1. Rainfed Portfolio
in the Volta Basin

2. Land use changes in the Volta Basin
Partners:
• CIAT, IWMI , CPWF
Question (on-going work):
• How are the these
changes affecting
livelihoods and the
environment?
Way forward:
• Use same approaches
in other WLE regions
LandcoverchangesCroplandgainsandlosses
Significant
expansion of
croplands
Losses:
Diversification
of farming?
Extensive
Grassland
Significant
forest cover
Loss of forest
and cropland

3. Partners:
• CIAT, IWMI , ICRAF, CPWF, WRI (CSIR,
Ghana)
Key outputs:
• Erosion prevalence quantified
• Sediment deposits in reservoirs
quantified and associated costs
assessed
• Vulnerable spots identified for
targeted interventions with
implementing partners
Potential Impact:
• Long-term restoration of soils that
improves system productivity
Way forward:
• Use similar approaches in other WLE
regions
ErosionprevalenceSedimentlosses
Soil erosion (%)
100
0
Soil erosion and Sediment deposits
Computed using InVEST
to identify vulnerable
areas in basin with high
sediment losses
Derived with field data from AfSIS:
Vågen, et al 2013

4. Water and Sediment fluxes in White Volta Basin
Partners:
• CIAT, IWMI , CPWF, Water Resources
Commission (WRC), Water Research
Institute (WRI, CSIR) and Ministry of Food
and Agriculture (MoFA)
Key outputs:
• Estimate of sediment yields permits
relevant mitigation measures and
recommendation e.g. grass strips buffers
along waterways
Way forward:
• On-going stakeholder engagement
towards Integrated Water Resources Mgt.
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
0.6
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
AnnualTotalSedimentYield(T/H)
Validation Years
Simulated
Measured
Study area is Zebilla in Upper East Region of Ghana;
water yields and sediment estimates reveal impacts of
these variables on crop productivity in the landscape
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
1971 1976 1981 1986 1991 1996 2001
AnnualVolumeofwater(Mm3)
Zebila water yield Total water yield

5. The InVEST Framework
Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs
Stakeholder
process
Real land use
representation
Mutual optimal
land use
EntireBasin
Res.sub-basins
ARS
Res.Sub
Location
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Sedimentationcost(millions$)
7.4
6.8
2.7
4.1
Outcome:
• Inclusive and
informed
dialogue
process on
landscape
resources
management
Way forward:
• Mimic similar
approach in
other WLE
regions
Partners:
• IWMI, CIAT,
Bioversity,
CPWF
The InVEST framework uses
relevant critical pieces for
more holistic natural
resources management
EntireBasin
Res.sub-basins
ARS
Res.Sub
Location
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Sedimentation(tons)
592
546
218
328

6. Social processes in landscapes
Wet season Dry season
Outcome:
• Participatory engagement at various
levels of society
• Gendered landscapes: Entry point for
equity in landscapes
• Tease out seasonal components
Way forward:
• Use same approaches in other WLE
regions
Various stakeholders (at various levels in society)
represent the landscape through dialogue on how
resources are used over a given time and space
Partners:
CIAT, IWMI,
CPWF, CIRAD,
WRC

7. Ecosystem Services Assessment
Ecosystem Impacts
0
20
40
60
80
100
%Respondents
Ecosystem Impacts
0
20
40
60
80
100%Respondents
Ecosystem Impacts
0
20
40
60
80
100
%Respondents
Ecosystem Impacts
0
20
40
60
80
100
%Respondents
Lawra Tolon
Bawku West Cohorts average
Bush burning
Pesticides application for fishing
Erosion/sedimentation
River bank cultivation
Partners:
• CIAT, IWMI , Bioversity, CPWF
Key outputs:
• ESS characterized
• Trends assessed
Way forward:
• Assess impact of habitat
conversion on ESS trends
• Quantify ESS trends
• Use same approaches in other
WLE regions
Assessments reveal key priority issues over time and
space that deserve interventions and mitigation
measures to sustain viable ecosystem services and
prevent human health risks

8. Ecosystem Services and Trends in two Volta
Basin transects
Partners:
• IWMI, CIAT, Bioversity, CPWF
Key outputs:
• ESS characterized
• Trends assessed
Way forward:
• Assess impact of habitat
conversion on ESS trends
• Quantify ESS trends
• Use same approaches in other
WLE regions
Rainfall
less than 900 mmyr-1
Greater
than 900 mmyr-1
Radar chart reveals
increasing importance
of flood control and
erosion with reduced
water quality
soil fertility trends
Radar chart reveals
increasing importance
of sedimentation,
flood control and
erosion with reduced
biodiversity trends

9. On-farm testing of mitigation recommendations
Partners:
• CIAT, IWMI, CPWF, IITA, USAID, WRI , ARI, KNUST
Key outputs:
• Farmer participatory monitoring of rainfall events
• Rain water harvesting, farmers’ use of soil and
water conservation technologies
• Real time monitoring of soil moisture for seasonal
changes
Impact
• Increased crop yields in on-farm trials
• Farmer training in soil and water management
Way forward:
• Identify intensification pathways that impart
system resilience for increasing land and water
productivity
• Investigate the impact of labor intensive practices
on system productivity
Soil moisture storage, crop water productivity
and gross value of production were consistently
higher in treatments with fertilizer micro-dose+
20 kg manure and tied ridging, what about labor?
Legend: Inputs effect on soil moisture

10. Achieving impact-oriented research
Reliable
rainfall
Viable
Ecosystems
Enabling
conditions
Adequate
water resources,
viable ecosystems
& healthy soils
- Rainfall variability impacts farming
- Need for risk reduction through:
o Sustainable land and water mgt
o Increased landscape biodiversity
- Consider a holistic landscape framework
- Equitable participatory engagement
- Conduct tradeoff analysis
- Strategic and targeted partnerships
- Appropriate policies and
- Proper Institutional arrangements
From good soils, ecosystems and water resources to entry points for food security,
improved livelihoods and viable landscapes