1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

University of Bern, Institute of Geography (GIUB) - Switzerland

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Water Resource User Association Kapingazi - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

06/11/2012

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

WRUA are associations of water users and riparian land owners who have associated for the purposes of cooperatively sharing, managing and conserving a common water resource.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Aims / objectives: The overall objective is to facilitate everybody in the river sub-catchment with sufficient and good quality water supply even during dry spells. Further objectives are to conserve the water catchment, to manage the resources properly, to preserve riverine forests and the riparian ecosystem, stop pollution and establish water use rules that are broadly accepted.

Methods: The WRUA is an association of stakeholders who wants to achieve the objectives mentioned above. During the regular meetings each stakeholder can raise his voice, express his needs and vote in a democratic manner. For outsiders and the government it is also an official contact in terms of water resources.
The WRUA members arrive at a decision together and thus lead to a sustainable development. Together, they accomplish the activities mentioned below.

Stages of implementation: First, a WRUA needs to register at the regional WRMA (Water Resources Management Authority) office, this ensures legal security for the WRUA. The WRMA provides the WRUA with technical and administrative advisory and is part of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. The members of the WRUA conduct a water abstraction survey in the sub-catchment to identify all legal and illegal water abstractions. It is crucial to know the accurate water flows before you can conserve the water resources. The goal is to convince illegal abstractors to apply for a permit to legalise the abstractions. The WRUA organises meetings, called barazzas, with the local chief and the riparian land users. In these meetings special conservation measures applied in the riparian area are discussed together with land management specialists. The conservation measures are cutting of water guzzling trees, planting of water-friendly indigenous trees, raise public awareness of pollution, rehabilitation of riverbanks and introduction of new technologies like drip irrigation and rooftop water harvesting.
To raise public awareness of the importance of the riparian area, the WRUA members conduct a pegging campaign along the main river of the sub-catchment. The water act 2002 dictates a riparian area of at least 6 metres on either side of the river. This area is being delineated to indicate the location of the protected to the land users.
During water shortages (for example a dry spell), the WRUA publishes rules for water abstractions to ensure water supply for all land users.

Other important information: Furthermore, the WRUA is an important tool for stakeholders for communication and conflict management related to water resources. Due to the immense importance of water for ecosystem services a proper management of this resource is required.

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities (conflict management, water resource management, )

The objective of implementing a governmental promoted association was to counter the numerous conflicts that have arisen around water resources. The water resources were distributed inequitably and the riparian ecosystem was damaged. Therefore WRUAs were built to improve water quality and increase water quantity by implementing protective measures in riparian zones, mediate conflicts concerning water, stop river pollution and establish water use rules.

The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: The WRUA was formed when some non-riparian water abstractors had no more water because the river was running dry. Meanwhile also bad land use practices in the riparian zones of Kapingazi river diminished water quality. Due to forest clearing close to the river, the soil lost its water storage capacity, even worse indigenous trees were replaced by water guzzling trees like eucalyptus. The knowledge about conservation measures in the riparian areas was very low.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	self-mobilization	Water users formed a group in 2000 where they discussed their problems concerning water abstraction and riparian protection.
planning	interactive	The local land users as members of the WRUA and advisor from WRMA developed the method how to implement the protection measures.
implementation	interactive	The implementation took place at barazzas with local chiefs. The associated riparian land users came together and were informed by the members of the WRUA and a land use specialist about the advantages of riparian protection. The different measures like tree planting and introduction of Napier were communicated. Water unfriendly trees like Eucalyptus were recommended to be cut. Also, the background of water quality and improved drought resistance were teached. Seedlings were distributed.
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization	The monitoring is made by the WRUA. Members walk regularly along the river and point out positive and negative examples.
Research	none

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Explain:

The water act 2002 is a law to protect riparian zones. The implementation of the law is via the WRMA as a planner and technical advisor and the WRUA which promotes the protective measures.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by WRUA and WRMA. The water resource users association was the institution that invented the method to spread the knowledge. But the governmental institutions demanded the conduction of an abstraction survey and the issue of permits.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

• WRUA

Form of training:

• farmer-to-farmer
• demonstration areas
• public meetings

Subjects covered:

The most recent knowledge in riverbank protection and land conservation was communicated by the WRMA to the WRUA and from the WRUA to the land users. Subjects treated are planting of waterfriendly indigenous trees and chopping of water guzzling eucalyptus trees, as well as riverbank stabilization with trees and Napier grass. Furthermore, pollution prevention and new water-saving land use technologies are discussed.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

Describe/ comments:

Name of method used for advisory service: Technical advisory; Key elements: Land use advisory, Administrative advisory; The WRMA provides technical training for the WRUA members concerning planting of waterfriendly/water guzzling trees, riverbank stabilization with trees and Napier grass, pollution prevention, new water-saving land use technologies and also climate change issues that rose recently. The WRUA wrote also a sub-catchment management plan in cooperation with WRMA advisors.

Advisory service is very adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities; There is a good cooperation between WRMA and WRUA.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

• seedlings

Give further details:

The necessary seedlings were bought from local CBO's (Community based organisations) or private tree nurseries.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations; indicators: WRUA members control pollution and implementation of the conservation measures.

management of Approach aspects were regular monitored by government through observations; indicators: WRMA controls the progress of the approach

There were no changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation

There were no changes in the Technology as a result of monitoring and evaluation

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 2,000-10,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (Water Services Trust Fund): 100.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

The seedlings were distributed to the land users for free

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

• other

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

They just have to keep applying the conservation measures. Public awareness raising and patrols by the WRUA have to continue.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Water conflicts between water users are a problem in many communities. Water Resource Users Associations are a way to mediate among stakeholders. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Regular meetings of the water users.)

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The WRUA Kapingazi is a community based organisation (CBO) that was started voluntarily and gets supported lightly but steadily by the government. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: A balance between too much and too little support must be maintained so that neither the voluntary structures are destroyed nor the support is too small.)
With a good management of water resources and modern land use technologies, the productivity of the area can be sustained. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Meetings to share water resources equitably and promotion of modern land use technologies.)

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
If the land users do not want to adopt the promoted technologies and suggestions, the success is questioned.	More efforts on awareness raising can convince more people.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information