International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Tool for Process-Based Assessment of Scaling Pathway Outcomes

2026-10-24T01:06:07Z

dc.title: Tool for Process-Based Assessment of Scaling Pathway Outcomes dc.contributor.author: Minh, Thai Thi; Agyekumhene, Christopher; Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Ofosu, Abena; Zane, Giulia; Kotchofa, Pacem; Kamanda, Josey; Schmitter, Petra S. dcterms.abstract: The Process-Based Assessment of Scaling Pathway Outcomes (PATHs) practical guideline provides a structured approach to assessing how innovation scaling unfolds, why outcomes occur, and how scaling strategies can be adapted to strengthen impact. Designed for researchers, project implementation teams, monitoring and evaluation specialists, government agencies, financial institutions, and private-sector actors, the guideline supports evidence-based decision-making throughout the scaling process. The PATHs framework comprises eight analytical elements: adaptive scaling pathway, functions, activity delivery, outputs, influencing factors, agility, outcomes, and system change. It guides users through six practical steps, from defining the assessment scope and mapping intended and actual scaling processes to developing a dynamic Theory of Change, measuring stakeholder outcomes, assessing evidence, and using findings for continuous learning and adaptation. Templates for process assessment, Theory of Change development, and outcome monitoring support practical application and integration with existing monitoring and evaluation systems. The guideline illustrates the framework through two examples: scaling solar-powered farmer-led irrigation development in Northern Ghana and scaling Virtual Irrigation Academy soil-water sensors bundled with solar-powered pumps in India. These examples demonstrate how process-based assessment can help identify enabling conditions, implementation challenges, turning points, and opportunities for more inclusive, sustainable, and effective scaling across agricultural, water, and food systems. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Institutional Innovations for PM KUSUM Implementation: A Case of Citizen Service Centers in Uttar Pradesh, India

2026-10-24T01:07:43Z

dc.title: Institutional Innovations for PM KUSUM Implementation: A Case of Citizen Service Centers in Uttar Pradesh, India dc.contributor.author: Khan, Ramsha; Varshney, Deepak; Banerjee, Anurag; Ravindranath, Darshini; Al-Zu’bi, Maha; Jacobs-Mata, Inga cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Citizen Service Center (CSC) Operators’ Training Manual for PM KUSUM Application Support in Uttar Pradesh, India

2026-10-23T01:07:16Z

dc.title: Citizen Service Center (CSC) Operators’ Training Manual for PM KUSUM Application Support in Uttar Pradesh, India dc.contributor.author: Khan, Ramsha; Banerjee, Anurag; Shukla, K. C.; Varshney, Deepak cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Inclusive and Responsible Scaling in Zambia: How Enabling Environment Barriers Shape Enterprise Entry, Growth, Resilience, and Innovation Uptake Among Women and Youth

2026-10-23T09:22:36Z

dc.title: Inclusive and Responsible Scaling in Zambia: How Enabling Environment Barriers Shape Enterprise Entry, Growth, Resilience, and Innovation Uptake Among Women and Youth dc.contributor.author: Kasoma-Pele, Winnie; Enokenwa Baa, Ojongetakah; Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Wapamesa, Agrey; Nkosi, Mahlatse dcterms.abstract: This scoping review examines how Zambia’s enabling environment influences the inclusive and responsible scaling of agricultural innovations, particularly among women- and youth-owned enterprises. Conducted under the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) Program, the review assesses six interconnected domains: policy and regulation, financial market access, market coordination, institutional capacity, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), and climate finance. It focuses on three Solution Tracks: inclusive mechanization, climate-smart agro-advisories, and forage-based livestock feed innovations. The findings reveal that regulatory complexity, limited access to affordable finance, fragmented markets, weak institutional coordination, discriminatory social norms, and restricted climate-finance opportunities collectively constrain enterprise entry, formalization, growth, resilience, and innovation uptake. These barriers disproportionately affect women and youth, particularly those operating informal enterprises with limited productive assets, market access, and decision-making power. The review highlights the importance of innovation delivery systems in connecting enterprises to technologies, finance, information, markets, and institutional support. It emphasizes that successful scaling requires more than expanding innovation reach; it must also ensure sustained adoption, equitable benefit sharing, and effective management of potential social and economic risks. The review recommends integrated interventions that simplify regulatory processes, expand inclusive and climate-resilient finance, strengthen market linkages and institutional capacity, and promote gender-responsive governance. It also proposes a preliminary AoW3 framework for estimating program reach and investment mobilization, supported by improved monitoring and evidence generation. Ultimately, responsible scaling requires coordinated systemic reforms that enable women and youth to participate meaningfully, sustain enterprise growth, and benefit equitably from agricultural transformation. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) Innovation Showcase

2026-10-23T09:18:14Z

dc.title: Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) Innovation Showcase dc.contributor.author: Langa, Nicole; Retief, Hugo; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel; Roman, Henry dcterms.abstract: This report synthesises the proceedings and key findings of the Knowledge Exchange Network (KEN) Innovation Showcase, hosted by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Pretoria, South Africa, from 2–4 June 2026, with support from Enabel’s Innovation Hub. The workshop brought together eight KEN member organisations and invited stakeholders to demonstrate digital innovations, exchange implementation experiences and explore pathways for collaboration and sustainability beyond grant funding. Organised around innovation, integration and impact, the three-day programme combined business-model development, demand-driven design, storytelling, technology demonstrations, digital inclusion assessments and policy advocacy. Demonstrations included the Limpopo River Basin Digital Twin, AI-assisted citizen-science monitoring and Water Copilot, alongside partner innovations in rural water services, community communication, landscape monitoring and digital learning. These exchanges highlighted how interoperable systems can connect community-generated observations, remote sensing, institutional records and modelling to support more accessible and informed decision-making. The workshop identified user-centred co-design, trusted partnerships, institutional ownership, responsible AI and sustainable financing as essential conditions for scaling. Discussions on the Multidimensional Digital Inclusiveness Index emphasised the need to address barriers associated with connectivity, affordability, language, disability, safety and digital literacy throughout development and implementation. A pre-mortem exercise identified shared risks, including weak data integrity, limited adoption, insufficient revenue, maintenance constraints and dependence on individual champions. Proposed responses included diversified financing, shared technical services, stronger partnerships, succession planning and clearer evidence-to-policy pathways. The report provides practical lessons and initial building blocks for continued KEN collaboration, demonstrating that lasting impact depends on the wider ecosystem supporting digital innovation. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Digital Transformation

Integrating Multi-Sensor Satellite Data with Machine Learning for Irrigation Demand Forecasting and Climate-Resilient Agriculture in the Indus Basin

2026-10-21T05:42:26Z

dc.title: Integrating Multi-Sensor Satellite Data with Machine Learning for Irrigation Demand Forecasting and Climate-Resilient Agriculture in the Indus Basin dc.contributor.author: Hafeez, Mohsin; Aeman, Hafsa; Liaqat, Umar Waqas; Munir, Sarfraz; Bodla, Habibullah; Maqsood, Aarish dcterms.abstract: Pakistan's agricultural sector faces a growing water crisis, exacerbated by climate variability, over-extraction of groundwater, and misalignment between traditional irrigation scheduling and actual crop needs. Because 90% of the country's freshwater is used for irrigation, developing tools to improve water-use efficiency is essential to achieving food and water security. Early forecasting of crop-specific irrigation demand allows farmers, irrigation managers, and policymakers to align water supply with dynamic field requirements, optimize canal operations, and reduce water wastage. Early forecasting of crop irrigation demand enhances water efficiency and supports food security. Accurate irrigation forecasts enable farmers and decision-makers to schedule irrigation based on crop types and climate conditions, ensuring crops receive adequate water. Traditional biophysical models predict growth based on climate, soil, and irrigation factors, often assuming fixed water delivery schedules. These models focus on broad hydrological trends but lack tailored irrigation forecasts for specific crop stages. While machine learning (ML) has been applied to predict yield and biomass, forecasts of crop water requirements have been overlooked. The availability of cloud platforms such as Google Earth Engine (GEE) has revolutionized large-scale geospatial analysis, enabling timely, spatially resolved forecasting of agricultural irrigation demand. This is crucial for sustainable water use and agricultural resilience. GEE's cloud computing capabilities allow for parallel processing, reducing the need for local storage or high-performance computing infrastructure. Additionally, integrating remote sensing (RS) data archives with ML models and scalable application services creates a powerful environment for operational, data-driven irrigation applications. While many RS-based studies in GEE have focused on land use and crop classification, few have developed operational tools for irrigation forecasting using integrated climate and satellite information. This study addresses that gap by developing a cloud-based irrigation forecasting system within GEE, integrated with Google for training and testing geospatial remote sensing datasets to generate early irrigation forecasts. The system integrates multi-sensor satellite data, including Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and PlanetScope, with archival datasets from 2015 to 2025 at 30 m, 10 m, and 3 m spatial resolutions, respectively, and combines them with climate information. A Random Forest (RF) machine learning model was implemented and trained using an 80-20% split to estimate crop-specific water requirements, measured as actual evapotranspiration (ETact), across spatial and temporal scales. The framework automates data retrieval and irrigation forecast generation, demonstrating GEE's potential as a cloud-native platform for real-time agricultural water management. Trained models demonstrated high validation accuracy for NDVI (R² = 0.9224), LST (R² = 0.8602), Rn (R² = 0.84), and SAVI (R² = 0.87). Models such as Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), XGBoost, and Random Forest were trained using an 80-20 train-test split. CNN achieved the highest R² of 0.89, followed by XGBoost (R² = 0.81) and Random Forest (R² = 0.76). These predicted variables served as inputs to an RF model that estimated ETact, the core metric used to calculate irrigation demand. The irrigation forecast was tested over two cropping seasons (Kharif and Rabi) using observed ET data from an Eddy Covariance Flux Tower. For rice in Kharif, CNN predicted 6.798 mm/day (flux tower: 6.99 mm/day), and for wheat in Rabi, CNN predicted 2.041 mm/day (observed: 1.86 mm/day). In wheat’s growth phase, CNN forecasted 29.87 mm/day, close to the flux tower’s 33 mm/day. Overall, CNN outperformed other models across various crops, showing strong spatial and temporal accuracy. The forecasting information was applied to wheat cropping systems during the Rabi season. Weekly ET maps generated by the system supported precise and timely irrigation scheduling. Integrating satellite-derived biophysical variables into the GEE cloud-based application system enables informed decision-making for farmers, extension agents, and water managers to advance sustainable water resource planning amid increasing climate variability. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Scaling Water Bunds for Climate Resilience Management in Kenyan Rainfed Agri-Food Systems (SWaRM)

2026-10-21T04:06:08Z

dc.title: Scaling Water Bunds for Climate Resilience Management in Kenyan Rainfed Agri-Food Systems (SWaRM) dc.contributor.author: Nkosi, Mahlatse; Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Owusu, Afua; Zane, Giulia dcterms.abstract: Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs) face compounding pressures from land degradation, erratic rainfall, and recurrent drought. Water bunds, simple semi-circular earthen structures dug along contour lines to capture rainwater, reduce runoff, and regenerate vegetation, offer a proven nature-based response. The policy challenge is no longer whether water bunds work, but how to scale adoption efficiently and equitably across Kenya’s diverse tenure contexts and governance settings. The Scaling Water bunds for climate Resilience Management in Kenyan rainfed agri-food systems (SWaRM) project addresses this through a four-year bilateral research program funded by the Netherlands-CGIAR Water-Food Nexus Research Program (NWO). Led by IWMI in consortium with Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Tegemeo Institute, and Justdiggit, SWaRM combines economic analysis of adoption determinants, impact evaluation of co-designed scaling tools, and multi-stakeholder platform facilitation for evidence-to-policy translation. Findings are expected to inform Kenya’s Land Reclamation Policy and generate transferable lessons for scaling nature-based water retention solutions across sub-Saharan Africa’s drylands. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods

Early Forecasting of Crop Irrigation for Sustainable Water Use with Satellite Data and Machine Learning

2026-10-21T04:15:34Z

dc.title: Early Forecasting of Crop Irrigation for Sustainable Water Use with Satellite Data and Machine Learning dc.contributor.author: Aeman, Hafsa; Hafeez, Mohsin; Munir, Sarfraz dcterms.abstract: Early forecasting of crop irrigation demand improves water efficiency and supports food security. Accurate forecasts allow farmers and policymakers to schedule irrigation based on crop type and climate, ensuring timely water application throughout the growing season. Traditional biophysical models rely on fixed delivery schedules and broad hydrological trends, often lacking precision for specific crop stages. While machine learning (ML) has been widely used for yield and biomass prediction, its application in forecasting crop water requirements remains limited. This study bridges that gap by integrating remote sensing with ML to align water supply with crop demand under changing climate conditions, promoting sustainable irrigation. The study focuses on Pakistan’s Indus Basin, specifically Chaj Doab, located between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers. The region features flat terrain with coarse-textured alluvial soils and high evapotranspiration with wide variety of crops. The proposed methodology for estimating irrigation demand uses actual evapotranspiration (ETact) derived from satellite-based biophysical and climatic variables. Landsat imagery with a spatial resolution of 30 m resolution from 2015 to 2025 was used to calculate normalized difference vegetation Index (NDVI), soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), land surface temperature (LST), and net radiation (Rn). The dataset was split with 80% used for training and 20% for validation, to simulate a continuous forecasting scenario. The primary objective was to evaluate model performance in an unseen future period, reflecting irrigation forecasts in practice rather than re-learning from shuffled segments through temporal cross-validation. By contrast, the 80-20 split ensured a long historical record for vigorous training and a sufficiently large, continuous block of unseen data that spans entire season irrigation requirement which validation against observed evapotranspiration (ET) and local climate data from the Eddy Covariance Flux Tower, providing reliable ground-truth checks across entire cropping cycle. The machine learning models tested included CNN, XGBoost, and Random Forest. Among these, CNN achieved the highest performance with an R² of 0.89, followed by XGBoost (R² = 0.81) and Random Forest (R² = 0.76) on the testing samples. The short-term irrigation forecasting model was evaluated across two cropping seasons Kharif and Rabi, using observed ET values and local climate data from an Eddy Covariance Flux Tower. For rice during Kharif, CNN predicted 6.798 mm/day compared to the flux tower's 6.99 mm/day. During Rabi, the model predicted wheat ET at 2.041 mm/day, closely matching the observed 1.86 mm/day. During the growth phase of wheat in Rabi season, CNN forecasted ET at 29.87 mm/day, closely matching the flux tower measurement of 33 mm/day. Similarly, during early April, the model estimated 12.12 mm/day versus an observed 13.15 m/day. The lowest deviation occurred during the week of December, with both CNN and flux tower ET values closely aligned (6.99 and 6.89 mm/day, respectively). Overall, CNN showed the highest correlation than other models across multiple crops (maize, potato, guava, and orchards), showing strong spatial accuracy and temporal relevance. The outcomes support a wide range of users including farmers, local organizations, and decision-makers by enabling proactive irrigation planning. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

AI-Based Irrigation Demand Forecasting for Climate-Adaptive Crop Water Management in Irrigated Agriculture

