Blooming landscapes in semi-arid regions (Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad)

1. Blooming landscapes in semi-arid regions (Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad) 6th World Water Forum Marseille, 12.-17.03.2012 Practical Solutions for Innovative Water-Management By Dr. Elisabeth van den Akker and Martina Wegner, Deutsche Gesellschaft fürInternationaleZusammenarbeit, GIZ)

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. moreorfewer extreme weatherevents). • 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.

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.

4. Impacts ofwaterspradingweirs • 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

5. Innovative Watershed-Management in Tahoua, Niger

6. Waterspreadingweirs: severalconstructionstobebuild in onevalley

7. A waterspreadingweiranditsfunction

8. Onewaterspreadingweiranditsimpact on thevegetation

9. Innovative Watershed-Management bywaterspreadingweirs – whatitneeds 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

10. Waterspreadingweirshelpgreening semi-arid landscapes

11. Successfactorsofwaterspreadingweirs • 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

12. Veryoftendonemistakes • 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

13. Contact: martina.wegner@giz.dejozias.pieterse@kfw.de