Eastern Nile Irrigation and Drainage Studies: Cooperative Regional Assessment Phase III: Finalization and conclusion

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.