19 April 2018: The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is working to scale-up solutions to water stress that can benefit small farmers, based on a review that highlights the potential of practices such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and planting of saltwater-tolerant crops for improving food security. In related news, the Global Water Partnership (GWP) has reported its highest-ever levels of support to a total of almost 100 country-level partners in 2017.

An IFAD report titled, ‘The Water Advantage: Seeking sustainable solutions for water stress,’ highlights the value of projects for improving access to clean water and helping farmers manage water resources more effectively. The review contains case studies from Bangladesh, Brazil, Malawi, Senegal and Sudan, which highlight various dimensions of IFAD’s water-related investments. The studies cover themes of water access for pastoralists in Sudan, wetland management and early warning of flash floods in Bangladesh, and combining wastewater management with drip irrigation technology in Brazil, among others. Some of the projects have improved community resilience to climate change and environmental shocks, reduced women’s work burdens, and mitigated greenhouse gas emissions. The report affirms IFADs focus on extending water-related investments as part of its aim to deliver on the 2030 Agenda in relation to its organizational mandate to promote sustainable and inclusive rural development.

In its annual report for 2017, GWP reports that it assisted almost 100 national institutions in implementing international policy frameworks, including the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). GWP has also helped partners access climate finance.

GWP Chair Oyun Sanjaasuren noted in her introductory message the ability of the partnership to deliver on the implementation of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) through its integrated approach to water resources management (IWRM). Its annual report for 2017 features stories of accomplishments in relation to strengthening water governance and promoting IWRM in every region of the world. Specifically highlighted are SDG target 6.5 on implementing IWRM at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation, and SDG 17 on multi-stakeholder partnerships that mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.

During the year, GWP partnered with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to organize more than 30 country workshops on indicator 6.5.1, which measures the degree to which IWRM has been achieved. Overall, GWP supported over one billion euro of investments in water-related infrastructure, besides other expenditure on NAPs, publications and advocacy. [IFAD Press Release] [IFAD report Web Page] [Publication: The Water Advantage: Seeking sustainable solutions for water stress] [GWP Report Web Page] [Publication: GWP in Action 2017]