2026-10-21T04:12:21Z

dc.title: AI-Based Irrigation Demand Forecasting for Climate-Adaptive Crop Water Management in Irrigated Agriculture dc.contributor.author: Aeman, Hafsa; Hafeez, Mohsin; Munir, Sarfraz dcterms.abstract: Accurate and timely forecasting of crop irrigation demand is a critical agrometeorological challenge, particularly in regions experiencing intensifying climate variability, water scarcity, and growing food insecurity. Weather conditions, including temperature extremes, precipitation deficits, and elevated evaporative demand, directly drive crop water requirements and can significantly reduce yields when irrigation scheduling is poorly timed. Existing studies on crop water demand have employed machine learning (ML) for actual evapotranspiration (ETa) prediction, incorporating feature selection to reduce data dimensionality and mitigate multicollinearity, thereby improving model performance. However, existing ETa models have limited spatial continuity and restricted applicability under changing climate conditions. This study addresses these limitations by developing a machine learning-based Irrigation Demand Forecasting Model (AI-IDFM) that integrates multi-sensor satellite data, spectral indices, and various climatic variables to determine crop water requirements under changing climate conditions. The actual crop evapotranspiration (ETact), a key agrometeorological variable linking atmospheric demand and crop water use is estimated through a surface energy balance framework using Landsat satellite data with 30 m spatial resolution, complemented by high-resolution (3 m) land cover information, capturing fine-scale microclimatic variability relevant for field-level irrigation decision-making. The key variables, including NDVI, SAVI, LST, and net radiation (Rn), along with climatic variables such as precipitation, temperature, and humidity, are incorporated into the model. Deep learning and machine learning approaches, including Convolutional Neural Network–Multilayer Perceptron (CNN-MLP), Random Forest (RF), and Gradient Boosting (GB), were used for training and validation. The CNN-MLP model performed best, achieving an R² of 0.90, followed by RF and GB with R² values of 0.87 and 0.80, respectively. From this study, the short-range irrigation advisories are generated by coupling AI-IDFM with daily meteorological outputs from the ICON ensemble model, providing 7-day forecasts of key atmospheric drivers, including temperature, total precipitation, and relative humidity. Forecasted inputs for April 2025 indicated temperatures ranging from 36.2-42.8°C, average humidity between 18.5-43.7%, reflecting intense thermal stress during the pre-Kharif transition period that directly amplify crop water demand. Model performance showed that CNN predictions closely matched observed ETact for rice (6.798 vs. 6.99 mm/day) and wheat (2.041 vs. 1.86 mm/day), validated against eddy covariance flux tower observations across Kharif and Rabi cropping seasons in Okara district, Punjab. The model consistently outperformed ensemble methods across diverse crop types. During the Rabi wheat growth phase, CNN forecasted ET at 29.87 mm/day compared to a flux tower measurement of 33 mm/day, with the lowest deviation recorded in December (6.99 vs. 6.89 mm/day). The results demonstrate that AI-IDFM provides a robust, weather-informed irrigation advisory framework capable of supporting farm-level decision-making across diverse cropping systems. The approach links weather data to actionable irrigation decisions, enabling scalable management from field to regional levels, improving water use efficiency and supporting climate-resilient agriculture in data-scarce systems. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Synthesizing Flood Exposure Maps for Comprehensive Risk Assessment

2026-10-20T08:27:56Z

dc.title: Synthesizing Flood Exposure Maps for Comprehensive Risk Assessment dc.contributor.author: Gebre, Eden Seifu; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Bekele, Tilaye Worku; Asfaw, Wegayehu; Trigg, Mark A. dcterms.abstract: Flooding poses a major risk to rapidly growing cities like Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where urban expansion, increasing impervious surfaces, and climate change continually intensify flood hazards. This study evaluates urban flood exposure by systematically comparing flood maps derived from fundamentally distinct methodologies. The primary objectives are to (i) delineate empirical flood exposure by integrating a multi-temporal Sentinel-1 SAR inundation map (2017–2023) with datasets on population, buildings, and road networks; and (ii) assess spatial agreement among exposure maps produced via hydrodynamic modeling, machine learning-based susceptibility analysis, and SAR mapping. The SAR-derived map was validated using a synthesized dataset of institutional records and citizen-science observations. Results reveal that 57 km² of buildings and 18 km of road networks are highly exposed to recurrent flooding. Furthermore, a critical spatial comparison using Jaccard (0.014–0.072) and Dice (0.027–0.143) coefficients, Moran’s I, and topographic correlation analysis revealed profound disagreement in flood risk extent and spatial distribution. These extreme discrepancies mathematically confirm the models capture distinct physical mechanisms rather than acting as redundant proxies. Consequently, relying on a single mapping framework inevitably biases urban flood risk estimation. This study provides baseline evidence advocating for a multi-criteria approach to support robust urban disaster risk management.

Enhancing Policy-Relevant Evidence for Improving Planning and Management of Smallholder Irrigation, Ethiopia

2026-10-20T01:09:22Z

dc.title: Enhancing Policy-Relevant Evidence for Improving Planning and Management of Smallholder Irrigation, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Tadesse, Mulugeta; Taye, Meron Teferi; Abdella, Mohammed; Gebreyesus, Kirubel; Ebrahim, Girma Yimer; Seid, Abdulkarim dcterms.abstract: Irrigation is expanding in Ethiopia, drawing on both surface water and groundwater resources. However, as irrigation expands, the sustainable use of these resources may become increasingly challenging without adequate monitoring and management. Reliable information on the extent of land under irrigation in a given season, as well as the areas likely to be irrigated in subsequent seasons, is essential for evidence-based irrigation planning and water resource management. Yet, such information is often unavailable or insufficiently accurate at the local level. This brief demonstrates an improved approach to mapping irrigated areas using Earth observation (EO) data. It highlights how accurate and timely information on irrigated areas can support more effective water resource management, inform irrigation planning, and contribute to Ethiopia’s long-term agricultural development. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Local Knowledge and Institutions in Land Resources Management in Ethiopia

2026-10-20T01:04:39Z

dc.title: Local Knowledge and Institutions in Land Resources Management in Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Mekuria, Wolde; Tegegne, Desalegn; Moges, Awdenegest; Tesfaye, Yitna; Teshale, Tirusew; Girma, Rediet dcterms.abstract: Local knowledge is a decisive yet under-recognized asset for sustainable land management (SLM) in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley landscapes. This brief synthesizes three complementary Halaba publications: a study of farmers’ perceived benefits and disbenefits of adopted SLM practices, a participatory resource-mapping study of gully rehabilitation, and a mixed-method assessment of inclusive land restoration. The evidence shows how knowledge held by farmers, elders, women, youth, watershed committees, and local practitioners improve decisions throughout the SLM cycle. Lessons from documented REDAA-SMILE project activities further demonstrate practical entry points: participatory resource mapping, validation of land and water management options, community-based restoration planning, field demonstrations, outreach, local rules and follow-up.

Recovering Daily Streamflow Data Gaps in the Lake Tana Sub-Basin: Leveraging Machine Learning and Remote Sensing Techniques in Ethiopia

2026-10-20T08:26:37Z

dc.title: Recovering Daily Streamflow Data Gaps in the Lake Tana Sub-Basin: Leveraging Machine Learning and Remote Sensing Techniques in Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Lakew, Haileyesus Belay; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Taye, Meron Teferi; Asfaw, Wegayehu; Tedla, Hailay Zeray dcterms.abstract: Reliable daily streamflow observations are essential for sustainable water resource management, yet many developing countries face significant gaps in streamflow records due to conflict and financial constraints. This study evaluates machine learning (ML) and climatological mean (CM) approaches for filling long-term daily streamflow gaps in the Ribb and Gilgel Abbay watersheds of the Lake Tana sub-basin, upper Blue Nile basin. Specifically, decision tree regression (DTR), artificial neural network (ANN), linear regression (LR), seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous variables (SARIMAX), and CM methods were compared. Input variables for ML included remote sensing-based daily rainfall (with 0–4-day lags), season index, and date features. Model performance was assessed using Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), Bias, coefficient of correlation (CC), and Kling–Gupta efficiency (KGE). DTR outperformed all other methods, achieving NSE scores of 0.81–0.82, Bias between 6.8 and 13.9%, CC of 0.90–0.93, and KGE of 0.82–0.85. It effectively preserved temporal variability and reproduced peak-flow events more accurately than both other ML methods and the CM approach. The results demonstrate that integrating DTR with rainfall and temporal features provides a reliable framework for estimating long-term streamflow data gaps, supporting effective water resource planning and management in regions with limited continuous streamflow observations.

Is Water User Association Governance a Reliable Measure of Irrigation Performance?

2026-10-16T10:08:51Z

dc.title: Is Water User Association Governance a Reliable Measure of Irrigation Performance? dc.contributor.author: Rajkhowa, Pallavi; Sikka, Alok; Sarangi, Arjamadatta cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

What Keeps Proven Irrigation Innovations from Widespread Adoption in Nigeria?

2026-10-15T10:58:23Z

dc.title: What Keeps Proven Irrigation Innovations from Widespread Adoption in Nigeria? dc.contributor.author: Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Oke, Adebayo; Owolabi, Mubaraq Adetunji cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Learnings from the Multidimensional Digital Inclusiveness Index: Centralizing Tool Recommendations for Inclusive Innovations

2026-10-16T01:06:58Z

dc.title: Learnings from the Multidimensional Digital Inclusiveness Index: Centralizing Tool Recommendations for Inclusive Innovations dc.contributor.author: Duarte, Ana Marta; Ziyard, Saliha; Martins, Carolina Iglesias; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel dcterms.abstract: Digital tools are increasingly central to how CGIAR helps transform food, land and water systems, but they only deliver impact when the farmers, extension services and institutions they are built for can access, understand and trust them. The Multidimensional Digital Inclusiveness Index (MDII) evaluates how inclusive these agrisystem tools are across seven dimensions, from accessibility to ethics and co-creation. This project note, part of the MDII Learnings Series, presents the Recommendation Repository, which turns MDII evaluation results into feasible, prioritized improvements that development teams can act on without costly redesigns. Built from evaluations of eight IWMI WaPOR-based tools in five countries across Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, its findings show that inclusiveness gaps lie as much in governance, ethical safeguards and institutional support as in interface design. By centralizing recommendations, the repository lets development teams learn from patterns that recur across tools and countries rather than starting from zero, reduces duplicated effort, and makes improvement decisions transparent and evidence-based. In doing so, it strengthens responsible digital innovation across CGIAR’s portfolio and helps ensure that investments in digital agriculture reach the people they are meant to serve. cg.contributor.initiative: Digital Innovation cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Digital Transformation; Sustainable Farming

ආපදා අවස්ථාවකින් පසු දූෂිත පානීය ජලය කෙටිකාලීනව ආරක්ෂිතව භාවිතා කිරීම සහ දූෂිත පානීය ජල ළිං පිරිසිදු කිරීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ජන සමාජය ස‍ඳහා ප්‍රජා මාර්ගෝපදේශය

2026-10-21T08:04:51Z

dc.title: ආපදා අවස්ථාවකින් පසු දූෂිත පානීය ජලය කෙටිකාලීනව ආරක්ෂිතව භාවිතා කිරීම සහ දූෂිත පානීය ජල ළිං පිරිසිදු කිරීම සම්බන්ධයෙන් ශ්‍රී ලාංකික ජන සමාජය ස‍ඳහා ප්‍රජා මාර්ගෝපදේශය dc.contributor.author: International Water Management Institute dcterms.abstract: This guide explains how communities can maintain safe drinking water during floods and other emergencies as an interim measure until regular water supply is reinstated. During such events, wells, taps, and storage systems may become contaminated by various pollutants. It advocates a multi-barrier approach encompassing source protection, hygienic collection and transport, household treatment, safe storage, and careful handling. Water sources should be fenced, protected from runoff, animals, latrine leakage, and waste, and supported by adequate drainage. The guide also outlines procedures for restoring flood-contaminated wells, which includes assessing contamination sources and structural damage, removing debris and sediment, flushing the well, and conducting chemical treatment. Furthermore, the guide emphasizes that regular inspection, user education, filter replacement, and ongoing maintenance are essential to prevent future contamination.

Development and Operationalization of a Citizen Science Framework for Hydrological Monitoring and Knowledge Co-Generation

2026-10-20T08:22:35Z

dc.title: Development and Operationalization of a Citizen Science Framework for Hydrological Monitoring and Knowledge Co-Generation dc.contributor.author: Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Bekele, Tilaye Worku; Ferede, Mintamer; Demissie, Kirubel; Tedla, Hailay Zeray; Teshale, Yirgalem; Feyisa, Gudina Legesse; Haileslassie, Amare dcterms.abstract: Citizen science (CS) empowers communities in data collection and problem-solving, enhancing research inclusivity and local relevance. However, the absence of a comprehensive framework limits their development and potential contributions to sustainable practices. In this study, we developed and tested a CS framework for hydrological data collection and the co-creation of nature-based solutions (NbS). The framework has 3 major stages: establishment, operation and knowledge generation - each involving multiple activities. It was piloted in the Kelekindo watershed of Central Rift Valley Lakes Basin of Ethiopia, engaging the citizen scientists (CSts) in monitoring of rainfall, river water level, shallow groundwater (SGW) and water quality. The CS data allowed to investigate poorly understood hydrological behaviour of the watershed, including the fill-and-spill effect and characterization of an extreme runoff event. Co-interpretation of the data showed that SGW recharge could support thousands of farmers in practicing backyard irrigation. The river and well water in the study area were within safe limits for irrigation in terms of the commonly monitored water quality parameters. CSts were engaged in the selection and co-design of a priority NbS for watersheds. The study showed that a well-designed citizen science framework can generate reliable hydrological data and meaningfully engage communities. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Inadequate Waste Management Drives the Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance across the Watershed of a Large African City

2026-10-15T01:06:57Z

dc.title: Inadequate Waste Management Drives the Spread of Antimicrobial Resistance across the Watershed of a Large African City dc.contributor.author: Zhou, Yanyan; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Kibret, Mulugeta; Li, Hu; Haileselassie, Mihret Mersha; Bekele, Tilaye Worku; Kassa, Jemila Mohammed; Demissie, Kirubel; Wyrsch, Ethan R.; Djordjevic, Steven P.; Jobling, Kelly; Quintela-Baluja, Marcos; Su, Jian-Qiang; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Graham, David W. dcterms.abstract: Rapid urbanization in the Global South consistently outpaces sanitation infrastructure, transforming urban rivers into AMR reservoirs. Yet watershed-scale quantification of resistomes in such settings remains scarce, limiting exposure risk assessment and intervention planning. Here we present the most detailed spatial baseline for waterborne AMR in sub-Saharan Africa, using the Akaki River (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) as a model system for rapidly urbanizing megacity watersheds with inadequate sanitation. We sampled 38 sites across an extreme pollution gradient during the dry season, when low flow produces maximum pollutant concentrations and the highest resident exposure risk. Water quality, microbiome marker data, 309 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and 57 mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were quantified by high-throughput quantitative PCR. ARG and MGE abundances in central urban reaches exceeded 1010 gene copies L-1, indistinguishable from untreated sewage. Critically, clinically important ARGs co-occurred widely with broad-host-range MGEs, including the IncP-1α plasmid backbone, IS26, ISEcp1, IS6100, and class 1 integron integrase genes, indicating that ARGs are primed for potential horizontal gene transfer in waters where hundreds of thousands of Addis residents bathe, wash, and irrigate food crops. Dissolved oxygen depletion and elevated NH4-N correlated significantly with resistome expansion (p < 0.01), serving as robust chemical proxies for diffuse, system-wide raw sewage inputs that carry the actual mechanistic AMR drivers (e.g., heavy metals, antibiotic residues, and resistant hosts). The 38-site spatial design and dry-season worst-case conditions together provide a replicable model for AMR exposure assessment in comparable Global South cities. cg.contributor.initiative: One Health cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods

A Study on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus in the Niger-Benue River System, Nigeria

2026-10-14T01:02:05Z

dc.title: A Study on the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus in the Niger-Benue River System, Nigeria dc.contributor.author: Zemadim, Birhanu; Mortey, Eric; Oke, Adebayo; Osei-Amponsah, Charity; Hafeez, Mohsin dcterms.abstract: The Niger–Benue River System is one of Nigeria’s most strategic hydrological networks, supporting irrigation, hydropower, fisheries, urban water supply, and ecosystem services. It faces growing pressure from unregulated abstraction, flooding, dry-season scarcity, pollution, land degradation, and fragmented institutions. This study applies the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus framework to assess spatial patterns and interdependencies across four hydrological areas: Niger North, Niger Central, Upper Benue, and Lower Benue. Using systems analysis, GIS, and open-source remote sensing datasets, the study maps key WEFE indicators, including land cover, runoff, groundwater storage, hydropower, solar and biomass potential, irrigated agricultural productivity, protected and wetland areas, evapotranspiration, and erosion risk. Resources are abundant but unevenly distributed; Upper Benue is the main runoff engine and has the strongest untapped solar and biomass potential, Niger North holds the largest groundwater storage, which supports dry-season agricultural resilience; Niger Central dominates existing hydropower and total agricultural production, and Lower Benue—despite its small area—has the highest erosion burden and the lowest protected-area coverage, indicating significant ecosystem vulnerability. The system cannot be managed through sector-specific or uniform interventions. Basin-specific strategies are needed to balance water potential, energy development, food production, and ecosystem protection. Priorities include coordinated governance, data-driven planning, and targeted investment in renewable energy, irrigation efficiency, wetland conservation, and erosion control. Strengthening ecosystem resilience is both an environmental priority and a foundation for Nigeria’s water, energy, and food security. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

What Nigeria Needs to Scale Solar Irrigation

2026-10-13T10:11:42Z

dc.title: What Nigeria Needs to Scale Solar Irrigation dc.contributor.author: Ojeleye, Oluwaseun A.; Oke, Adebayo; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Balana, Bedru; Kirui, Oliver K.; Abdullahi, Ibrahim cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

The Evolution of an Idea: 15 Years of the Water–Energy–Food–Environment Nexus

2026-10-13T04:44:15Z

dc.title: The Evolution of an Idea: 15 Years of the Water–Energy–Food–Environment Nexus dc.contributor.author: Junaid, Novaira; Hafeez, Mohsin; Asayama, Yumiko; Ringler, Claudia; Imran, Tania; Sinha, Vishwa Ranjan; Urfels, Anton; Ishii, Satoshi; Huizer, Tanya; Smith, Mark cg.contributor.initiative: NEXUS Gains cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Towards Sustaining Healthy Flows and Functions in the Omo-Gibe Basin: Second Stakeholder Workshop

2026-10-10T01:07:25Z

dc.title: Towards Sustaining Healthy Flows and Functions in the Omo-Gibe Basin: Second Stakeholder Workshop dc.contributor.author: Simaika, John; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru dcterms.abstract: On 25 September 2026, a second stakeholder workshop in Addis Ababa, building on the May 2026 consultation on environmental flows was held. Environmental flows (e-flows) are the amount, timing and quality of water a river needs to stay healthy and keep supporting people, farms and ecosystems. The event was part of IWMI's work under the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Program. In the Omo-Gibe River Basin in Ethiopia a series of hydropower dams, expanding irrigation, limited monitoring data and variable rainfall all shape how water reaches the floodplains, communities and Lake Turkana downstream. Workshop participants came from government agencies, universities, research organizations, engineering institutions and civil-society groups. They reviewed new evidence on climate trends and field observations, the basin's ecosystem services, and the condition of the hydrological monitoring network. They also looked at a desktop-based e-flows model that estimates natural river flows where there are no gauges and at the results of a pre-workshop stakeholder questionnaire. Several messages came through consistently: (a) River health depends on seasonal floods, not just a minimum flow; (b) Water quantity and quality need to be assessed together; (c) Better monitoring is essential, and model results must be checked against field data; and, (d) Weak coordination between institutions remains a major barrier. The workshop set priorities for the next phase. These include tracking the strength of the evidence, assessing monitoring gaps, choosing test stretches of river, setting indicators, checking the models, clarifying institutional roles and running hands-on training. Together, these will feed into a workplan for assessing environmental flows in the Omo-Gibe. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Why the next Agricultural Revolution Demands Policy Precision

2026-10-13T04:40:35Z

dc.title: Why the next Agricultural Revolution Demands Policy Precision dc.contributor.author: Urfels, Anton; Morovati, Khosro; Akram, Iqra; Holmatov, Bunyod cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

The Silent Salinity Crisis Threatening Global Food Security

2026-10-13T04:14:26Z

dc.title: The Silent Salinity Crisis Threatening Global Food Security dc.contributor.author: Islam, Feroz; van Scheltinga, Catharien Terwisscha; Sikka, Alok; Hafeez, Mohsin cg.contributor.initiative: NEXUS Gains cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Transforming Agricultural Water Management for Healthy People and Planet: Thinking Beyond Water

2026-10-10T01:04:47Z

dc.title: Transforming Agricultural Water Management for Healthy People and Planet: Thinking Beyond Water dc.contributor.author: Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe; Taguta, Cuthbert; Nhamo, Luxon; Mpandeli, Sylvester; Senzanje, Aidan; Madani, Kaveh; Dirwai, Tinashe Lindel dcterms.abstract: This paper develops the concept of Thinking Beyond Water, a transdisciplinary paradigm that reframes agricultural water management (AWM) as a systems catalyst for planetary health, equity, justice and resilience. Moving beyond conventional irrigation-centric models, we reimagine AWM through integrative frameworks such as the planetary boundaries, the doughnut economy and just transitions. We examine the limits of efficiency metrics and highlight trade-offs between equity and resource allocation and ecological externalities of infrastructure and technology-led approaches. We argue that AWM decisions can reinforce exclusion, ecological degradation and policy fragmentation when they are not assessed against planetary health criteria. Thinking beyond water does not replace nexus, systems or resilience approaches; it connects them to explicit planetary thresholds, justice criteria and governance. We set out three propositions: a systemic appraisal matrix that distinguishes threshold criteria that cannot be traded off against productivity from criteria that are scored and weighted; a mapping of financing instruments to the barriers they address and the safeguards they require; and a staged process for reorienting National irrigation plans. Ultimately, we propose that water must be seen not as an isolated input–output for agriculture but as a systems connector linking hydrological integrity, human and ecosystem health and human dignity across scales. cg.contributor.initiative: NEXUS Gains cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact; Sustainable Farming

Localized Nexus Solutions Could Offer a Global Blueprint for Agricultural Waste

2026-10-13T04:12:11Z

dc.title: Localized Nexus Solutions Could Offer a Global Blueprint for Agricultural Waste dc.contributor.author: Siddiqi, Afreen; Pasqual, Janaina; Marques, Felipe Souza; Hafeez, Mohsin; Somorin, Tosin cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Stakeholder engagement in food systems and nutrition research programs: Approach, insights, and lessons learned from the FRESH Initiative

2026-10-09T13:27:39Z

dc.title: Stakeholder engagement in food systems and nutrition research programs: Approach, insights, and lessons learned from the FRESH Initiative dc.contributor.author: Iruhiriye, Elyse; van den Bold, Mara; Aheeyar, Mohamed M. M.; Angeles-Agdeppa, Imelda; Mitchodigni, M., Irene; Mwombeki, Wiston; Olney, Deanna K.; Thow, Anne-Marie dcterms.abstract: Poor diets are a leading cause of malnutrition and diet-related diseases globally. Improving diets, including increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, is critical to address these challenges. Global F&V consumption, however, remains below the recommended 400 grams of fruit and vegetables per person per day. A complex set of factors related to the desirability, availability, accessibility, and affordability of F&V limits intake. This suggests that integrated, food-system-based solutions are needed. cg.contributor.initiative: Fruit and Vegetables for Sustainable Healthy Diets cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Better Diets and Nutrition

The Last Mile of Solar Irrigation in Bangladesh

2026-10-07T10:53:35Z

dc.title: The Last Mile of Solar Irrigation in Bangladesh dc.contributor.author: Bhaduri, Tanmoy; Bhattacharya, Jayanta

Toward Reliable Water Resource Assessment: Correcting Bias in Satellite-Based Rainfall and Model-Derived Discharge in Kenya’s Central Highlands

2026-10-08T01:00:35Z

dc.title: Toward Reliable Water Resource Assessment: Correcting Bias in Satellite-Based Rainfall and Model-Derived Discharge in Kenya’s Central Highlands dc.contributor.author: Yeboah, Felicia; Owusu, Afua; Leh, Mansoor; Akpoti, Komlavi; Mekonnen, Kirubel; Adamseged, Muluken Elias; Odera, Emma; Velpuri, Naga Manohar dcterms.abstract: Reliable precipitation and streamflow data are essential for hydrological modelling and water resources management, yet observational networks in many African regions remain sparse. This study evaluated five satellite precipitation products (SPPs) CHIRPS, PERSIANN-CCS, PERSIANN-PDIR, TAMSAT, and MSWEP and modelled stream-discharge data from VegET–mizuRoute model against in situ observations across the Central Highlands of Kenya for 2012–2021. Performance was assessed at eight precipitation and six discharge stations using pairwise statistics (RMSE, NSE, CC, RMB) and categorical metrics (POD, FAR) on a monthly scale. Four bias correction techniques (Least Squares, Quantile Mapping, Delta Method, Random Forest) were assessed to enhance the utility of the best-performing SPP and the modelled discharge data. CHIRPS and MSWEP consistently outperformed the other products: CHIRPS achieved RMSE of 34.85–134.26 mm, NSE of −0.94 to 0.44, and CC of 0.52–0.87, while MSWEP recorded RMSE of 24.17–125.66 mm, NSE of −0.91 to 0.65, and CC of 0.45–0.84. The VegET–mizuRoute model reproduced seasonal flow dynamics but showed station-dependent biases, with NSE from −2.28 to 0.23, RMB from −0.59 to 0.77, and CC from 0.46 to 0.71. Following bias correction, Random Forest yielded substantial improvements for both precipitation and discharge, underscoring the capacity of machine learning to address complex, nonlinear biases. It raised precipitation NSE to a consistently positive 0.85–0.95 across all eight stations while halving RMSE at most sites (9.05–46.23 mm). For discharge, Random Forest improved NSE at most stations to 0.80–0.88, with CC rising to 0.92–0.95, except at one station. Our findings confirm that systematic bias remains a dominant error source in global hydrological products in this region, and that machine learning-based bias correction is essential for the operational reliability and accuracy of these datasets for water management and flood applications. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Farming

Groundwater Occurrence and Quality in a Hyper-Arid Desert: Insights from High-Resolution Electrical Resistivity Surveys in Tharparkar, Pakistan

2026-10-20T13:58:31Z

dc.title: Groundwater Occurrence and Quality in a Hyper-Arid Desert: Insights from High-Resolution Electrical Resistivity Surveys in Tharparkar, Pakistan dc.contributor.author: Salam, Hafiz Abdul; Gul, Nazar; Ashraf, Muhammad; Iqbal, Naveed; Memon, Shahnawaz; Semiromi, Majid Taie dcterms.abstract: The Tharparkar District in Pakistan is among the world’s most water-scarce regions, characterized by its hyper-arid climatic conditions and the absence of perennial surface water resources. Understanding the occurrence of groundwater potential and its quality is therefore critical, particularly in remote regions where hydrogeological information remains limited. This study characterized groundwater resources using 576 high-resolution electrical resistivity survey (ERS) probes up to a depth of 300 m, conducted from 2017 to 2020. Complementary hydrochemical investigations included laboratory analysis of 168 groundwater samples collected from dug wells and 672 soil samples up to a depth of 0.60 m. Results demonstrated that the water table lies at depths of 2–15 m (26% of the area), 16–30 m (23%), and 31–90 m (51%). Interpretation of ERS data revealed that approximately 10% of the groundwater resources, covering the southern parts of Diplo, Islamkot, and Nagarparkar Talukas, are suitable for drinking at a depth of 25 m, with around 3% classified as fresh and 7% as slightly saline. Groundwater salinity increases with depth, as 51% of the area shows high salinity at depths of 26–50 m and very high salinity at depths of 51–200 m. Arsenic and fluoride concentrations exceed permissible limits in 10 and 28% of the groundwater samples, respectively. These findings provide robust geophysical and hydrochemical evidence to guide targeted groundwater development, water quality mitigation strategies and inform policy interventions, aimed at enhancing water security and safeguarding the health of communities living in severely water-stressed desert regions. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Beyond the False Dichotomy

2026-10-07T03:35:23Z

dc.title: Beyond the False Dichotomy dc.contributor.author: Jirasinha, Radheeka; McCartney, Matthew P.; Wickramaratne, Chaturangi

Groundwater Solutions for Water Security in the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya

2026-10-07T03:32:42Z

dc.title: Groundwater Solutions for Water Security in the Lake Victoria Basin of Kenya dc.contributor.author: Zemadim, Birhanu; Mwangi, Obadiah; Gebrezgabher, Solomie A. dcterms.abstract: The Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) is East Africa's most productive water region, generating about 59% of Kenya's surface water and supporting more than 42 million people across five countries. It sustains dense rural populations and smallholder agriculture but faces mounting pressure from land degradation, rainfall variability, pollution, and unplanned groundwater abstraction. This report synthesizes published literature on the Kenyan LVB and combines it with a groundwater assessment at Jimo Aggregated Farm, Kisumu County. From March to June 2026, IWMI and ASAL-Green consulted over 80 community members; leaders chose groundwater because the nearby Sao River flows into Lake Victoria, and authorities prohibit abstraction from it. The regional review shows that most of the Kenyan LVB lies on the Precambrian Basement Complex, where groundwater depends on weathered and fractured zones rather than primary porosity. At Jimo, a Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic Resistivity survey of 14 sounding points recommended a borehole of 120–150 m, with an expected yield of 3.0–7.0 m³/hr. Three priorities emerge: (i) pair community demand with geophysically verified siting; (ii) embed groundwater development in catchment-scale soil and water conservation, as about 45% of basin land is erosion-prone; and (iii) strengthen data-sharing through the Lake Victoria Basin Commission. Replicated community-scale assessments can improve water security and fill aquifer data gaps. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Guidelines for the Community on the Safe Interim Use of Contaminated Drinking Water and Cleaning of Contaminated Drinking Water Wells in the Post-Disaster Sri Lankan Context

2026-10-15T01:02:51Z

dc.title: Guidelines for the Community on the Safe Interim Use of Contaminated Drinking Water and Cleaning of Contaminated Drinking Water Wells in the Post-Disaster Sri Lankan Context dc.contributor.author: International Water Management Institute dcterms.abstract: This guide explains how communities can maintain safe drinking water during floods and other emergencies as an interim measure until regular water supply is reinstated. During such events, wells, taps, and storage systems may become contaminated by various pollutants. It advocates a multi-barrier approach encompassing source protection, hygienic collection and transport, household treatment, safe storage, and careful handling. Water sources should be fenced, protected from runoff, animals, latrine leakage, and waste, and supported by adequate drainage. The guide also outlines procedures for restoring flood-contaminated wells, which includes assessing contamination sources and structural damage, removing debris and sediment, flushing the well, and conducting chemical treatment. Furthermore, the guide emphasizes that regular inspection, user education, filter replacement, and ongoing maintenance are essential to prevent future contamination.

Rights of Nature or Human Rights?

