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

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

Le Projet Irrigation de Proximité au Pays Dogon et dans le Bélédougou, Mali (IPRO-DB)

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

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) - Germany

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

01/07/2012

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

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

The participatory approach to small-scale irrigation ensures skills and expertise are transferred to scheme beneficiaries and other stakeholders.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

The participatory approach to small-scale irrigation (SI) ensures skills and expertise are transferred to scheme beneficiaries and other stakeholders. This enhances the value of investments and the sustainability of installations.
Direct beneficiaries (villagers) and indirect beneficiaries (technical services, communes) are involved before, during and after the installation of irrigation systems in order to ensure the sustainability of the schemes and a long-term return on investment.
Firstly, all the actors involved in the schemes are identified. Beneficiaries’ concerns are taken into account and the participation of relevant actors is ensured throughout the process. The following factors are essential when applying this approach: 1) the commitment of beneficiaries to engage in the project approach; 2) an explicit request made by beneficiaries for the scheme in question; 3) an agreement to relay the content of meetings to all beneficiaries; 4) an awareness of potentially significant constraints such as property issues, a lack of villagers available to provide labour, and the payment of financial contributions.
The participatory approach enhances the sustainability of investments, while the cost of participation remains low. The prevention and management of conflicts, the commitment of beneficiaries to schemes and the uptake of construction and management techniques by beneficiaries are all factors that contribute to sustainability.
The support structure (IPRO-DB) offers assistance in identifying the actors to involve, organises meetings, monitors information events for villagers (known as restitution sessions) and provides financial support. The village committee participates in all meetings, keeps villages informed, acts as an intermediary between associations, support structures and the community, and organises meetings. Farmers’ associations constitute sources of information, identify needs, draw up bylaws, contribute labour and funds to activities and participate in decision-making in village councils. Technical services provide advisory support and constitute sources of information. The commune provides information, raises the awareness of the actors involved, invites beneficiaries to the exchange meetings, identifies the actors involved and approves villagers’ requests.
The approach was implemented in eight villages with a combined population of around 9,240 people. The schemes cover a total area of around 766 hectares of farmland. Duration of application: Since 2005.

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 participatory approach to small-scale irrigation (SI) ensures skills and expertise are transferred to scheme beneficiaries and other stakeholders. This enhances the value of investments and the sustainability of installations. Direct beneficiaries (villagers) and indirect beneficiaries (technical services, communes) are involved before, during and after the installation of irrigation systems in order to ensure the sustainability of the schemes and a long-term return on investment.
The SLM Approach addressed the following problems: lack of skills and expertise, lack of involvement of beneficiaries before, during and after the installation of irrigation systems

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	passive
planning	interactive
implementation	interactive
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive
Research	passive

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 SLM specialists, following consultation with land users

Explain:

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by mainly by SLM specialists with consultation of land users

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• public meetings
• courses

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:

Advisory service is quite adequate to ensure the continuation of land conservation activities

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

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

technical aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations
socio-cultural aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations
no. of land users involved aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff through observations
management of Approach aspects were ad hoc monitored by project staff, land users through observations
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

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• sociology
• technology

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Research was carried out on station

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

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

Approach costs were met by the following donors: international (IPRO-DB): 100.0%

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

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

Yes

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

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

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The only costs incurred relate to catering and venue charges for the training workshops and study trips. The cost of participating in study trips remains very low, except in cases where there is no local village with expertise in the subject in question.
The participatory approach facilitates understanding among the communes and the quick delivery of schemes requested by the commune.
The labour and financial contribution provided reduces the investment costs of schemes.
The likelihood of possible conflicts is reduced.
skills and expertise are transferred to scheme beneficiaries
enhances the value of investments and the sustainability of installations
Direct beneficiaries (villagers) and indirect beneficiaries (technical services, communes) are involved before, during and after the installation of irrigation systems in order to ensure the sustainability of the schemes and a long-term return on investment

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Manual of Good Practices in Small Scale Irrigation in the Sahel. Experiences from Mali. Published by GIZ in 2014.

Available from where? Costs?

http://star-www.giz.de/starweb/giz/pub/servlet.starweb