Eastern Nile Irrigation and Drainage Corporate Regional Assessment (CRA)

Using inputs from Phase 2 and through review of the consistency of respective government policies towards irrigation, agriculture and rural development, this Study (1) proposed institutional cooperative mechanism ('software') for actual projects on the ground (hardware nature) that will give win-win benefit to the countries; (2) identified capacity building needs and (3) proposed future projects with assured benefit and enhanced cooperation. Given that the EN countries have a number of complex challenges ahead of them associated with water scarcity, technology, institutions and socio-economy in their effort to satisfy the increasing food requirement of the growing population (which has exceeded crop production with limited available arable land), and increasing competition for jobs and high unemployment in rural areas, carefully planned and sustainable irrigation development and intensification of the existing irrigated agriculture is crucial in order to increase food security, enhance agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods in the sub-region. This is a key document to streamline national efforts in the field of irrigation and drainage and enhance the cooperation across the region.

The study, covering all the three EN countries (Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan), undertook trans-boundary, distributive and institutional analysis, and identified the existing challenges and opportunities associated with irrigation development in the EN sub basin. Trans-boundary irrigation development scenarios were identified and the costs and benefits that will accrue across countries determined. The various levels and modes of cooperation have also been examined and the process that could be adopted for cooperation in Irrigation & Drainage sector proposed.

In addition to the above, the CRA study has prepared generic guideline for identification and study of national and regional irrigation and drainage development projects which maximize benefits at national and regional levels.

The study, using inputs from Phase two and through review of consistency of respective Government policies towards rural development, has proposed institutional cooperative mechanism (software nature) and actual projects on the ground (hardware nature) that will give win-win benefit to the countries. Capacity building needs has also been identified and future projects that will give win-win benefit and enhance the cooperation proposed.The Eastern Nile countries have a number of complex challenges ahead of them associated with water scarcity, technology, institutions and socio-economy in their effort to satisfy the increasing food requirement of the growing population. Population growth has exceeded crop production and with limited available arable land, there is increasing competition for jobs and high unemployment in rural areas. Therefore, carefully planned and sustainable irrigation development and intensification of the existing irrigated agriculture is crucial in order to increase food security, enhance agricultural productivity and improve livelihoods in the sub-region. To this regard, the Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) study is a key document to streamline regional efforts in the field of irrigation and drainage and enhance the cooperation.

One of the opportunities identified by the CRA Study for addressing the existing crucial water scarcity in the EN sub-basin is improving the water use efficiency and productivity on the existing irrigation schemes. In line with this, pilot studies on selected existing irrigation projects in Ethiopia and Sudan were conducted. Covered by these studies are three small-scale irrigation schemes in three regions of Ethiopia and theRahad irrigation scheme in Sudan. Such type of studies can greatly help in alleviating the existing crucial water shortage in the EN sub-basin and to adopt the adverse effects of climate change.

These Guidelines for analysis and assessment of irrigation projects been prepared within the framework of Component 2: Cooperative Regional Assessment, of the Eastern Nile Irrigation and Drainage Study. They aim to assist practitioners to plan irrigation investment projects that will realise and sustain their full potential. The guidelines cover the analysis of irrigation projects with a view of selecting the preferred projects and feasibility study (or assessment) of the selected projects. They were developed from the overall experience of the consultant, lessons learnt from the Engineering Component (Analysis Phase) of the EN-IDS and a review of a number reports on costs and benefits of irrigation projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and North Africa and Asia. The intended users are ENTRO staff and the National Irrigation Planning and Coordination Teams of the Eastern Nile countries, but may also be useful to consultants and for training of irrigation staff.

The study covered three EN countries (Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan) and undertook trans-boundary, distributive and institutional analysis. It identified (1) challenges and opportunities associated with irrigation development in the EN sub basin; (2) trans-boundary irrigation development scenarios; (3) costs and benefits that will accrue across countries; (4) various levels and modes of cooperation, and (5) a process that could be adopted for cooperation in the Irrigation & Drainage sector across the basin.

The Report presents the results of the Phase 1 Diagnosis Study of Component 1, covering the period end of September 2007 to the end of May 2008. During this phase the Consultants have collected, in close collaboration with ENTRO and the National Coordinators (NCs) studies, maps, drawings, and other relevant information and have reviewed data, available on the relevant GIS databases in Ethiopia and Sudan. This report presents the information that is required to assess values of parameters, that are used in the multi criteria analysis (MCA) to rank projects (described in chapter 5). MCA is applied in the report on a sub-study of Phase 2: Analysis of the Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA).