CPWF research in the Volta - Volta Basin Development Challenge - a summary

1. A Partner
of
CPWF Research in the Volta
Volta Basin Development Challenge
Olufunke Cofie Basin Leader
VBDC Final Science Workshop
19 September, 2013
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

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CPWF set out to find ways to strengthen
integrated management of rainwater
and small reservoirs, so they can be used
equitably and for multiple purposes.

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Improving management of
rainwater and small reservoirs is
a complex problem.
It requires:
•Continuous engagement with stakeholders
•Consideration of multiple views, capacity devt
•Finding the lever of change

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CPWF has used the research for
development approach
− a new way of doing research

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Research-based evidence from CPWF indicates
that there are still opportunities to support further
AWM adoption and adaptation in the Volta basin
for improved income and livelihoods
Replicating successful agricultural water management
interventions in new locations requires consideration of economic,
biophysical, institutional, and cultural factors.
Key Message (wsr. AWM)

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Multi-pronged Evidence
• AWM review shows up to 40% of crop area is
under SWC
• The TAGMI tool offers one way to consider
different factors, when targeting agricultural
water management interventions.
• TAGMI shows areas of high potential for successful
out scaling using both social human and
biophysical indicators
•

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Evidence (contd)
• The PGIS synthesis in Volta and supported by
findings from Limpopo shows that bottom-up
analyses are key to the success of AWM
interventions:
– Technical support including extension
/knowledge, material /input and financial
– Clear demand from end users
– A sense of ownership of intervention

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Evidence (contd)
• Water modeling in Ghana and Burkina Faso
show that small reservoir development will
have marginal impact on water flows at the
basin level

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• Small reservoirs do clearly promote
diversification of activities at local scale.
Technical options may increase productivity but
access to market constitutes the main bottle-neck
in terms of improvement. Policy incentives are
equally needed.
Message 2 (wsr. AWM)

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Message 3 (wsr. AWM)
• Trade-offs between agricultural intensification
and the health status of aquatic ecosystems
have to be thoroughly considered in order to
ensure the sustainability of these socio-eco-
agro- ecosystems.

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Message 4 (wsr. Water governance)
• Successful integrated water resources
management depends on interactions
between multiple actors at different scales,
which is often beyond every-day
considerations.
– The companion modeling-approach is a good
framework to highlight interactions between
actors and allows for a collective decision-making
process to unfold.

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• Collaboration with existing integrated water
resources management institutions, such as
local water committees, ensures that research
can inform national and basin-level knowledge
and thinking and encourages sharing of
experiences between institutions,
development practitioners, researchers, and
local stakeholders.
Message 4 (wsr. Water governance)

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Message 5 (wsr IP)
• Innovation platforms provide space for a wide
range of stakeholders to exchange knowledge,
learn, and develop joint initiatives to solve
agricultural development challenges. Successful
innovation can only happen when stakeholders
have a sustained interest in working together to
acquire new knowledge and find solutions; the
research community cannot bring about
innovation on its own.

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Message 5 (wsr IP)
• Livelihood options and indigenous
experiences shape the ways farmers manage
rainwater. Changing water management
practices, and making them more productive,
requires joint learning as well as technical,
institutional, and policy support.

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Message 6 (wsr R4D)
Decrease in influence
by the research team
Impacts and
consequences
Changes in
practice (outcomes)
Influence on
decision maker KAS
Other information
sources and
influences
Strategies for
engagement
Strategies for
innovation
Strategies for
Problem definition
Learning &
re-design of
innovation
Learning &
problem re-
definition
limited
influence
Someinfluence
R4D takes time
and resources and
must be supported
long enough for
innovations to
emerge and be
evaluated

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How can CPWF research be used in the
Volta River Basin?
What concrete opportunities to use
VBDC research?
What could be the next steps?
In conclusion

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Thanks
www.volta.waterandfood.org