Challenge Programme on Water & Food in the Limpopo basin

Towards Research-Policy linkages & Outcomes

Ruth BeukmanRegional Coordinator GWPSA

Dr Amy SullivanProject Manager – FANRPAN

CP 2010 - Stockholm

Overview• A brief introduction of the CPWF (2004-2009)

• Limpopo basin and Phase 1 research

• Gaps & Issues - phase 1

• Limpopo basin focal project – ‘synthesis’

• The 2 regional networks - roles & actions (GWPSA & FANRPAN)

• Results & lessons (WP4 institutions, 5 interventions & overall)

• Informing phase 2 • Conclusion – for policy and impact…?

Introduction - CPWF• The CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF) is a research‐

for‐development program

• that works to increase the productivity of water for food and livelihoods (in a manner that is environmentally sustainable, socially acceptable, and alleviates poverty for all disadvantaged groups).

Basin Overview

• Basin population is over 14 million within four countries.

• Nearly 25% of South Africa’s population & over 60% of Botswana’s live in the basin.

• Major cities within/adjacent to the Basin include Johannesburg-Pretoria, Gaborone and Bulawayo.

1. Crop Water Technology and Markets-ICRISAT17. IWRM for Improved Rural Livelihoods-WATERNET 28. Multiple Use Systems for Water-IWMI 30. Wetlands, Social Welfare & Environmental Security IWMI 36. Improved Livelihoods through Dam Management-IWMI 46. Small Multi-Purpose Reservoir Ensemble Planning -IWMI47. African Models of Trans-boundary Governance -IWMI53. Food and Water Security under Global Change-IFRPI66. Water Rights in Informal Economies-IWMI

CPWF Phase 1 projects Research in the Limpopo basin - before

PROJECTS REMAINED ON THE SHELVES OF RESEARCHERS

Gaps and issues in phase 1

• Rich source of information but isolated and no consideration for taking research findings further

• Query levels of impact – if any?• Lack of involvement of stakeholders in the region –

especially policymakers at different levels and practitioners (for influence and uptake, local -regional)

• Projects not integrated or inter disciplinary

Limpopo Focal Project - Research Questions

• Where is the water (availability)?• How well is the water used (productivity)?• Institutional factors affecting access and use?• Observable links between water, agriculture and

livelihoods?• Feasible intervention packages?• Generating and sharing insights with stakeholders?

Limpopo Basin Focal Project

• WP1 Poverty Analysis – Malawi Polytechnic and University of Zimbabwe

• WP2 Water Availability – ARC and University of Botswana

• WP3 Water Productivity – IWMI and UEM• WP4 Institutional Arrangements – FANRPAN

and GWP• WP5 Options for Intervention – FANRPAN and

GWP• WP6 Knowledge Management - ARC

Roles, Actions – 2 regional networks• FANRPAN – agricultural regional network and country nodes (11)• GWPSA – IWRM regional knowledge network with 12 CWPs (note

riparians) – multi-stakeholder• Strength and strategic opportunity – ‘partnering’ & partners• Stakeholders engaged in highlighting activities, needs &

challenges at different levels across the 2 main sectors nationally and at basin and regional policy levels (RBOs/SADC/TWRM)

• s/h wshop - brought farmers, extension officers, district development planners, government officials from water and agric – to determine feasible agric water interventions (GIS overlays to id hotspots - vulnerability - with stakeholders) – match with possible interventions (matrix)

Work Package 5 - Strategic Interventions

Work Package 4 (Institutional) - Results• All riparian countries have policies aimed at supporting small-

scale farmers to increase their productivity and profits, yet effectiveness of implementation varies considerably - capacity

• Limited inter-ministerial and departmental collaboration for promoting agricultural water management limits cross-cutting integrated policies to support agricultural water management, hinder best arrangements - integration

• LIMCOM’s emergence as an effective RBO significantly enhances the capacity of the basin countries to consider basin vs only national solutions on water for food, livelihoods and reduced poverty (opportunity for benefit-sharing?)

Overall results & Lessons LBFP

• Facilitated inter-ministerial collaboration• Policy makers and practitioners identified strategic interventions• A start to organising/packaging knowledge for dissemination• Identified relevant institutions and institutional challenges in

implementation of interventions• CPWF management willingness to change allowing very different

phase 2 design & level of stakeholder input• Policy makers at all levels informed the research agenda (content)

based on needs & approach (5 projects,parts incl coordination & facilitating uptake at different levels)

• research within a socio-economic and political context esp national and basin development and politics (LIMCOM)!

• Ownership & sustainability

Informing Phase 2 - design

• Stakeholder workshop to input into Ph2 (local, national, basin)• Phase II—Fewer projects, better integration, building on insights

from Phase I

• Phase II—design a program mindful of on-going activities, context, trends, projects

• Research for development in full partnership mode building on existing networks, institutions

• Aiming to integrate strategies combining policy environment, institutions and technologies

Conclusion – policy & impact?• Impact pathways – influence behavioural change• Looking at internal (researchers) and external stakeholders • Then what? Integrating with basin, national and local

wrm/agric development, TBWRM, national and basin development plans to improve livelihoods & national soci-economic development.

Thank You