1. Likimyelesh Nigussie March 9, 2016
Gender Aspect of Water Allocation and Water Use at Koga Irrigation scheme
Likimyelesh Nigussie March 9, 2016

2. Overview Background of Koga Irrigation scheme
Background of IWMI LIVES Project
Results: Gender analysis
Time and labour use
Participation in IWUA (as member and as leader)
Benefit sharing
Conclusion

3. Background of Koga Irrigation Scheme

4. Continued…..
Constructed by Abay Basin Authority to irrigate 7000 ha of land, to produce cereals and horticulture, such as: potato, onions, maize and wheat.
It is designed to irrigate 0.25 ha of land for 3 hours, every eight days, on average.
It has twelve blocks.
All farmers who have plots in the service area are eligible to irrigate
The three institutions that manage irrigation water allocation are : Abay Basin Authority, Bureau of Agriculture and IWUAs.

5. Continued…..
Role of each institution in water allocation is as follows:
Agronomists from Bureau of agriculture measure size of each farmer’s irrigable land, and provide the information to ABA.
ABA using the size of irrigable land allocates water to each farmer. IWUA is responsible for fair distribution of water from the scheme to farmer’s field.
Existing problem: Rough estimate of irrigation water allocation, sometimes causes conflict between IWUAs and users and among users.

6. Background IWMI LIVES Project
IWMI LIVES project pilots Wetting front Detector (WFD) in four blocks since 2014 to farmers and IWUAs, to promote evidence based water distribution IWUA
Assessment was made to understand the water allocation and water use process of Koga Irrigation scheme, before the introduction of WFD
Gender aspect of water allocation and water use (to understand the constraints men and women users have and the benefit they get from using the irrigation.

7. Gender aspect of assessment on irrigation water allocation and use
A. Time and labour use
B. Participation in IWUA (as member and as leader)
C. Benefit sharing

8. A. Time and Labour use
Roles
Men Headed Households
Women in male headed households
Female headed households
Irrigated farming (land preparation, seedling, weeding, irrigating, harvesting, piling, threshing and others)
Women and men
Women and adult men member of the HH – but rare)
Irrigated farming (ploughing with oxen, making bed, and digging)
Men
Adult male members, hired labour (recently some women have started doing these)
Canal cleaning (very laborious task)
- Only when the men are not around
Domestic work
Adult women and girls
Sell produce to market
Sometime accompany men, while going to market
Women

9. Implications: Women are overburdened when compared to men.
Women work long hours
Women have limited time for self development such as: networking, other opportunities, participation in IWUAs as members and leader and others.

10. B. Low participation of women in IWUAs (as member and leader)
Factors
Men’s Perception
Women’s (FHH and WiMHH) perception
Work load
Work load of women (in domestic and productive work)
Can manage their time to attend in meetings and to serve as a leader
Women are rarely invited to meetings
Invitations are sent to MHH or adult male member of FHH. The trend so far has been inviting MHH that can better represent the HHs ideas and needs
Almost all WiMHH think that men can better represent the HH and their needs, while some FHH think that they can equally participate to meetings, but they are usually not invited.
Capacity in contributing ideas to meetings
Mostly shy to speak in public
Mostly, Shy to speak in publlic
Capacity in conflict resolution (to serve as a leader)
Think that women are emotional that they have lower capacity to resolve conflicts from water allocation and use
Wanted to serve as leader, but from some experience, their leadership is challenged by attitudes of men users. Their ideas are less valued.

11. Implications
Male dominate IWUA governance, participation and decision making.
Ideas, needs interests and concerns of women are not well considered in IWUAs.
Women have limited opportunity for empowerment (such as public speaking and influence decisions).

12. C. Benefit (income) sharing
Parameter
Male headed households
Women in male headed households
Female headed households
Responsible for sale of produce
Men
Sometimes accompany the men
Women
Have control over the income
Men have overall control
Have access but not control
Limited access to control over income for women in male headed households.

13. Conclusion
Gender disparity exists in terms of workload, participation in IWUAs (as leaders and members) and in sharing benefits.
IWUAs need to consider inviting women to enhance their participation
Development projects should be carefully designed for gender inclusivity