).
Define Next User 3 (see Definitions tab). Define the change in the next user (e.g. change in knowledge, attitude, skils, practice, etc.) that
is necessary to achieve the outcome. Complete one table for each next user.
Civil society and community organizations
Specify 1-2
indicators of
progress from
baseline towards
outcomes. The
project will collect
data on these
indicators annually
to measure
progress towards
outcomes.
Data and
evidence to
support your
plan (e.g.
documentation
of next user
demand for
research,
national/subnati
onal priorities)
Risks and
Assumptions
Why are next
users (the
research users)
not taking this
action now?
What are the
barriers (e.g.
capacity) and
incentives (e.g.
new policy) for
next users to
take this action?
Project strategies to
work with next users
to achieve outcomes.
How will the project
overcome the
barriers?
Outputs produced by
the project for use by
next user
Expected change
in: Policy:
formulating
investment
strategies and
development
programs
including synergies
and trade-offs in
ecosystem
benefits for range
of stakeholders
including women
and youth -
introducing new
assessment
methodologies
Barriers: The need
for short terms
success stories -
pressure from
national government
and backing
agencies
Incentives: To be
seen as progressive
and innovative
donor on the
forefront of new
thinking
interest in new
modalities and
operationalization of
'landscape'
development
Engagement mechanisms:
Short visit to project site
combined with mid/final
evaluation missions.
Possibly attendance to and
presentation at their annual
meeting.
Proposal responding to calls -
seeking cooperation and
sharing.
Communication activities to
reach them:Success stories
and attractive reports.
Web stories and blogs
Donors will use our
knowledge products and
methods
Knowledge products are:
Two joint briefing notes
(shared logos) on:
1. Added value of gender
and ecosystem approach -.
2. Impact of upstream
watershed management
activities on downstream
Flood-based Farming
Systems (FBFS) and
livelihoods.
Blog: Investing in FBFS
from an ecosystems
perspective: who wins and
who loses?
Briefing videos: before and
after project
implementation that gauge
the change in perspectives
among key project output
and outcome users with
regards to ecosystems
services provided by FBFS
and their importance for
livelihoods.
Three peer reviewed
journal articles co-authored
by non-researchers and
Current investments in land
and water development
programmes, particularly
in FBFS, are 'run off the
mill' . Many led to
unequitable sharing of
benefits and costs among
various stakeholders
(upstream, doownstream,
men, women, youth), and
have missed creative
opportunities at
maximixing ecosystem
services - incl managing
micro-climate and soil
moisture
- Criteria of investment are
narrowly defined in terms
food security and C/B
disregarding gender and
other ecosystem service or
interlinkage between
watershed and flood-based
farming improvement.
- Lack of appropriate
methodology
incorporating gender,
ecosystem services and
Informative video
featuring interviews with
winners and losers of
current investment plans
and highlighting the
added benefits of a
gender and ecosystem
perspective presented at
the mid-year meetings
of the government
institutions (June/July,
2015). Based
on preliminary project
findings, draft Syllabus
prepared and
subsequently endorsed
for the course/module:
Gender and Ecosystem
Services Approach for
Sustainable FBFS
Investment
Programmes -
Challenges and
Opportunities (March,
2016). Project
outputs (videos, articles,
briefing notes, and blogs)
are converted into
Testimony videos.
Interview with
donors and new
concept notes and
different
approaches in
project assessment
Define Next User 4 (see Definitions tab). Define the change in the next user (e.g. change in knowledge, attitude, skils, practice, etc.) that
is necessary to achieve the outcome. Complete one table for each next user.
Donors
Why are next
users (the
research users)
not taking this
action now?
What are the
barriers (e.g.
capacity) and
incentives (e.g.
new policy) for
next users to
take this action?
Project strategies to
work with next users
to achieve outcomes.
How will the project
overcome the
barriers?
Outputs produced by
the project for use by
next user
Baseline = what is
the next user (the
research user) doing
now. This is the
current situation.
Specify 1-2
indicators of
progress from
baseline towards
outcomes. The
project will collect
data on these
indicators annually
to measure
progress towards
outcomes.
Data and
evidence to
support your
plan (e.g.
documentation
of next user
demand for
research,
national/subnati
onal priorities)
Risks and
Assumptions
Expected change
in: Practice:
Change in
curriculum and
research
approach and
methodology to
properly include
gender and
ecosystem
perspectives
Barriers: Lack of
conviction that
taking an ecosystem
and gender
perspective is a
better approach.
Incentives: Funding
opportunity and
possibility of
experimenting and
exploring new
approach
Engagement mechanisms:
Presentations, seminars
Communication activities to
reach them: Reports and
publications. Wiki. Website
of key implementing
insitution, webinars,
inclusion in short courses
Research and knowledge
centres will read our journal
articles, use our course
material and other
knowledge products
Three peer reviewed
journal articles co-authored
by non-researchers and
local partners on: added
value of ecosystems
approach; added value of
gender approach; and
impact of upstream
activities on downstream
livelihoods.
Course material such as
case studies for the annual
short courses at Mekelle
University and UNESCO-
IHE.
Current research is not
looking at larger
geographical units and is
also missing out on a large
part of important eco-
systems services.
- Lack of appropriate
methodology
incorporating gender,
ecosystem services and
tradeoff.
- Inability of local
researches to advise local
government with practical
suggestion on integreated
approach - including for
instance road authorites
that also influence road-
run off
Based on preliminary
project findings, draft
Syllabus prepared and
subsequently endorsed
for the course/module:
Gender and Ecosystem
Services Approach for
Sustainable FBFS
Investment
Programmes -
Challenges and
Opportunities (March,
2016).
Project outputs (videos,
articles, briefing notes,
and blogs) are converted
into comprehensive
course material
consisting of case
studies, lecture notes
and PowerPoint (by Mid
2016).
The course/module
officially integrated into
curriculum and pilot run
(by October, 2016).
Official
endorsement
communication by
the Institute of
Water and
Environment
(Mekelle
University);
Irrigation Water
Management
Institute (Gezira
University); Chair
Group Land and
Water for Food
Security (UNESCO-
IHE).
Publication of course
materials by the
above three
educational
institutions.
Official approval
communication by
the Senates of
Gezira and Mekelle
Universities and
Programme
Define Next User 5 (see Definitions tab). Define the change in the next user (e.g. change in knowledge, attitude, skils, practice, etc.) that
is necessary to achieve the outcome. Complete one table for each next user. Research and knowledge centres