KEY MESSAGES EMERGING FROM NBDC

Presented at National Platform on Land and Water Management, 20-21 February 2013

Douglas J. Merrey

Overview• Purpose and procedure

• Presentation of messages emerging from NBDC

• Looking to the future

• Request participants to help us revise, refine, improve messages

Purpose and Procedure• Purpose: Synthesize a small number of

critical lessons, conclusions from the research

• Procedure: Researchers contributed +/- 40 ideas• Analyzed to extract common key points• Assessed strength of evidence

• Now seeking stakeholders’ inputs to finalize• Will be used as a guide for remaining

period and possible future programs

NBDC Contribution to Major Ethiopian Program – SLM

• 30+ years of experience has culminated in SLM program under ESIF framework• NBDC supports innovations to strengthen this

program• Two critical NBDC innovations:

1. The shape & core elements of a new landscape-based integrated RWM paradigm, building on Ethiopian experience

2. Tools & methodologies that enable effective implementation at scale

A New Integrated Rain Water Management (RWM) Paradigm

• Evolution of policies & implementation elements of a new integrated paradigm

• 6 core elements:1. Local community leadership based on demand2. Partnerships integrating & sharing local and

scientific knowledge3. Emphasize learning process by all parties in a

linked manner4. Create incentives for success, including markets5. Strengthen capacity of all stakeholders6. Use new learning and planning tools  

Local community leadership based on demand

• Empower local communities for full responsibility & leadership of RWM programs• Based on demand & equity

• Roles of government: promote bottom-up planning, implementation, innovation, facilitate institutional strengthening, equity; provide financial & technical support, capacity building & enabling environment

A “farmer-focused, innovation-led and sustainable service delivery” is the central vision of the proposed Agricultural Extension Strategy

Partnerships integrating & sharing local and scientific knowledge

• Integrate scientific & local knowledge & innovation processes; encourage innovation

• Effective partnerships: research institutions, universities, extension & other government services, NGOs, private sector, communities

• Menu of technology options that farmers can ‘mix & match’ & innovate to meet needs

Facilitate learning process by all parties in a linked manner

• Multi-stakeholder “Innovation Platforms” at multiple levels (e.g. national, regional, river basin, woreda watershed) to facilitate vertical & horizontal learning & sharing will enhance positive outcomes of RWM investments• External facilitation & modest seed funds• Encourage a “culture” of learning & mutual

respect• From pilot testing to ‘learning to be efficient’ –

scaling up to be practical & achieve impacts

An innovation in Joint Learning

Participatory hydro-meteorological monitoring-Zemadim et al. forthcoming IWMI RR

Align incentives for success, including markets

• Positive incentives for extension workers• Based on customer satisfaction, outcomes• Consistent – draft Agricultural Extension

Strategy• Incentives where benefits are delayed, are

a public good, or accrue to others• “Smart subsidies” for equity, e.g. compensation

for inequitable costs, targeting women, youth• Market-driven value-chain approach

• Equitable sharing costs & benefits• ,

Strengthen capacity of all stakeholders

• Such investments already paying off• Substantial benefits from strengthening

capacities• Consistent with draft Agric. Extension Strategy

• Improved formal & in-service training• Formal & informal training for farmers

• E.g. farmer-farmer, field days• Use new learning tools (below)• Use post-grad students for independent

feedback

Use new learning & planning tools with strong learning processes

• Integrate hydrologic, water resource planning, & economic models & spatial analysis for planning, scaling out, & impact assessments

• User-friendly tools to facilitate local level learning, training, & to identify appropriate interventions• Recommended in draft Ag. Extens. Strategy

• Centralized geographical data base for efficiency

Playing ‘WAT-A-GAME’ & ‘Happy Strategies’

Fogera participants playing ‘WAT-A-GAME’

Future: Implement at Regional & National Scale

• Next step: test and validate how to integrate the core elements into a program, learn how to implement at scale, address outstanding issues• Requires commitment policymakers & partners• “Learn to be efficient:” simplify tools, capacity

building, develop new tools & institutions• Address gaps, e.g. gender, future scenarios,

climate adaptation & resilienceShould we collaborate to develop a future

program? For discussion day 2

Future: International Collaborative RWM Program

• Potential impacts of RWM programs at scale are enormous but examples rare• Parallel experiences in SSA, e.g. Limpopo &

Volta Basin Development Challenge programs• Strong interest in sharing experiences, tools,

methodologies, collaboration in research• Opportunity: Institutions could support

collaboration, e.g. NBI, AU-NPCA, CGIARBenefits of international partnerships would

far outweigh the costsFor discussion day 2

Now it is your turn to work• Group work: Provide us your first response

to the draft “Integrated RWM Landscape Paradigm” & its 6 core elements• Do they make sense? • Are some wrong? Are some right on target?• Are there any critical elements missing?• Please provide feedback to help us improve

these messages, keeping in mind we will be revisiting the details behind them today & tomorrow