Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 1 Blooming landscapes in semi-arid regions (Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad) 6 th World Water Forum Marseille, Practical Solutions for Innovative Water-Management By Dr. Elisabeth van den Akker and Martina Wegner, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, GIZ)

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 2 Background  Over the last five decades, the environmental situation in the Sahel has deteriorated dramatically.  The degradation of the environment is manifested by declining crop yields and by reduction of land suitable for farming.  This leads to food insecurity and higher vulnerability to the effects of climate change (e.g. more or fewer extreme weather events).  As a consequence, in order to look for additional income opportunities, many men are forced to migrate to neighbouring countries.  Female headed households belong to the most vulnerable social groups in these countries.

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 3 The initiative  In Niger, Tchad and Burkina Faso, since the early nineties, a promising approach has been developed to restore eroded valley plains which have naturally a high potential for agricultural production: the construction of so-called “water spreading weirs”  It helped thousands of households to secure livelihood  The German financial cooperation KfW and Technical Cooperation GIZ decided 2010 to document this success story which permits an up-scaling in other semi-arid regions.  Based on several studies, a publication is to be prepared and will be published in January 2012  A capacity development program is foreseen to train technicians in semi-arid regions on this approach.

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 4 Impacts of water sprading weirs  Water spreading weirs restore eroded valley plains which have naturally a high potential for agricultural production  By slowing down rainfall run-off, weirs protect low-lying areas from accelerated erosion and support at the same time the infiltration of water into the soil and the groundwater  Groundwater levels comes up from 11 to about 2 m under surface  The valley plains can be directly used for up to three consecutive harvests  Energy costs are extremely reduced by this increase of groundwater level  Food and nutrition security is achieved in a region which was affected by rural migration to other fertile regions

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 5 Innovative Watershed-Management in Tahoua, Niger

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 6 Water spreading weirs: several constructions to be build in one valley

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 7 A water spreading weir and its function

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 8 One water spreading weir and its impact on the vegetation

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 9 Innovative Watershed-Management by water spreading weirs – what it needs Watershed management is a systemic Approach who needs the following: Legal framework Planning instruments Articulation of a demand and coordination of the construction by a municipality Analysis of land use and land rights aspects before implementation Technical aspects of planning and implementation / of hydro geographical aspects Organisation of communities for construction Aspects of land use and land rights after implementation Agricultural extension for efficient water use and valorisation of restablished surfaces Marketing of products in a value chain approach Organisation of population for maintain of constructions

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 10 Water spreading weirs help greening semi-arid landscapes

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 11 Success factors of water spreading weirs  Combination of financial and technical assistance  It needs technical and organisational expertise  A systemic perception and approach is necessary  Has to be part of a planning process which bases on spatial, visualised planning instruments  Integration of different users has to be guaranteed  The watershed is a natural space which covers sometimes the territory of several municipalities (needs a comprehensive approach)  Rules for access and use have to be established  Capacity Development is necessary on all levels: individual, community-level municipalities, administration, Deciders in governments

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 12 Very often done mistakes  Project-driven approach which does not fit in the national planning and implementation-landscape as for instances only donor- nourished financial instruments  Planning-instrument is designed by the project and not sustainable  Use of international technical expertise instead of Capacity- Development inside the country.  Insufficient view on existing land rights and land use  Insufficient integration of national administration and institutions

Division „Rural Development and Agriculture" Page 13  Contact: