ESTABLISHING WATER USER ASSOCIATIONS IN IFAD PROJECTS

1- The development of irrigated schemes has for a long time been contingent upon a centrally- planned and controlled policy emphasizing the importance of the investments carried out by the state in the sector. However, in the eighties, this centrally-planned development path in force was no longer considered appropriate particularly within the specific context of a free enterprise economy and state’s disengagement from direct involvement. Fresh alternatives were considered involving a series of measures to delegate users increasing responsibility in matters pertaining to the maintenance of irrigation networks, direct management of farms, liberalisation of land left fallow, establishing Water User Associations (WUAs) and promoting water conservation systems. 2. Hence a new legislation better adapted to boost organization of Water User Associations was promulgated by the public authorities (Act N°2-84 on Water User Associations of December 21, 1990). Besides, the strategies put in place by rural development projects funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) provide a concrete example to ease implementation of the participatory approach, with a view to upgrading locally-based development and management skills through training provision. 3. The report presents three examples in connection with IFAD- based projects whose main bullet points bring to bear on the following (i) the innovative capacity of the rural world with regard to inheritance of traditional lore and know-how;(ii) the increasingly important capacity of the farming world to open up and integrate innovative methods when they are deemed useful and profitable and (iii) the role of training programs, though in their simplest forms, can be considerably instrumental in enhancing capacity building of associations and ensuring long- term sustainability of irrigation infrastructures.