The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) released a report, titled "Assessing poverty reduction potential through investments in agricultural water management: a methodology for country level analysis," which presents a methodology that focuses on addressing the water needs of poor rural populations.
The methodology was pilot-tested in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Tanzania and Zambia.
20 November 2012: The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) has released a report titled “Assessing poverty reduction potential through investments in agricultural water management: a methodology for country level analysis.” The report presents a methodology to analyze the opportunities, constraints and potential of small-scale Agricultural Water Management (AWM) interventions at pilot research sites.
The methodology focuses on addressing the water needs of poor rural populations as opposed to developing suitable water resources. This approach is driven by demands for water investments and checks resource use against available supply. According to the report, such an approach results in demand driven investment that is more likely to result in development gains. FAO and its partners pilot-tested the methodology through livelihood zone mapping at the national level and by assessing AWM potential in varying agro-climatic, political and socio-economic contexts. Pilot test countries include Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Tanzania and Zambia.
The report includes sections on, inter alia: project methodology; consultations; building the data and information base; and mapping and analytical processes. The report includes a CD containing information such as country investment briefs, an interactive tool for AWM scenario analysis and country livelihood zone analyses.
The methodology was developed within the AgWater Solutions Project framework, which aims to design AWM strategies for farmers in India and sub-Saharan Africa. FAO collaborating partners include the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Development Enterprises (iDE) and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). IFPRI is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). [Publication: Assessing the potential for poverty reduction through investments in agricultural water management: A methodology for country level analysis]