2026-10-05T10:58:05Z

dc.title: Rights of Nature or Human Rights? dc.contributor.author: Wickramaratne, Chaturangi

Benchmarking the Malawi Water Sector Joint Sector Review System: A Diagnostic Assessment and Reform Pathways for SPR–JSR Governance

2026-10-06T01:02:37Z

dc.title: Benchmarking the Malawi Water Sector Joint Sector Review System: A Diagnostic Assessment and Reform Pathways for SPR–JSR Governance dc.contributor.author: Tasowana, Akuzike; Matchaya, Greenwell C.; Ndalowa, Dan; Khosa, Sangwani; Ravindranath, Darshini; Tharmendra, Pulendran; Mailosi, Martin dcterms.abstract: Malawi has an established water-sector Joint Sector Review (JSR) that provides an important government-led platform for assessing sector performance, convening stakeholders, promoting mutual accountability and agreeing priority actions. This report examines how that foundation can be strengthened so that the JSR evolves from an annual review event into a continuous system for learning, accountability, resilience and performance improvement. Drawing on 126 stakeholder interviews, analysis of three JSR cycles (2023–2025), quantitative governance assessment and multi-stakeholder validation, the study identifies opportunities to strengthen follow-up of undertakings, ownership of agreed actions, sector data systems, financing accountability, stakeholder participation, and links between review findings and national planning and budgeting. The assessment also highlights the need to broaden the JSR’s performance lens beyond conventional WASH service indicators by more systematically incorporating water security and climate resilience, including climate risks, resilience indicators, climate expenditure, infrastructure sustainability and operations and maintenance. This would enable the JSR to better reflect Malawi’s growing exposure to droughts, floods and other water-related climate risks and connect sector performance with wider national resilience objectives. The report proposes strengthening existing government systems rather than creating parallel mechanisms. Undertaken through the Water Resilience Tracker within the FCDO-supported Just Transitions for Water Security programme, it provides an evidence base for continued government-led reform of Malawi’s water-sector accountability system.

Human Rights or Nature’s Rights

2026-10-06T07:46:06Z

dc.title: Human Rights or Nature’s Rights dc.contributor.author: McCartney, Matthew P.

How to Value Pakistan’s Water in a Changing Climate

2026-10-13T17:59:36Z

dc.title: How to Value Pakistan’s Water in a Changing Climate dc.contributor.author: Davies, Stephen; Ali, Muhammad Tahir; Ali, Mubarik; Akram, Iqra; Hafeez, Mohsin; Ali, Muhammad Faisal; Farooq, Shujaat; Ringler, Claudia cg.contributor.initiative: NEXUS Gains cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

User Needs for AI-Supported Water Management in the Limpopo River Basin

2026-10-06T01:03:35Z

dc.title: User Needs for AI-Supported Water Management in the Limpopo River Basin dc.contributor.author: Clifford-Holmes, Jai; Retief, Hugo; Langa, Nkateko; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel dcterms.abstract: This report presents a synthesis of user needs identified through a workshop hosted by the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) in Maputo, Mozambique, on April 16, 2026. The workshop formed part of a two-day capacity building, testing, and scenario co-development event focused on the LIMCOM Digital Twin ecosystem and the AI Water Project. It brought together technical representatives from Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to identify requirements for dashboard design, AI-enabled modelling workflows, and conversational decision-support interfaces. The AI Water Project is being developed under the CGIAR AI Hub for Water, in partnership with IWMI, AI71, and other collaborators, with support from the UAE-Gates AI for Agriculture Ecosystem. The report provides a qualitative synthesis of expert and user input (rather than a statistically representative survey). Participants identified a need for decision support tools grounded in management questions, including water allocation, environmental flows, flood and drought management, water quality, land degradation, sedimentation, infrastructure planning, and transboundary coordination. They also highlighted data gaps, uneven monitoring coverage, limited telemetry, fragmented information systems, and varying institutional capacity. The findings indicate a demand for tools that support current status visualization, scenario comparison, natural language querying, uncertainty communication, and accessible reporting. Technical users require transparent data, assumptions, diagnostics, and exportable outputs, while policy and leadership audiences need maps, dashboards, concise summaries, and report-ready products. The report concludes that the project’s value lies in creating a usable pathway from data and models to decisions, supported by transparency, explainability, data governance, human oversight, and sustained Member State participation. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Digital Transformation

Aligned Policies and Science Are Pathways for Ethiopia’s Smallholder Irrigation

2026-10-05T09:03:25Z

dc.title: Aligned Policies and Science Are Pathways for Ethiopia’s Smallholder Irrigation dc.contributor.author: Taye, Meron Teferi; Ebrahim, Girma Yimer cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

A Roadmap and Tools for Water-Energy-Food Nexus Security in South Asia

2026-10-13T18:03:56Z

dc.title: A Roadmap and Tools for Water-Energy-Food Nexus Security in South Asia dc.contributor.author: Sikka, Alok; Holmatov, Bunyod; Ringler, Claudia; Hafeez, Mohsin cg.contributor.initiative: NEXUS Gains cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

The Growing Importance of Hydro-Diplomacy in Delivering Cross-Border Water Solutions

2026-10-05T08:59:55Z

dc.title: The Growing Importance of Hydro-Diplomacy in Delivering Cross-Border Water Solutions dc.contributor.author: Gafurov, Zafar; Nasser, Hazem Al cg.contributor.initiative: NEXUS Gains cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations; Scaling for Impact

From Silos to Synergy in Pakistan’s Water Management

2026-10-05T08:58:24Z

dc.title: From Silos to Synergy in Pakistan’s Water Management dc.contributor.author: Hafeez, Mohsin; Naseer, Asif; Bodla, Habib Ullah; Harou, Julien; Afzal, Husnain cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

The AI Water Project: Scenario Co-Development Workshop with the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and Partners

2026-10-05T08:56:57Z

dc.title: The AI Water Project: Scenario Co-Development Workshop with the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM) and Partners dc.contributor.author: Clifford-Holmes, Jai; Retief, Hugo; Langa, Nkateko Nicole; Garcia Andarcia, Mariangel dcterms.abstract: This report presents the outcomes of the AI Water Project Scenario Co-Development Workshop held in Maputo, Mozambique, on April 16, 2026. Convened by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with the Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM)—with support from the Association for Water and Rural Development (AWARD) and Global Water Partnership Southern Africa (GWP-SA)—the workshop brought together technical representatives from Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. The AI Water Project is being developed under the CGIAR AI Hub for Water, in partnership with IWMI, AI71, and other collaborators, with support from the UAE-Gates AI for Agriculture Ecosystem. The workshop introduced an AI-augmented hydrological modelling framework that combines SWAT+ with automated data ingestion, model setup, calibration, scenario analysis, and decision-support interfaces. Through a structured co-design process, participants identified priority water management questions, assessed climate and land-use scenarios, reviewed data availability and gaps, and defined user and interface requirements for the Limpopo River Basin Digital Twin. Priority issues included water availability and allocation, drought and flood risk, water quality, sedimentation, land degradation, and transboundary data sharing. Participants favored the SSP2-4.5 climate pathway, urban expansion, and selected land-use change scenarios. The report concludes that while AI can help overcome modelling and decision-support bottlenecks, credible application depends on a number of important factors, including transparent assumptions, uncertainty communication, human validation, institutional trust, and sustained Member State involvement. It recommends a phased co-development process focused on feasible priority scenarios, structured data mobilization, prototype testing, and alignment with the 2026 United Nations Water Conference. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Digital Transformation

Can AgriPV Help Nepal Produce More Energy without Sacrificing Farmland?

2026-10-02T09:24:33Z

dc.title: Can AgriPV Help Nepal Produce More Energy without Sacrificing Farmland? dc.contributor.author: Shrestha, Shisher; KC, Sumitra; Karki, Darshan; Shrestha, Shubha Laxmi; Timilsina, Kiran cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Capacity Building Workshop for Department of Agricultural Extension Personnel on Scaling Solar Irrigation in Jashore, Bangladesh

2026-10-05T09:13:46Z

dc.title: Capacity Building Workshop for Department of Agricultural Extension Personnel on Scaling Solar Irrigation in Jashore, Bangladesh dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharya, Jayanta; Bhaduri, Tanmoy; Ravindranath, Darshini dcterms.abstract: A capacity building workshop was held in Jashore, Bangladesh for the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) personnel on scaling solar irrigation. DAE's own agriculture engineers and its project director (Solar) led the technical sessions. They covered solar panel and pump types, system selection and installation, operation and maintenance, irrigation system design, water-saving technologies such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and inclusive solar irrigation. Participants worked in six groups to identify local obstacles to scaling up, such as access to finance, technician availability and farmer awareness. They also visited two operating solar irrigation sites, at Churamonkati in Jashore Sadar and at Tularampur in Narail Sadar, and talked with farmers, landowners and pump operators. Evaluations before and after the training measured what participants learned. The report finds that classroom sessions combined with field learning, group problem analysis and DAE's own trainers improved practical understanding and gave DAE ownership of the training. The group findings will be compiled into an issue brief for DAE to inform future plans for putting solar irrigation in place.

Capacity-Building Workshop for Department of Agricultural Extension Personnel on Scaling Solar Irrigation in Rangpur, Bangladesh

2026-10-03T01:08:08Z

dc.title: Capacity-Building Workshop for Department of Agricultural Extension Personnel on Scaling Solar Irrigation in Rangpur, Bangladesh dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharya, Jayanta; Bhaduri, Tanmoy; Ravindranath, Darshini dcterms.abstract: This workshop report documents a two-day capacity-building event held from August 19–20, 2026 at the Additional Director's Office of the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) in Rangpur, Bangladesh. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) organized this workshop with DAE under the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) Phase II project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Irrigation in Bangladesh relies heavily on diesel-powered groundwater pumps. Solar irrigation pumping systems (SIPS) have expanded, but adoption is still held back by low farmer awareness, weak financing linkages, and capacity gaps among DAE's frontline Sub-Assistant Agriculture Officers (SAAOs). The workshop was the first in-person session of a multi-tier training program. It brought together 30 participants (9 women and 21 men), including SAAOs, agriculture engineers and NGO representatives from Rangpur, Lalmonirhat, and Kurigram districts. DAE's own agriculture engineers and its project director (Solar) led the technical sessions. They covered solar panel and pump types, system selection and installation, operation and maintenance, irrigation system design, water-saving technologies such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), and inclusive solar irrigation. Participants worked in six groups to identify local obstacles to scaling up, such as access to finance, availability of technicians, and farmer awareness. They also visited an operating solar irrigation site in Kaunia Upazila and talked with farmers, the landowner, and the pump operator. Evaluations before and after the training measured what participants learned.

Blue–Green Water Accounting in the Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia

2026-10-01T04:31:50Z

dc.title: Blue–Green Water Accounting in the Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: McCartney, Matthew P.; Tadesse, Mulugeta; Jirasinha, Radheeka dcterms.abstract: This report describes the establishment of a spatially and temporally explicit blue–green water accounting framework for Ethiopia’s Omo–Gibe Basin. It argues that conventional assessments centred on rivers, reservoirs and groundwater overlook critical green water processes—rainfall, soil moisture, and evapotranspiration—that sustain rainfed agriculture in the upper and middle basin. In the lower basin, seasonal river flows, flooding, and groundwater interactions support flood-recession farming, grazing, fisheries, wetlands, and the Lake Turkana ecosystem. The activity will adapt IWMI’s Water Accounting Plus (WA+) methodology, integrating existing observations, remote-sensing products, spatial datasets and institutional knowledge. As data permits, accounts will distinguish water availability, storage, use, consumption, depletion, and return flows at basin and sub-basin scales and at seasonal or monthly intervals. No new primary data collection is planned. Implementation runs through five phases: data assembly and stakeholder inception; development of a hydrological baseline; preparation of upper-, middle- and lower-basin accounts; basin-wide integration, validation and uncertainty assessment; and application of results to related research. Stakeholder engagement—including inception, technical review, and validation workshops—is integral throughout. Outputs will include WA+ water balances, maps, indicators, validated blue–green water accounts and a final accounting package. These products will support valuation of water-related ecosystem services, assessment of hydropower–irrigation–ecosystem trade-offs, and more integrated decisions on water security, livelihoods, and multifunctional landscape management. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Valuing Blue–Green Water Services in the Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia

2026-10-01T04:27:42Z

dc.title: Valuing Blue–Green Water Services in the Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: McCartney, Matthew P.; Tadesse, Mulugeta; Jirasinha, Radheeka dcterms.abstract: This report outlines an initiative to value the services generated by blue and green water in Ethiopia’s Omo–Gibe Basin. Blue water includes rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and groundwater; green water comprises soil moisture and evapotranspiration supporting rainfed agriculture and terrestrial ecosystems. Although both sustain livelihoods, economic activity and ecosystems, their contributions—especially those of green water—are poorly represented in conventional planning and economic accounts. The initiative will link physical water accounts to benefits including rainfed and irrigated agriculture, livestock and grazing, hydropower, fisheries, domestic and productive uses, wetlands, forests, rangelands, and floodplain ecosystems. Particular attention will be given to green water-dependent production in the upper and middle basin and to seasonal river flows and flooding that sustain agriculture, grazing, fisheries, and ecosystems in the Lower Omo. The proposed framework will adapt SEEA-Water and SEEA Ecosystem Accounting to basin conditions. It will establish physical relationships between water and benefits before selecting service-specific valuation methods. Monetary valuation will be used selectively alongside physical and qualitative indicators, with transparent treatment of uncertainty and safeguards against double counting. Work will proceed through five phases: conceptual development and stakeholder validation; basin-specific accounting protocols; physical quantification and valuation; integration of benefits, beneficiaries and trade-offs; and scenario analysis and decision-support. Continuous stakeholder engagement will guide priorities and validate results. The final output will be a spatially explicit framework supporting integrated planning, investment prioritization, and assessment of trade-offs among agriculture, hydropower, livelihoods, and ecosystems. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Water and Soil Accelerator (WASA) Malawi Baseline Report: Baseline Assessment of Agricultural Production, Water Security, Food Systems, and Resilience Pathways

2026-10-12T10:07:02Z

dc.title: Water and Soil Accelerator (WASA) Malawi Baseline Report: Baseline Assessment of Agricultural Production, Water Security, Food Systems, and Resilience Pathways dc.contributor.author: Matchaya, Greenwell C.; Wapamesa, Agrey; Mutenje, Munyaradzi; Kasoma-Pele, Winnie; Kakwasha, Keagan; Jacobs-Mata, Inga; Kiala, Zolo; Maliro, Jephthah dcterms.abstract: The Water and Soil Accelerator (WASA) Malawi Baseline Report lays the foundation for scaling proven water and soil management solutions across seven program districts: Chikwawa, Dowa, Lilongwe, Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, and Salima. Drawing on a survey of 997 households and district focus group discussions, the study examines farming systems, land and water management, technology adoption, agricultural productivity, food security, access to markets, finance and extension services, and gender-related constraints. The findings show substantial differences across districts in vulnerability, production potential, adoption, and market readiness. Farmers are already using a range of improved soil, water, and agricultural practices, but adoption is often fragmented and constrained by unreliable water access, land degradation, climate shocks, limited finance, weak extension services, and market constraints. The baseline therefore points to the importance of scaling complementary technology bundles, rather than isolated practices or introducing entirely new technologies. The report identifies differentiated scaling pathways. Highly vulnerable districts require restoration of water systems, erosion control, and production stabilization before wider scaling, while other districts offer opportunities for irrigation, diversification, commercialization, mechanization, and stronger service integration. The baseline provides the reference point for tracking WASA results and for targeting and sequencing proven solutions according to district conditions.

Ecological Functions, Ecosystem Services and Water Management Challenges of the Omo-Gibe River Basin, Ethiopia

2026-10-07T01:09:55Z

dc.title: Ecological Functions, Ecosystem Services and Water Management Challenges of the Omo-Gibe River Basin, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Simaika, John; Fernando, Astha; Wickramaratne, Chaturangi; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru dcterms.abstract: This report synthesizes evidence on the ecological functions, ecosystem services and water-management challenges of the lower Omo-Gibe River Basin, Ethiopia, including its floodplain and delta, with Lake Turkana treated as the receiving system. Drawing on 139 academic and grey-literature sources published between 1979 and 2026, the review examines how hydropower development, irrigation expansion, climate variability and land-use change are reshaping the basin’s seasonal flood-pulse regime. Six interacting impact pathways are assessed: dam regulation and flow alteration; irrigation abstraction; sediment and nutrient retention; reduced groundwater recharge; evaporation associated with the Turkana low-level jet; and land-cover and climate feedbacks. The evidence indicates that redistribution of seasonal flows—rather than a large reduction in annual discharge—is a principal mechanism affecting floodplain inundation, ecological productivity, flood-recession agriculture, fisheries and downstream livelihoods. However, confidence varies substantially across pathways: dam-related hydrological effects are comparatively well supported, whereas irrigation impacts, groundwater dynamics, atmospheric processes and post-regulation ecological responses remain poorly quantified. The report identifies major monitoring and governance gaps, including inadequate hydrometric coverage, limited post-2017 ecological observations and the absence of an operational basin-level management authority. Current environmental-flow provisions appear insufficient to maintain the duration and ecological functions of the historical flood pulse, although proposed flow thresholds require field validation and stakeholder negotiation. The report concludes that effective management requires a shift from project-level mitigation towards basin-wide, adaptive environmental-flow management supported by renewed monitoring, integrated water-quality assessment, transboundary cooperation and stronger institutional capacity. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Solutions for digital inclusion and digital innovations for inclusion by 2050

2026-10-15T01:02:27Z

dc.title: Solutions for digital inclusion and digital innovations for inclusion by 2050 dc.contributor.author: Singaraju, Niyati; Jones-Garcia, Eliot; Magalhaes, Marilia; Grossi, Amanda; Chamberlin, Wendy; Martins, Carolina; Kumar, Drishti dcterms.abstract: Food, land and water systems (FLWS) are transforming unevenly: off-farm work is expanding, youth employment in agriculture is falling in most regions, and women’s participation and earnings remain shaped by persistent regional gaps. Digital technologies will increasingly mediate information, finance, markets, advisory services and governance in these changing systems. Inclusive digital systems could lift approximately 30 million women out of extreme poverty and add around US$1.5 trillion to the global economy by 2050, but these gains depend on who can access, control, trust and shape digital systems. In South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, mobile-ownership and internet-use gaps remain slow to close. This chapter asks which digital inclusion strategies can support gender and intersectional equality in FLWS by 2050, and under what conditions. It draws on chapter 1 projections to frame future priorities, while recognizing that comparable longterm, gender-disaggregated digital agriculture projections remain limited. This chapter is situated within the report’s wider framing of the polycrisis, set out in the introduction along with the report’s conceptual framing. This chapter focuses specifically on how digitalization may either reinforce exclusion or expand agency in future FLWS. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Gender Equality and Inclusion

Solutions for gender equality in land and water access, rights and governance within inclusive and resilient food, land and water systems

2026-10-15T01:07:06Z

dc.title: Solutions for gender equality in land and water access, rights and governance within inclusive and resilient food, land and water systems dc.contributor.author: Elias, M.; Zaremba, Haley; Bohra, Babita; Gumucio, Tatiana; Kyle, Jordan; Najjar, Dina; Mapedza, Everisto D. dcterms.abstract: Food, land and water systems (FLWS) embed profound gender and social inequalities, including in terms of who has rights to the essential elements of land and water. These inequalities are not incidental, but rather systemic expressions of unequal power relations that shape who controls resources, whose knowledge is recognized, and whose voice is heard in FLWS governance. This chapter aims to identify effective strategies, approaches and actions, referred to as solutions, that can strengthen women’s access and rights to land (including forests and rangelands) and water, to chart more equitable, sustainable and resilient pathways for FLWS. Specifically, we ask: (1) What evidence-based solutions can support women’s access and rights to land and water, as well as their full and effective participation in land and water governance? (2) Under what conditions are these solutions effective? And (3) How can research, policies, investments and practice support the adaptation, implementation and scaling of these solutions? To begin, we provide a brief background on gender and intersectional equality related to land, water and their governance. Drawing on evidence from diverse contexts, we then outline solutions for addressing gender and intersectional inequalities and the conditions under which these solutions have been effective. Finally, we provide recommendations to adapt, implement and scale these solutions. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Gender Equality and Inclusion

A Cybernetic Framework for Transformative Food System Change: Sustainable Landscape Management in West and Central Africa

2026-09-26T01:02:29Z

dc.title: A Cybernetic Framework for Transformative Food System Change: Sustainable Landscape Management in West and Central Africa dc.contributor.author: Sobratee-Fajurally, Nafiisa; Cofie, Olufunke O.; Slotow, Rob; Mabhaudhi, Tafadzwanashe dcterms.abstract: The multiple socio-ecological dimensions of sustainable landscape management, along with potential cross-boundary effects and co-evolving societal conditions, require research evaluation approaches that consider complex projects as viable organizational systems rather than a collection of stand-alone workstreams. This study analyses the co-design phase of the Transforming Agri-Food Systems in West and Central Africa (TAFS-WCA) Initiative by applying the Viable System Model (VSM) as a cybernetic framework for organizational analysis. Using the Initiative’s proposal and Theory of Change as the reference structure, the analysis identifies three nested organizational levels: Initiative, Work Package and Output, and summarizes how the five VSM functions at each level interact to shape operational processes, coordination mechanisms, strategic foresight and governance. Moreover, an adapted Rummler-Brache Nine Box Model is applied to the VSM diagnosis to support streamlined examination of performance expectations, process design, and capability requirements across the nested levels. This dual framing supports a structured and systemic interrogation of the Initiative’s organizational design. It highlights how the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Impact Assessment (MELIA) functions may act as potential feedback pathways linking operational performance (S1) with managerial oversight (S2, S3, S3*) and strategic adaptation (S4, S5). The cybernetic interpretation, therefore, positions MELIA as a visible mechanism through which reflective and accountability processes can filter, strengthen and redirect information flows across recursive levels. The analysis then focuses on Work Package (WP) 3, which synthesizes evidence from multiple WPs to develop sustainable landscape management plans and a Water Decision Support System. By matching WP3’s expected deliverables with the outputs and Activities from other WPs and interrogating these relationships through the VSM, the analysis clarifies how interdependencies across the nested organizational levels may influence WP3’s ability to mobilize evidence. This structured approach offers a clearer understanding of how WP3’s integrative role may contribute to system (Initiative)-wide adaptive capacity. This study provides a reproducible methodology for examining, during the co-design phase, how governance, coordination and performance dynamics can be aligned within sustainability initiatives operating under complex and evolving conditions.

Evaluation of CMIP6 Models over Zambia: Assessment of Temperature, Precipitation, and Droughts for Climate Adaptation

2026-09-25T08:41:44Z

dc.title: Evaluation of CMIP6 Models over Zambia: Assessment of Temperature, Precipitation, and Droughts for Climate Adaptation dc.contributor.author: Sahana, V.; Panjwani, Shweta; Amarnath, Giriraj dcterms.abstract: Global climate change disrupts physical, environmental, and socio-economic systems, directly or indirectly impacting food security and human health. Climate change scenarios are essential inputs for policymakers and stakeholders to develop adaptive strategies addressing future impacts. Zambia frequently experiences droughts and floods, severely affecting multiple sectors. This study assesses climate risk across Zambia using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) projections from 25 global climate models (GCMs). Taylor skill score (TSS), percentage bias and Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE) performance metrics are used to identify the best-performing GCMs by evaluating precipitation and temperature against the baseline period (1981–2014) using Climate Research Unit (CRU) and Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) observations. While previous studies mainly focused on changes in precipitation and temperature, this study examines trends in annual precipitation, annual temperature, standardised precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), and drought hazard for the near (2021–2060) and far future (2061–2100). All climate scenarios show increasing temperature trends, with the worst-case scenario (SSP5-8.5) projecting warming of up to 5°C by the end of the 21st century. Precipitation projections show spatial variation: south-western provinces indicate up to 8% decline, while north-eastern provinces may see up to 7% increase under SSP5-8.5. SPEI shows a declining trend in both periods for all scenarios except SSP1-2.6 (far future). Significant increases in drought hazard are projected for Western, Southern, North-western, and Lusaka provinces, indicating worsening conditions. The findings will support decision-makers in prioritising adaptation and mitigation strategies, promoting sustainable and resilient development in Zambia. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Climate Action

Effect of Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Wheat Productivity in Tigray, Ethiopia

2026-09-26T01:08:30Z

dc.title: Effect of Integrated Use of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer on Wheat Productivity in Tigray, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Gebregergs, Tiblets; Gebre, Girma Gezimu; Mohammed, Mohammedawel Jeneto; Tegegne, Desalegn; Sieber, Stefan dcterms.abstract: Declining soil fertility is a major constraint to wheat production in Tigray, Ethiopia, threatening food security and rural livelihoods. This study evaluated the effects of integrated organic and inorganic nutrient management on the growth, yield, and nutrient uptake of bread wheat (Shina, HAR-1868) in Laelay Maichew Woreda during the 2019 cropping season. A factorial experiment with four compost levels (0, 4, 8, and 12 t/ha) and three chemical fertilizer rates (0, 50, and 100 kg/ha of urea and DAP) was laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Soil and compost analyses indicated low fertility in the experimental site, with deficiencies in nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter, while the compost was rich in nitrogen and organic carbon. Results showed that both chemical and compost fertilizers, individually and in combination, significantly improved wheat phenology, growth parameters, grain and biomass yield, and nutrient uptake. The combined application of 12 t/ha compost and 100 kg/ha chemical fertilizer produced the highest grain yield (46.17 q/ha), above-ground biomass (102.50 q/ha), and nutrient uptake (N: 97.84 kg/ha; P: 5.54 kg/ha), outperforming sole applications. Grain yield was positively correlated with plant height, panicle length, number of tillers, seeds per panicle, biomass, and straw yield, and negatively correlated with days to emergence, heading, and maturity. The study demonstrates that integrated nutrient management using locally available compost and recommended chemical fertilizers can enhance wheat productivity, improve soil fertility, and optimize nutrient use efficiency under Tigray conditions. Adoption of such strategies could contribute to sustainable wheat production and food security in the region.

Operationalizing Payment for Ecosystem Services in the Ghibe III Hydroelectric Dam Catchment, Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape, Ethiopia: Barriers, Opportunities, and an Implementation Roadmap

2026-09-25T01:10:21Z

dc.title: Operationalizing Payment for Ecosystem Services in the Ghibe III Hydroelectric Dam Catchment, Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape, Ethiopia: Barriers, Opportunities, and an Implementation Roadmap dc.contributor.author: Mekuria, Wolde; Tesfaye, Yitna; Teshale, Tirusew dcterms.abstract: The study assessed the feasibility of operationalizing a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism in the Gibe III hydroelectric dam catchment, where soil erosion, land degradation, sedimentation, and climate pressures threaten upstream livelihoods and downstream investments. Drawing on policy review, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions, the assessment identifies upstream farming communities—engaged in soil and water conservation, agroforestry, exclosures, and landscape restoration—as the primary ecosystem service providers and intended recipients of PES compensation. Downstream stakeholders, including the Gibe III hydropower facility, irrigation users, agricultural investors, and national energy consumers, are the main beneficiaries and potential buyers or co-financiers. Sediment retention and erosion control, hydrological regulation, and carbon sequestration emerge as priority services. Upstream communities express strong willingness to participate, provided benefit-sharing is transparent, equitable, and livelihood-linked, though fragmented coordination, weak capacity, and limited monitoring persist. The study proposes a five-pillar framework—a Watershed PES Charter and Ecosystem Stewardship Credits, a hybrid input- and performance-based payment model, a diversified Watershed PES Fund, an integrated MRV system, and grievance and safeguard mechanisms—delivered through a three-phase roadmap covering institutional readiness, piloting, and scaling. The Charter, Credits, and Fund remain design options requiring validation. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

A Guideline for Establishing and Operationalizing a Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Landscape Restoration and Payment for Ecosystem Services: The Case of Omo-Gibe Living Landscape, Ethiopia

2026-09-24T01:10:37Z

dc.title: A Guideline for Establishing and Operationalizing a Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Landscape Restoration and Payment for Ecosystem Services: The Case of Omo-Gibe Living Landscape, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Mekuria, Wolde; Haileslassie, Amare; Adimassu, Zenebe dcterms.abstract: Prepared by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) under the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program, this guideline provides a practical technical reference for establishing and operating a Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) to advance landscape restoration and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in Ethiopia's Omo-Gibe River Basin, with an initial focus on the Gibe III hydroelectric dam catchment — the MFL flagship living landscape — and a phased pathway for scaling to the wider basin. Intended users span federal, basin, regional and local authorities, private-sector operators, community and watershed institutions, development partners, NGOs and research organizations; it aims to inform, not replace, statutory processes. Informed by national and sub-basin consultations that confirmed the need for coordinated upstream–downstream action integrating PES with restoration, it anchors the MSP in Ethiopia's enabling policy and legal framework covering environmental, watershed, basin, riparian-buffer, restoration and PES provisions. The guideline sets out a four-phase pathway: (1) diagnostic assessment and stakeholder mapping; (2) platform formalization and governance; (3) PES and restoration implementation; and (4) institutionalization within existing governance systems. Guided by inclusiveness, transparency, accountability, legal anchoring, gender equality and social inclusion, and a MEAL framework for adaptive learning, it offers a practical tool for translating policy into equitable, sustainable action. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Assessing Disaster Preparedness and Recovery from Tropical Cyclones in Zimbabwe: Insights from Cyclone Ana in Nyanga

2026-09-24T01:03:54Z

dc.title: Assessing Disaster Preparedness and Recovery from Tropical Cyclones in Zimbabwe: Insights from Cyclone Ana in Nyanga dc.contributor.author: Mabumbo, Decide; Ngulube, Nombulelo Kitsepile dcterms.abstract: Tropical cyclones pose increasing risks in Southern Africa, with impacts shaped not only by hazard intensity but also by underlying vulnerabilities and disaster risk management (DRM) capacity. This study examines preparedness, response, and recovery following Cyclone Ana (2022) in Nyanga District, Zimbabwe, drawing on qualitative data from focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. Findings reveal persistent gaps in community preparedness, early warning communication, and institutional coordination, with DRM systems remaining largely reactive, centralized, and unevenly implemented. Although warning information was widely disseminated, its technical and generalized nature limited local interpretation and did not consistently prompt protective action. Recovery efforts were similarly constrained by short-term funding cycles and uneven targeting, resulting in variable outcomes across communities. At the same time, strong local capacity for collective action was evident, with communities mobilizing indigenous knowledge, social networks, and mutual support to address immediate needs. Building on these findings, the article positions Cyclone Ana as a baseline for assessing subsequent reforms, including the introduction of impact-based forecasting, anticipatory action frameworks, and strengthened contingency planning. While these developments represent important progress, significant challenges remain in operationalizing them at the local level. The study identifies a critical implementation gap between policy commitments and practice, underscoring the need to better align legislative reform, financing mechanisms, and institutional capacity with community-centered approaches. By linking empirical insights to broader debates on disaster risk governance, the article contributes to understanding how DRM systems can transition from reactive response toward more adaptive, inclusive, and resilience-oriented pathways.

Field mission to Omo-Ghibe Living Landscapes of Multifunctional Science Program (MFL SP) in Ethiopia

2026-10-02T14:33:32Z

dc.title: Field mission to Omo-Ghibe Living Landscapes of Multifunctional Science Program (MFL SP) in Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Adimassu, Zenebe; Mekuria, Wolde; Desta, Gizaw; Abdulkadir, Berhan; Mekonnen, Kindu; Tesfaye, Getachew; Tibebe, Degefie; Dana, Deneke; Woldearegay, Kifle; Tamene, Lulseged dcterms.abstract: The first field mission and scoping exercise conducted on April 29, 2026, in the Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape provided valuable first hand understanding of the environmental, livelihood, and institutional dynamics of the landscape. The mission covered key sites in Kindo Koisha and Kindo Didaye districts and included consultations with local communities, district officials, development partners, fishermen groups, and Gibe III dam operators. The mission aimed to identify major landscape challenges, assess ongoing interventions, and explore opportunities for integrated landscape restoration and sustainable livelihood development. The field observations confirmed that the landscape is experiencing serious environmental challenges, including land degradation, soil erosion, landslides, watershed degradation, sedimentation, climate variability, and pressure on forest and aquatic resources. These challenges are negatively affecting agricultural productivity, fisheries, hydropower sustainability, and community livelihoods. Discussions with local communities also highlighted increasing vulnerability to floods, droughts, and slope instability, combined with limited access to infrastructure, markets, and early warning systems. At the same time, the mission identified strong opportunities for transformative interventions through integrated watershed management, restoration investments, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable fisheries management, carbon financing mechanisms, and community-based natural resource governance. Experiences shared by World Vision on restoration-linked carbon financing demonstrated the potential for combining ecosystem restoration with livelihood improvement and climate resilience. The mission also emphasized the strategic importance of the Omo-Ghibe watershed for national hydropower generation and the need for stronger coordination between landscape management and infrastructure protection. Overall, the field mission reinforced the relevance of the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Science Program (MFL-SP) in promoting integrated, science-based, and participatory approaches to landscape restoration, livelihood improvement, and climate resilience in the Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape: Launch updates, field mission insights, coordination modalities and strategic focus areas

2026-10-02T14:28:22Z

dc.title: Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape: Launch updates, field mission insights, coordination modalities and strategic focus areas dc.contributor.author: Adimassu, Zenebe; Tesfaye, Getachew; Mekuria, Wolde; Mekonnen, Kindu; Desta, Gizaw; Jaleta, Moti; Haile, Aynalem; Tibebe, Degefie; Abera, Wuletawu; Tamene, Lulseged dcterms.abstract: The meeting on 07 May 2026 at the ILRI campus in Addis Ababa brought CGIAR center representatives together to coordinate interventions for the Omo-Ghibe Living Landscape under the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes framework. Based on launch events and a joint field mission, participants analyzed key landscape challenges like low agricultural productivity, soil degradation, landslides, deforestation, limited market access, and climate risks. They also identified strong opportunities to scale up agroecological practices, promote integrated landscape management, and collaborate with local partners.Updates showed that foundational activities are already underway, including baseline assessments, stakeholder engagement, pilot projects, and capacity building. To build on this, participants agreed to shift from fragmented activities to a focused, phased implementation model. Key technical priorities include landslide and flood management, soil and water conservation, and inclusive value chains for agroforestry products. Finally, the group emphasized using evidence-based planning and improving coordination through a multistakeholder platform with clear workflows and regular updates. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Regional Strategic Roadmap: Middle East and North Africa 2024–2030

2026-09-19T01:01:58Z

dc.title: Regional Strategic Roadmap: Middle East and North Africa 2024–2030 dc.contributor.author: International Water Management Institute

Integrating Machine Learning to Assess Climate Risks on Reservoir’s Inflow and Hydropower Generation across West African Basins

2026-09-23T14:55:23Z

dc.title: Integrating Machine Learning to Assess Climate Risks on Reservoir’s Inflow and Hydropower Generation across West African Basins dc.contributor.author: Akaffou, Franck Hervé; Obahoundje, Salomon; Diedhiou, Arona; Kouassi, Kouakou Lazare; Diallo, Dior; Amoussou, Ernest; Yamegueu, Daniel; Ofosu, Eric Antwi dcterms.abstract: This study presents a novel five-step ensemble machine learning approach to improve predictive accuracy in assessing climate change impacts on inflow patterns and hydropower generation across seven dam basins in West Africa. The methodology integrates precipitation and temperature using the multi-lag approach. An initial pool of fifteen machine learning models were evaluated, and top-performing models were selected for further refinement through iterative ensemble stacking and weak learner elimination. Historical analysis (1983–2014) utilized CHIRPS and CHIRTS datasets. Future projections employed twelve bias-adjusted CMIP6 models and their ensemble mean (EnsMean) under SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5 for the near (2036–2067) and far (2068–2099) futures. Results showed notable improvements in model accuracy and efficiency across layers, with R² and NSE exceeding 0.6 for all inflow simulations and for selected energy simulations (Bagre, Nangbeto, and Taabo). Projections indicated warming up to 4.5°C and spatially heterogeneous precipitation changes across basins and scenarios, with SSP5-8.5 projecting the most pronounced shifts. Inflow reductions are projected to reach up to 24% at Buyo and 13% at Nangbeto, while hydropower output may decline by up to 19% at Nangbeto and 58% at Taabo in the future. Conversely, Manantali and Taabo are projected to experience inflow increases, and Bagre may see energy gains of up to 42% under SSP5-8.5. These findings highlight heightened vulnerability, as well as contrasting opportunities across the region, underscoring the urgent need for adaptive management strategies, such as enhancing hydropower system resilience, diversifying energy portfolios, and integrating renewable sources to mitigate climate risks. Hydropower managers and policymakers must prioritize proactive measures to ensure energy security and sustainable resource management amid changing climatic conditions.

Impacts of Water Bunds on Vegetation and Soil Moisture in Pastoral Land in Kenya

2026-09-18T06:21:41Z

dc.title: Impacts of Water Bunds on Vegetation and Soil Moisture in Pastoral Land in Kenya dc.contributor.author: Rajkhowa, Pallavi; Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Owusu, Afua; Zane, Giulia; Owino, Jesse; Kemboi, Jackie; de Haas, Sander dcterms.abstract: Land degradation in semi-arid sub-Saharan Africa increasingly threatens ecosystem function and rural livelihoods. Water bunds—simple earthen structures designed to slow runoff and enhance water infiltration—have been widely promoted as a low-cost, nature-based restoration strategy, yet robust causal evidence on their environmental impacts remains limited. This study assesses the effects of water bund interventions implemented across project sites in Kenya, where approximately 689,000 bunds were constructed between 2016 and 2025, using an Earth Observation based impact evaluation. We employed a spatial panel design based on a 1 km² grid observed annually from 2014 to 2025, with treatment defined at the grid level by the presence of bunds. Control units (never-treated grids) were selected using propensity score matching with a nearest-neighbour algorithm to ensure comparability on pre-intervention characteristics, including rainfall, temperature, night-time lights, and soil moisture. Environmental outcomes—specifically vegetation greenness (NDVI) and soil moisture (surface and subsurface)—were estimated using a staggered Difference-in-Differences framework following the Callaway and Sant’Anna estimator. The results indicate that water bund construction significantly improves vegetation greenness and soil moisture in treated areas. On average, water bunds increased NDVI by 3 percent, topsoil moisture by 1 percent, and subsurface soil moisture by 1.4 percent relative to pre-treatment levels. Dynamic treatment effects showed no evidence of pre-treatment trends for NDVI and topsoil moisture, while impacts evolved over time: NDVI declined in the construction year, likely due to land disturbance, before increasing steadily to about 12 percent above baseline by the fifth year. Soil moisture responded immediately following construction and remained elevated for two to three years, indicating that water bunds generate sustained improvements in water retention and vegetation recovery. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods

CGIAR Center External Reviews: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Review Report

2026-09-22T01:11:37Z

dc.title: CGIAR Center External Reviews: International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Review Report dc.contributor.author: CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service dcterms.abstract: This report presents the CGIAR Center External Review (CER), an independent, learning-oriented assessment, of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), commissioned by its Board of Governors, managed by CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES), and conducted by an external panel. Covering 2020–2025, the review assesses IWMI through six reference statements and eight evaluation criteria. Drawing on mixed-methods evidence, the Review Panel finds IWMI on a positive transformational trajectory, with a highly relevant water-security mandate, strong strategic foundations, extensive partnerships, substantial and diversified outputs, and growing operational reach. The report identifies organizational maturation as the priority for IWMI’s next phase, particularly strengthening evidence and learning, organizational systems and operating capacity, partnership architecture, and quality and lifecycle governance. Eight strategic recommendations aim to help IWMI sustain its growth, strengthen its contribution and impact, and reinforce its distinctive value proposition and global thought leadership.

Community Participation Holds the Key to India’s Water Future

2026-09-16T10:45:45Z

dc.title: Community Participation Holds the Key to India’s Water Future dc.contributor.author: Bhaduri, Tanmoy; Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta; Kumar, Gopal cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Planetary Boundaries: The Devil is in the Detail

2026-09-11T10:47:56Z

dc.title: Planetary Boundaries: The Devil is in the Detail dc.contributor.author: Molden, David J. dcterms.abstract: A global limit on water consumption is necessary, but the suggested planetary boundary of 4,000 cubic kilometres per year is too generous.

Training Workshop on the Small Reservoirs Dashboard: From Data to Decision

2026-09-12T01:11:30Z

dc.title: Training Workshop on the Small Reservoirs Dashboard: From Data to Decision dc.contributor.author: Akpoti, Komlavi; Appiah, Sarah dcterms.abstract: This report documents a training workshop on the Small Reservoirs Dashboard held at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Nyankpala Campus, Ghana. Developed under the CGIAR Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods Program, the dashboard integrates information on more than 2,000 reservoirs across northern Ghana, combining satellite time-series analysis, field survey data from over 900 sites, and geospatial aquaculture suitability assessments. The workshop equipped students and faculty with practical skills to analyse reservoir water dynamics, multiple-use functions, and aquaculture potential. It also generated valuable feedback and identified opportunities for integrating the dashboard into research, teaching, extension services, and evidence-based planning to support sustainable aquaculture and water resource management in northern Ghana. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods

Landscape Approaches for Improved Land and Water Resources Management: Training of Trainers

2026-09-09T01:05:54Z

dc.title: Landscape Approaches for Improved Land and Water Resources Management: Training of Trainers dc.contributor.author: Mekuria, Wolde; Girma, Rediet; Haileslassie, Amare; Sahle, Kefyalew

Closing the Measurement Gap: The Water Security for Health and Livelihoods (WaSHeL) Indicator for Standardizing the Integrated Measurement of Household Water Security

2026-09-10T03:31:37Z

dc.title: Closing the Measurement Gap: The Water Security for Health and Livelihoods (WaSHeL) Indicator for Standardizing the Integrated Measurement of Household Water Security dc.contributor.author: Buisson, Marie-Charlotte; Salmawobil, Joseph; Zane, Giulia dcterms.abstract: While water insecurity is multifaceted, current indicators fail to capture all dimensions of water on welfare and livelihoods. Existing experiential scales primarily focus on some dimensions, often domestic water access, while productive uses, governance, climate risks, and adaptation responses remain underrepresented. The Water Security for Health and Livelihoods (WaSHeL) indicator closes this critical measurement gap. This concise 13-item experiential instrument integrates domestic and productive water insecurity, social consequences, governance exclusion, adaptation strategies, and climatic uncertainty. Grounded in an eight-dimension water security framework drawing on established definitions, WaSHeL captures the systemic and structural dimensions that shape household water security. Designed for rapid implementation with binary responses and a 12-month recall period consistent with the Food Insecurity Experience Scale framework, WaSHeL has been embedded in the 2025 Ghana Living Standards Survey as the first nationally representative experiential measure of integrated household water security. Its sub-index structure supports policy targeting, monitoring, evaluation, learning, and impact assessment across water, agriculture, and climate programs. The instrument is available for integration into household surveys across country and program contexts, and researchers, national statistics officers, and program evaluators are invited to contact the authors to adopt the module. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods; Sustainable Farming

Historical Trends and Future Changes in Hydroclimate Extremes Using CMIP6 and SWAT + in the Awash Basin and Mojo Catchment, Ethiopia

2026-09-07T10:59:23Z

dc.title: Historical Trends and Future Changes in Hydroclimate Extremes Using CMIP6 and SWAT + in the Awash Basin and Mojo Catchment, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Berhanu, Daniel; Alamirew, Tena; Haileslassie, Amare; Lemann, Tatenda; Hurni, Hans; Anteneh, Yilikal; Tarkegn, Temesgen Gashaw; Gebrehiwot, Solomon dcterms.abstract: The Awash basin in Ethiopia faces severe water insecurity driven by high climate variability, recurrent droughts and floods, and rising water demand—conditions projected to intensify under climate change. This study examines historical (1981–2010) and future (2020s, 2050s, 2080s) hydroclimatic changes under SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios, focusing on precipitation, temperature, streamflow, drought, and flood dynamics, with detailed analysis for the Mojo catchment. Outputs from seven top-performing CMIP6 GCMs were bias-corrected using quantile mapping for precipitation and variance scaling for temperature. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool Plus (SWAT+) hydrological model is used to simulate streamflow across Mojo catchment in Awash basin. Results reveal strong spatial contrasts in precipitation trends. During March–May (MAM), the Upper Awash basin shows minimal PRCPTOT change (< 2 mm), slight increases in CDD, and declines in wet-day frequency and extreme rainfall. The Middle Awash basin exhibits reduced PRCPTOT and CWD but higher CDD (+ 1–4 days), while the Lower Awash basin shows marked increases in CDD and 2023decreases in CWD. In June–September (JAS), PRCPTOT rises in the Upper basin (+ 12 mm) but declines in the Middle (− 24 mm) and Lower basins. Future projections indicate increased MAM rainfall in the Upper and Lower basins (up to + 50% in Afar lowlands) but declines in the Middle basin. CWD is projected to rise across the basin, while extreme rainfall (R99pTOT, Rx5day) intensifies in the Upper basin (+ 70% by the 2080s). In the Mojo catchment, streamflow decreases by 80–100% in MAM but increases up to 70% in July–August. Projected temperature rises (+ 2.0 °C max, + 1.9 °C min), along with higher flood frequency (+ 48%) and drought severity (+ 36%), highlight the urgent need for climate-resilient integrated water resource management in the Awash basin. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Gender-Responsive Solar Energy for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Lessons in Productive Use from Mandla District, India

2026-09-08T01:01:02Z

dc.title: Gender-Responsive Solar Energy for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods: Lessons in Productive Use from Mandla District, India dc.contributor.author: Banerjee, Anurag; Agarwal, Tripti; Varshney, Deepak; Singh, Saurabh; Bhaduri, Tanmoy; Ravindranath, Darshini; Kumar, Gopal dcterms.abstract: Solar irrigation can do more than reduce farmers’ dependence on diesel and improve access to water. This publication presents evidence from two tribal villages in India —Chimkatola and Kevlari in Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh—where IWMI and PRADAN tested a gender-responsive approach that combines solar lift irrigation, women-led Water User Associations (WUAs), diversified agriculture and productive use of surplus solar energy through community rice milling. Each 6.75 kWp solar irrigation system generates an estimated 8,457 kWh of electricity annually, supporting irrigation across multiple hectares while reducing reliance on costly and unreliable energy sources. Women hold all seats in the pilot’s WUAs, enabling them to participate in irrigation management, fee collection and decision-making. The pilot also demonstrates how surplus solar energy can support rural enterprises and generate additional livelihood benefits. The publication identifies key lessons for scaling: solar irrigation should be designed as a multi-use community energy asset rather than a standalone irrigation technology; women-led institutions should be strengthened; productive-use enterprises require appropriate technical design, finance, training and market linkages; and blended financing can improve financial viability. The findings offer practical recommendations for governments, financial institutions, development partners and research organizations seeking to integrate water, energy, food and livelihood objectives in solar irrigation programmes. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Empowering Farmers through a Better Understanding of the Power Dynamics That Shape the Formation of Water User Associations

2026-09-08T01:01:58Z

dc.title: Empowering Farmers through a Better Understanding of the Power Dynamics That Shape the Formation of Water User Associations dc.contributor.author: Suhardiman, Diana; de Silva, Sanjiv

Why India’s Groundwater Future Is Being Decided Right Now

2026-09-04T08:55:38Z

dc.title: Why India’s Groundwater Future Is Being Decided Right Now dc.contributor.author: Bhaduri, Tanmoy; Alam, Mohammad Faiz cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Wetland Loss, Impervious Surface Expansion, and Urban Thermal Stress: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land Use Change and Urban Thermal Patterns in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

2026-09-05T01:08:48Z

dc.title: Wetland Loss, Impervious Surface Expansion, and Urban Thermal Stress: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land Use Change and Urban Thermal Patterns in Colombo District, Sri Lanka dc.contributor.author: Gunatilake, Upani; Weerasinghe, Vithanage P. A.; Wickramaratne, Chaturangi dcterms.abstract: Rapid urbanization in tropical Asia has fundamentally transformed land use–land cover while intensifying urban thermal stress, yet the relationship between land cover change and thermal conditions is frequently assumed to be spatially uniform. This study challenges that assumption by demonstrating that land cover–thermal relationships in Colombo District, Sri Lanka, are highly spatially and temporally heterogeneous, with statistically significant associations detected in only 17–47% of the study area in any given year, underscoring that context, not land cover type alone, governs thermal outcomes. Using multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery, LULC maps were derived, and the urban heat island effect (UHIE) and urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI) were calculated for seven time periods (1989, 1996, 2002, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2024). Geographically weighted regression (GWR) was applied to model local relationships between LULC classes, namely wetland vegetation, water bodies, impervious surfaces, and other pervious surfaces, and thermal indices across a 500 m spatial grid, revealing a 74% loss in wetland vegetation and a 326% increase in impervious surfaces over the study period. Water bodies exhibited spatially variable cooling effects relative to wetland vegetation, most pronounced in eastern regions during earlier periods, while impervious surfaces showed consistent, spatially persistent warming effects concentrated in western and southern urban cores. By coupling GWR with a 35-year multi-sensor time series, this study provides a spatially explicit, longitudinal account of how land cover–thermal relationships evolve as tropical urbanization intensifies, offering an evidence base for spatially targeted rather than uniform climate adaptation planning in rapidly urbanizing tropical cities.

