in Magta Lahjar, Mauritania

Sustainable Management of water surfaces, submitted to Kyoto Grand Prize

contribution to the fight against poverty

submitted to Kyoto Grand Prize

Samba Harouna Thiam

UNDP-CWI , Mauritania

Table of contents

National context CWI programme Project context Climate change effects Consequences of the CC effects Niche within the KGP Project’s objectives Project’s activities Results achieved Divides bridged Partnership Lessons learnt Room for hope

National context

MAGHTA LAHJAR

Populations: 3 333 000Area: 1 030 700 km

Adult literacy rate in 2006 : 44,8%

People below poverty line: 46,7%

Coverage rate of potable water in rural areas is 49%

People without access to improved water sources : 40%

Only 32% of households are connected to piped water in urban area

Introduction to CWI programme

Objectives

• To support poor, marginalized rural communities improve access to clean water,

• Adequate sanitation, in order to achieve Millennium Development Goals through strategic community based approaches

Context of the project area The Aftout is located in the southern part of

Mauritania Sahelian and very arid zone with very high

temperature at hot season. Populations: mainly black moors (dominated by

former slaves) about 750 households Main activities: rain fed agriculture and animal

husbandry Scarcity of potable water: most of wells dry up

during dry season (March to July) Populations mainly depending on the rain fall

pattern

Means of access to water

From surface From traditional wells

Climate change effects observed in the area

Continued decrease of rainfall pattern High prevalence of Waterborne diseasesDrastic decrease of agricultural production Very high pressure on the very scarce water resources

Consequences

Seasonal migration to bigger cities due to lack of potable water

Frequent conflict between communities (farmers and herders)

high rate of waterborne diseases

Children do not have access to adequate education

What is our niche within the Kyoto Grand Prize for Water

Poverty indicators in Mauritania 46.7% below poverty line Rank HDR 137/177

Topic 2.3 – Water and Food Ending

Poverty and Hunger

Project objectives

Contribute to groundwater recharge in order to reduce rural exodus (seasonal climatic refugees)

Sustainable water management for better rain fed agricultural production

Project activities Construction of small earth dams that contribute to

recharging groundwater to limit the drying up of wells between March and July 

Crop farming through soil and water conservation

Digging of improved and protected wells to meet hygiene standards of potable water to communities 

Raising public awareness on hygiene and sanitation 

Distribution of filters at  household level to reduce waterborne diseases

Results achieved in relation to access to water

Access to potable water throughout the year Increased food security and incomes at

household level (through agricultural improvement and diversification )

Improved school attendance for children

Decrease of waterborne diseases

Results achieved in relation to access to water

Access to potable water throughout the year

Increased agricultural production

Results achieved in relation to poverty reduction

Increased agricultural production

Agricultural diversification

Divides bridged

People have access to potable water throughout the year

Children have access to education

Agricultural production increased and diversified

Decrease of waterborne diseases

Project Partnership

UNDP- CWI for financial resources

The National NGO UNESCO EC for project implementation, monitoring and reporting

Local communities provided unskilled labor during implementation and post implementation O&M

Local government for technical support

Lessons learnt Adaptation to climate whims and variability. Low cost technologies are easily managed by local

communities Community ownership is critical for the success of any

community based project This production system provides in record time two types of

harvest s: the fast-growing sorghum and the corn (double crop).

Community organization, participation and demonstration activities are useful tools in the process of raising awareness of the risks of climate change.

Some lessons learnt cont’d

Although rural communities live with the consequences/effects of climate change on a daily basis, they still perceive these changes as ‘fate’.  The majority continue to believe that the reduction in their resources is a normal phenomenon and that the natural resources are immune and will endure

The synergy between SGP and CWI programmes is an excellent tool for Community Based Adaptation activities

L’eau n’est pas nécessaire à la vie, l’eau c’est la vie

Thank you very much