Why water matters for Africa's food systems: A Call to Action for irrigation investment

2026-10-15T01:10:52Z

dc.title: Why water matters for Africa's food systems: A Call to Action for irrigation investment dc.contributor.author: Cofie, Olufunke O.; Ringler, Claudia; Agbonlahor, Mure; Amede, Tilahun; Czajkowski, Mikayla; Kabuti, Vincent; Kimotho, Ephantus; Smith, Mark dcterms.abstract: Less than 5 percent of Africa's cultivated land is reported to be irrigated, leaving farmers, livelihoods, and economies exposed to erratic rainfall, drought, floods and associated economic shocks. Irrigation is key to agricultural intensification, enabling year-round production, allows farmers to grow higher-value, nutrient-dense crops, creates jobs and wealth and strengthens food supply chains and markets. Irrigation is, moreover, an enabler of other agricultural inputs, ensuring that productivity-increasing inputs and technologies don’t go to waste as a result of dry spells but instead generate yields and farmer incomes. Africa's irrigation potential is considerable: estimates point to roughly 33 million hectares suitable for farmer-led groundwater irrigation and 6 million hectares for additional surface water irrigation. But realizing this potential sustainably means aligning national investment decisions with underlying basin and aquifer conditions; agro-ecological zones; competing water demands (such as for nature, households, and industry); and infrastructure and technology possibilities. The African Union’s Framework for irrigation development and agricultural water management (IDAWM) describes key underlying conditions for investment and scaling complementary irrigation development pathways. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations; Scaling for Impact

Workshop Report: Towards Sustaining Healthy Flows and Functions in the Omo-Gibe Basin

2026-09-02T01:06:18Z

dc.title: Workshop Report: Towards Sustaining Healthy Flows and Functions in the Omo-Gibe Basin dc.contributor.author: Simaika, John; Haile, Alemseged Tamiru dcterms.abstract: On May 14, 2026, a workshop brought together experts and stakeholders to talk about "environmental flows" — the idea that rivers need a certain amount and pattern of water flowing through them to stay healthy and keep supporting the people, farms, and ecosystems that depend on them. This event was part of a larger international effort (through IWMI and the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes Program) to help rivers around the world stay resilient. The focus was the Omo-Gibe River Basin in Ethiopia, an area facing several challenges at once: new dams and hydropower plants, expanding irrigation for farming, limited data on water conditions, unpredictable weather patterns, and the difficulty of getting different organizations to coordinate their efforts. The basin also matters beyond its own borders, since its waters flow onward and affect communities and countries downstream. Twenty-seven participants attended, coming from backgrounds in water management, hydrology, environmental science, universities, and community organizations. The goal was to get everyone on the same page about what environmental flows are and why they matter for managing this basin sustainably. Experts gave presentations explaining the basic concepts, the tools and methods used to measure and plan for environmental flows, an existing framework from the Nile Basin Initiative, and background on how water moves through the Omo-Gibe system specifically. Participants then worked together in small groups to dig into the basin's biggest problems: unpredictable water levels, a lack of monitoring data, multiple dams built in sequence along the river, growing irrigation demands, land degradation in the watershed, communities downstream who rely on the river, and the cross-border effects of any changes. These discussions turned big-picture ideas into practical, basin-specific priorities — such as what data is available, who needs to be involved, how the information could be used, how decisions get made, what new data and skills are needed, which stretches of river could serve as test cases, and how to measure progress. By the end, the workshop had laid the groundwork for future efforts — including deeper assessments of the river's environmental flow needs, continued engagement with stakeholders, and using this evidence to inform planning and an upcoming "digital twin" (a computer model) of the basin. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Unlocking local knowledge production for global water systems analysis

2026-09-03T09:08:45Z

dc.title: Unlocking local knowledge production for global water systems analysis dc.contributor.author: Buytaert, Wouter; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Paschalis, Athanasios; Bonetti, Sara; Vishwakarma, Bramha; Crespo, Patricio; Drenkhan, Fabian; Agyei-Mensah, Samuel; Ochoa-Tocachi, Boris; Mijic, Ana; Arcucci, Rossella; Moseley, Ben; Howard, Ben dcterms.abstract: Global freshwater systems are critically threatened by environmental change and overexploitation, stressing the need for novel, transformative solutions. As social-hydrological systems are diverse and complex, water-related risks and decision-making needs are often strongly embedded in a locally specific context. Therefore, such solutions need to be informed by solid scientific evidence while remaining tailored to local realities, knowledge, and practices. However, the current generation of global water system models struggles to produce evidence that is accurate, tailored, and actionable at the local scale. Here we outline an approach to support local knowledge co-production and its integration with existing and emerging data sources in global water system models. We focus on three knowledge sources that are currently underrepresented in global modelling approaches: non-statutory monitoring, citizen observations, and local knowledge. We show how data science methods such as semantic data models, distributed workflows, and machine learning can be leveraged to develop novel knowledge integration pipelines. These pipelines explicitly represent data provenance and track epistemic and aleatoric uncertainties across heterogeneous data sources. When combined with flexible modelling frameworks, this approach provides a blueprint for next generation simulation systems that bridge global modelling and local decision-making. Such systems enable the identification, prioritization, and targeted reduction of local knowledge gaps, thereby enhancing the relevance and legitimacy of global water assessments for regional and community-level action.

Scaling Climate-Resilient Irrigation: Partnership Alignment, Coordinated Pathways, and Learning in Nigeria

2026-09-14T11:19:33Z

dc.title: Scaling Climate-Resilient Irrigation: Partnership Alignment, Coordinated Pathways, and Learning in Nigeria dc.contributor.author: Oluwaseun, Ojeleye Adebayo; Oke, Adebayo; Balana, Bedru; Kirui, Oliver K.; Tilahun, Seifu A.; Owolabi, Mubaraq Adetunji; Calvin, Ojeleye dcterms.abstract: The Scaling Climate-Resilient Irrigation Workshop, held in Abuja on March 24, 2026, provided a strategic pathway to address Nigeria’s irrigation deficit and strengthen year-round agricultural production. Under the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) Program, IWMI and IFPRI presented a three-year roadmap for 2026–2028 to accelerate the adoption of solar-based irrigation solutions, particularly through farmer-led irrigation development. The program targets 120,000–150,000 smallholder farmers across priority northern states, marking a shift from isolated pilot interventions to coordinated, large-scale deployment. A central message from a workshop on Scaling Resilient Irrigation in Nigeria was that scaling solar irrigation requires more than technology alone; it depends on an integrated ecosystem that connects farmers, finance, technology providers, policymakers, and institutions. Stakeholders identified weak institutional coordination as a major constraint, despite the availability of relevant technologies, programs, and financing opportunities. Financial institutions emphasized that organizing farmers into clusters and cooperatives is essential for reducing investment risk and improving access to affordable finance. Drawing on lessons from India’s large-scale solar irrigation experience, participants advocated a coordinated demand–finance–technology–linkage approach, supported by smart subsidies, tariff waivers, or affordable credit. The workshop concluded with commitments to strengthen coordination, digital extension services, localized financing models, and partnerships to establish a sustainable national system for climate-resilient irrigation. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

What is the Evidence on the Implementation of Intersectoral Freshwater-Wastewater Swaps in the World?: A Systematic Map Protocol

2026-09-02T05:05:29Z

dc.title: What is the Evidence on the Implementation of Intersectoral Freshwater-Wastewater Swaps in the World?: A Systematic Map Protocol dc.contributor.author: El-Shafai, Saber A.; Mateo-Sagasta, Javier; Orabi, Mohamed O.; Livoreil, Barbara; Valero Gutierrez del Olmo, Enrique; Eales, Jacqualyn dcterms.abstract: Water scarcity is rising due to population growth, economic expansion, and climate change (Schewe et al., 2014; Gosling and Arnell, 2016; Liu et al., 2017; Lahham et al., 2022; Eldabbagh and Nicol, 2025). This shortage sparks intense sectoral competition, worsened by increasing pollution (van Vliet et al., 2021). Three main strategies address this gap: reducing demand through efficiency and productivity, generating "new" water (through desalination or wastewater treatment), and realigning resources through reallocation. (Qadir et al., 2007; World Bank 2018; He et al 2021; Ricart et al 2021; Mateo-Sagasta et al., 2022; Velpuri et al 2023). A promising but understudied approach is the Freshwater-Wastewater Swap (FWS). This mechanism involves an intersectoral arrangement in which a freshwater donor sector reallocates part of its freshwater to other sectors or to the environment in exchange for a non-conventional water source as a substitute. This arrangement may be formal (contractual, regulated) or informal (customary, negotiated). Intersectoral FWS can involve any combination of the following six water-use sectors: (1) Agricultural; (2) Municipal/urban; (3) Industrial; (4) Cooling; (5) Recreational; and (6) Environmental. Any sector can act as freshwater donor, alternative water supplier, or freshwater recipient. Although some existed specific cases of FWS have been partially assessed (Danso et al 2018, Drechsel et al 2018, Heinz et al 2011.), there is no global synthesis describing what types, how many and where these exchanges have been implemented and documented. Such information is essential to understand external factors (e.g., policies, institutions, economic incentives, perceptions) and internal factors (e.g., quantity and quality of water exchanged, infrastructure, technologies) that made the FWS possible and effective. This study aims to map global cases of the FWS and extract lessons that can support decisions in countries which intend to promote this approach, such as Jordan (Tawfik et al 2023).

Feuille de Route Stratégique Régionale: Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre 2024–2030

2026-09-01T01:01:53Z

dc.title: Feuille de Route Stratégique Régionale: Afrique de l'Ouest et du Centre 2024–2030 dc.contributor.author: International Water Management Institute dcterms.abstract: La feuille de route stratégique régionale de l’IWMI pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre (2024-2030) propose un cadre stratégique visant à promouvoir la sécurité de l’eau, la résilience climatique, l’agriculture durable et un développement économique équitable en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre. Cette feuille de route s’appuie sur la solide expérience de l’IWMI dans les domaines du développement de l’irrigation, de la gestion inclusive des paysages, de la comptabilité numérique de l’eau, des innovations en économie circulaire, de l’aquaculture menée par les jeunes et de la gouvernance de l’eau, et répond aux défis croissants auxquels la région est confrontée, notamment le changement climatique, la pénurie d’eau, la dégradation de l’environnement, l’urbanisation rapide et l’insécurité alimentaire. La feuille de route se concentre sur six priorités stratégiques : développer des systèmes agroalimentaires résilients ; atténuer les risques de sécheresse et d’inondation ; favoriser les innovations en matière d’économie circulaire de l’eau et de l’alimentation ; utiliser l’eau pour renforcer la résilience dans les situations fragiles et touchées par des conflits ; renforcer l’équité de genre dans la gestion des ressources en eau ; et faciliter des décisions fondées sur des données probantes concernant les infrastructures et l’allocation de l’eau. Ces priorités seront mises en œuvre grâce à une recherche intégrée, à l’innovation, à l’engagement politique, aux technologies numériques et aux partenariats stratégiques. La mise en œuvre ciblera des pays et bassins versants prioritaires et impliquera une collaboration avec les gouvernements, les institutions régionales, les organismes de recherche, les partenaires de développement et le secteur privé. La feuille de route vise à transformer les connaissances scientifiques en solutions pratiques afin d’améliorer les moyens de subsistance, de renforcer la résilience climatique et la gouvernance de l’eau, et de promouvoir un développement durable et inclusif en Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre à l’horizon 2030.

Unlocking Local Knowledge Production for Global Water Reanalysis: Co-Creation Workshop Report for Case of Akaki Catchment, Ethiopia

2026-08-31T09:55:06Z

dc.title: Unlocking Local Knowledge Production for Global Water Reanalysis: Co-Creation Workshop Report for Case of Akaki Catchment, Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Haile, Alemseged Tamiru; Bekele, Tilaye Worku; Seifu, Eden; Kebede, Getahun; Alemu, Abel Negussie; Nigussie, Likimyelesh; Tilahun, Seifu A. dcterms.abstract: This workshop report documents a co-creation workshop held on 28 April 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as part of the project "Unlocking local knowledge production for global water reanalysis," implemented by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with Imperial College London and funded by Schmidt Sciences. The workshop focused on the Akaki catchment, one of three pilot sites (Ethiopia, Ghana and Laos), which was selected for its high water risk, strategic importance as a headwater of the Awash River, and existing citizen science platform. Bringing together participants from government agencies (Ministry of Water and Energy, AAWASA, Ethiopian Space and Geospatial Institute, Fire and Disaster Risk Management Commission, Environmental Protection Authority, Ethiopian Meteorology Institute, Engineering Corporation), universities, NGOs (Water Witness International, Blue Deal, Vitens), and community representatives, the workshop pursued four objectives: building a common understanding of non-conventional data in global water reanalysis; inventorying local knowledge, practices and non-conventional datasets relevant to the Akaki water system; characterizing the identified datasets and their owners; and gathering stakeholder feedback on data gaps. Through opening presentations, plenary discussion, and four thematic breakout groups (water resources, water supply and sewerage, data and risk, and water quality), participants developed a preliminary inventory of local knowledge and community practices influencing hydrology, flooding, land use and water quality, and listed the non-conventional data sources available in the catchment. Outputs were harmonized across groups and ranked by impact. Key recommendations include digitizing paper-based records, standardizing formats, centralizing scattered data, extending citizen science monitoring, and engaging data holders through structured surveys to integrate these sources into the global water reanalysis framework over the project's five-year duration.

Scaling Water and Soil Salinity Solutions in Egypt’s Nile Delta: Governance, Knowledge, Markets, and Finance in Kafr El-Sheikh

2026-08-31T10:20:16Z

dc.title: Scaling Water and Soil Salinity Solutions in Egypt’s Nile Delta: Governance, Knowledge, Markets, and Finance in Kafr El-Sheikh dc.contributor.author: Eldabbagh, Fayrouz; Nassar, Atef dcterms.abstract: In the field of Kafr El-sheikh, at the tail end of Egypt's Nile system, salinity has become an everyday reality that farmers experience in their soils, drainage canals, and groundwater. Many technical solutions are being developed by different research institutions such as gypsum treatment, leaching techniques, salt-tolerant varieties, and reuse. This report, produced under the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) program, marks a step change; it argues that technical solutions are abundant, but the enabling environment for their scaling and adoption remains the missing piece. Therefore, this report examines six dimensions of the conditions behind hindering or enabling the wider scaling of contextually relevant technical solutions to the fields. These conditions lie in cross-sectoral coordination, policy alignment, market incentives, financial schemes, knowledge expansion, tenure security, and social norms and trust. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Co-Creation Workshop on Inclusive Business Models for Cage Aquaculture in Small Reservoirs – Bolgatanga, Ghana

2026-08-31T09:32:22Z

dc.title: Co-Creation Workshop on Inclusive Business Models for Cage Aquaculture in Small Reservoirs – Bolgatanga, Ghana dc.contributor.author: Salmawobil, Joseph; Appiah, Sarah; Zane, Giulia dcterms.abstract: A co-creation workshop held by IWMI in Bolgatanga on 9 June 2026, as part of the Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods (SAAF) Science Program, brought together 44 stakeholders—including farmers, investors, hatchery operators, financiers, and regulators—to review IWMI’s cage aquaculture pilots in small reservoirs and co-design investment models for scaling up the approach in Ghana’s Upper East Region. After reviewing results and lessons from pilots conducted in the North East Region by IWMI, CSIR-Water Research Institute, and the Fisheries Commission of Ghana, participants compared four potential business models: community–private partnerships; full investor ownership with community members hired as labor; contract farming; and passive investment. They discussed the feasibility, opportunities, and challenges of each model in the Upper East context. The workshop revealed strong interest in investing in aquaculture in small reservoirs. Seventy-nine percent of participants indicated that they would be willing to invest their own resources to finance, at least partly, an aquaculture project. As a next step, IWMI and CSIR-Water Research Institute will provide technical assistance to potential investors, beginning with assessments of the suitability of small reservoirs where they may be interested in investing. The aim is to support the development of one or two pilot aquaculture businesses in 2026, generating practical lessons for future scaling. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods

Revitalizing Community and Household Irrigation in Ethiopia: Policy Considerations for Improved Performance

2026-08-25T01:05:23Z

dc.title: Revitalizing Community and Household Irrigation in Ethiopia: Policy Considerations for Improved Performance dc.contributor.author: Ayana, Mekonen; Tiruneh, Yibeltal; Kedir, Yusuf; Abegaz, Fentaw; Mohammed, Mulugeta; Tesfaye, Henok; Awol, Elisa; Haileslassie, Amare dcterms.abstract: This policy brief is the result of concerted efforts by the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Regional Research Systems, Regional Bureaus of Agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture, IWMI, and members of the Agricultural Water Management Task Force coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture. Despite continued expansion of irrigation in Ethiopia, many existing community- and household-managed schemes underperform, limiting the benefits of irrigation investments. Evidence from previous IWMI/CGIAR research and a nationwide EIAR assessment of 75 community-managed and 39 household-managed schemes across diverse agroecological zones and river basins provides the evidence base for this policy brief. The findings highlight the need to balance further expansion of irrigated areas with improving the performance and sustainability of existing schemes. Priority actions include establishing a national irrigation performance monitoring and benchmarking system; targeting rehabilitation and modernization based on scheme performance and importance; strengthening operation and maintenance through improved service delivery and partnerships with youth enterprises and private providers; strengthening Water User Associations and irrigation-specific technical support; and scaling appropriate technologies, including solar-powered irrigation, efficient irrigation systems, water-control and measurement devices, and digital decision-support tools. Together, these measures can increase agricultural productivity and water-use efficiency while making irrigation services more reliable, sustainable, and inclusive. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Scaling for Impact

Policy Coherence for Water Security in the Karamoja–Turkana Complex Between Uganda and Kenya: Aligning Institutions, Incentives, and Investments for a Changing Drylands Region

2026-10-16T11:23:20Z

dc.title: Policy Coherence for Water Security in the Karamoja–Turkana Complex Between Uganda and Kenya: Aligning Institutions, Incentives, and Investments for a Changing Drylands Region dc.contributor.author: Nicol, Alan; Abalo, Jackie Akot; Nakiru, Lucky Sarafina; Thuo, Simon

Policy Coherence for Water Security in the Karamoja–Turkana Complex between Uganda and Kenya: Aligning Institutions, Incentives, and Investments for a Changing Drylands Region

2026-08-22T01:05:57Z

dc.title: Policy Coherence for Water Security in the Karamoja–Turkana Complex between Uganda and Kenya: Aligning Institutions, Incentives, and Investments for a Changing Drylands Region dc.contributor.author: Nicol, Alan; Abalo, Jackie Akot; Nakiru, Lucky Sarafina; Thuo, Simon

Evidence Charts the Future of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation

2026-08-22T01:10:40Z

dc.title: Evidence Charts the Future of Freshwater Biodiversity Conservation dc.contributor.author: Boon, Philip J.; Ridley, Francesca A.; Adhya, Tiasa; Baigún, Claudio; Böhm, Monika; Harrison, Ian; Jähnig, Sonja C.; Quintana, Yasmín; Simaika, John dcterms.abstract: Evidence is essential for promoting freshwater conservation and selecting appropriate conservation actions. This article examines the importance of evidence for freshwater conservation, available sources, how evidence is used, geographical coverage, and the challenges in obtaining evidence. Two databases containing published evidence, namely, Conservation Evidence (CE) and the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE), were systematically searched and evaluated. Evidence in CE is geographically skewed, with most studies coming from North America and Europe. The IUCN Red List requires evidence to assign species to threat categories, but is limited in its ability to track conservation success. IUCN Green Status can be used to assess the impact of conservation actions on species recovery, but suffers from some of the limitations of Red List assessments. Evidence is also required to select freshwater areas for protection, and for monitoring their condition over time, accompanied by an increasing recognition of the value of using evidence from Indigenous communities to support international agreements. Persistent barriers to the use of evidence for promoting freshwater conservation include weak baselines, short monitoring horizons, mismatched spatial scales, reliance on subjective opinion when analysing evidence, and under-reporting of failures. These and other barriers are addressed in several concluding recommendations. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

Trees for Halaba’s Land Restoration, Livelihoods and Legacy

2026-08-20T10:43:49Z

dc.title: Trees for Halaba’s Land Restoration, Livelihoods and Legacy dc.contributor.author: Wamba, Elizabeth; Moges, Awdenegest; Mekuria, Wolde

Diagnosing National and Sub -National Climate Finance in Nepal

2026-08-21T01:06:18Z

dc.title: Diagnosing National and Sub -National Climate Finance in Nepal dc.contributor.author: Sapkota, Regan; Nepal, Santosh; Shrestha, Shisher; Karki, Darshan

Multi-Scale Assessment of Irrigation Water Use and Supply in the Amibara Irrigation Scheme, Ethiopia Using Landsat-Derived Evapotranspiration and Field Data

2026-08-25T01:10:35Z

dc.title: Multi-Scale Assessment of Irrigation Water Use and Supply in the Amibara Irrigation Scheme, Ethiopia Using Landsat-Derived Evapotranspiration and Field Data dc.contributor.author: Mekonnen, Kirubel; Tadesse, Mulugeta; Velpuri, Naga Manohar; Abdella, Mohammed; Dessalegn, Mengistu; Leh, Mansoor; Akpoti, Komlavi; Owusu, Afua; Likessa, Ashenafi; Seid, Abdulkarim dcterms.abstract: Accurate estimation of irrigation water use and supply is essential for effective irrigation management, yet irrigation withdrawals remain largely unmetered and unreported in many schemes. This study applied a remote sensing–based approach to quantify irrigation water use and supply in the Amibara Irrigation Scheme, Ethiopia. The irrigation component of crop evapotranspiration (Blue ET) was partitioned from a high-resolution Landsat-based ETa product using the Water Accounting Plus (WA+) framework. Blue ET estimates were then integrated with irrigation efficiency parameters to derive remote sensing–based irrigation supply (RbIS) at block, canal and scheme scales. Crop type maps for 2010 and 2024 and a digitized irrigation layout provided the spatial basis for assessing irrigation performance using relative evapotranspiration (RET) and relative irrigation supply (RIS) metrics. Crop mapping revealed a substantial decline in the gravity-fed irrigated area from 9941 ha in 2010 to 4532 ha in 2024. RbIS showed reasonable agreement with reported irrigation supply in 2010 (R² = 0.58) and measured supply in 2024 (R² = 0.77), although supply was consistently underestimated. The extent of irrigation water deficits increased between 2010 and 2024, with the proportion of cotton blocks experiencing water deficits rising from 40% to 67%. Key informant interviews and focus group discussions corroborated the observed irrigation water deficits in 2024, supporting the remote sensing–based assessment. Moreover, RET and RIS revealed spatial variability in irrigation performance across irrigation canals, suggesting potential under and over-supply of irrigation. Overall, the proposed approach provides a scalable framework for assessing irrigation water use and supply in data-scarce irrigation schemes.

Solar Irrigation Technology is Ready to Scale, but is the System?

2026-09-22T03:36:30Z

dc.title: Solar Irrigation Technology is Ready to Scale, but is the System? dc.contributor.author: Tafesse, Yonas; Admasu, Zeleke Belay; Oke, Adebayo; Wamba, Elizabeth dcterms.abstract: Innovative finance, partnerships and farmer support will determine Ethiopia and Nigeria’s solar irrigation future.

IWMI in Central Asia - fact sheet

2026-08-21T01:02:22Z

dc.title: IWMI in Central Asia - fact sheet dc.contributor.author: International Water Management Institute

Impacts of Landscape Restoration and Long-Term Land Use Change on Ecosystem Services: Evidence from a Case Study in Ethiopia

2026-09-23T14:55:00Z

dc.title: Impacts of Landscape Restoration and Long-Term Land Use Change on Ecosystem Services: Evidence from a Case Study in Ethiopia dc.contributor.author: Mokria, Mulugeta; Hagazi, Niguse; Hailemariam, Gebrehiwot; Abiyu, Abrham; Mekuria, Wolde; Kassa, Habtemariam; Tadele, Malefia; Gedle, Assefa; Minang, Peter dcterms.abstract: Land degradation threatens food security, water resources, and biodiversity by eroding soil health and productivity. In Ethiopia, restoration initiatives like exclosures are widely implemented, yet most studies fail to integrate plot-level ecological evidence with landscape-scale land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics. Furthermore, few studies combine these biophysical trends with long-term economic valuation of ecosystem services (ES) and local knowledge to quantify ES trade-offs. Using the Sire-Dodota district of Ethiopia, as a case study, we (i) evaluated the localized ecological performances of communal exclosures relative to LULC-driven ecosystem service (ES) changes, (ii) quantified spatial and temporal (22 years) LULC impacts on ecosystem service values (ESVs), and (iii) assessed community perceptions of restoration outcomes. We combined vegetation inventories, spatial analysis, household surveys, focus group discussions, and value transfer methods across plot and landscape scales. Our results reveal a clear socio-ecological paradox across scales. At the plot-scale, community-managed exclosures significantly enhanced biomass accumulation and biodiversity, establishing a robust empirical baseline for ecological recovery. At the landscape scale, however, LULC-based ESVs increased over 22 years, driven by gains of US$80.6 million from agricultural lands and US$1.3 million from forest lands, alongside a US$3.4 million decline in shrubland ESVs. These increases are potential values rather than realized ecosystem service flows, masking systemic losses in regulating and supporting services as short-term agricultural expansion dominates valuation outcomes. Social data from 393 households strongly corroborate these patterns. While communities consistently recognized localized ecological recovery, they favored agroforestry integration over static exclosures to offset high opportunity costs of restricted access. Together, these findings caution against reliance on uncontextualized macro-scale economic indicators and underscore the need for integrated, multifunctional landscape strategies that align ecological recovery with livelihood needs. We, therefore, recommend establishing a national, open-access ESV meta-database linked to Ethiopia's Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, alongside future multi-decadal monitoring of below-ground carbon and soil biodiversity, and the cost-benefit performance of blended finance restoration models. cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Multifunctional Landscapes

How South–South Learning Can Shape a Just Water Future

2026-08-19T10:41:52Z

dc.title: How South–South Learning Can Shape a Just Water Future dc.contributor.author: Bhaduri, Tanmoy; Wamba, Elizabeth; Samarasekara, Vidhisha

সু#রবেনর (ছাট ও মাঝাির পুক2ের (দশীয়(পানা ও (ছাট মাছ চােষর 9িশ:ণ সহািয়কা

2026-08-20T01:11:18Z

dc.title: সু#রবেনর (ছাট ও মাঝাির পুক2ের (দশীয়(পানা ও (ছাট মাছ চােষর 9িশ:ণ সহািয়কা dc.contributor.author: Mondal, Anit; Wanasinghe, W. W. M. Apsara P. K.; Roy, Aparna; Sathiskumar, Abinaya; Karnatak, Gunjan; Thangjam, Nirupada; Samanta, Srikanta; Maity, Suman Kumar; Roy, Amitava; Taron, Avinandan dcterms.abstract: This training manual provides practical guidance for farmers on environmentally sustainable and economically viable pond-based fish farming, with a particular focus on integrating Small Indigenous Species (SIS) with carp polyculture. It explains the nutritional importance of SIS as a rich source of essential micronutrients and highlights their role in improving household food and nutrition security. The manual introduces the characteristics of commonly cultured SIS, the rationale for integrated fish farming, and the different types of ponds suitable for aquaculture. It presents step-by-step instructions on pond preparation, water quality management, fertilization, liming, natural food production, and biosecurity measures. Farmers are also guided on species selection, stocking density, fingerling transportation and stocking methods, feed and nutrient management, growth monitoring, pond maintenance, disease prevention and control, and flood protection. The manual concludes with recommendations on harvesting techniques and scheduling to maximize productivity and profitability. Designed as a practical resource, it aims to strengthen farmers' technical knowledge and promote sustainable aquaculture practices that enhance fish production, improve nutrition, diversify livelihoods, and increase resilience while minimizing environmental impacts. cg.contributor.initiative: One Health cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Sustainable Animal and Aquatic Foods

Data-Driven Decisions to Boost Women-Led Livestock Entrepreneurship in Assam

2026-08-14T06:10:27Z

dc.title: Data-Driven Decisions to Boost Women-Led Livestock Entrepreneurship in Assam dc.contributor.author: Bhaduri, Tanmoy

How AI Helped Capture Community Feedback on Water Systems

2026-08-14T04:56:25Z

dc.title: How AI Helped Capture Community Feedback on Water Systems dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta; Nicol, Alan; Padhi, Kumar Ranjan; Iyer, Ruhil cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

What Community Water Leaders Had to Say about Why They Continue to Volunteer

2026-08-14T04:06:45Z

dc.title: What Community Water Leaders Had to Say about Why They Continue to Volunteer dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta; Nicol, Alan; Papnoi, Pankaj; Kettle, Stewart cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations

Why Water Governance Needs Better Community Feedback

2026-08-13T10:49:17Z

dc.title: Why Water Governance Needs Better Community Feedback dc.contributor.author: Bhattacharjee, Suchiradipta; Nicol, Alan; Kettle, Stewart cg.contributor.programAccelerator: Policy Innovations