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 Use Association Naro Moru (WRUA Naro Moru) - Kenya

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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 direct democratic and 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.

Role of stakeholders: 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

• government

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The Approach focused mainly on SLM with other activities

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	In the year 1999 Naro Moru river dried completely up for the first time. The consequence was a big clash between up- and downstreamers. The downstreamers located below Naro Moru town blamed the upstreamers and their irrigation systems for the low flows. The downstreamers walked upwards the river in search of water, eating food from the fields of upstreamers. This conflict made the formation of the association necessary involving all relevant water users.
planning	external support	The final measures were elaborated with support of the Water Resource Management Authority (WRMA). WRMA supported capacity building in terms of administrative knowledge and conservation technologies.
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 done by the WRUA. Members walk regularly along the river and point out positive and negative examples. In case of negative examples, persuading of the land users is needed.
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 WRUA was thinking about measures that could be implemented and proposed them.

Decisions on the method of implementing the SLM Technology were made by WRUA. The members of the water resource users association mainly decided and implemented the measures for the protection of the riparian areas.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

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. Pegging techniques were introduced to outline the riparian area. Furthermore, pollution prevention and new water-saving land use technologies were 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 and institutional advisory; Key elements: Conservation 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; Campaigns are being done as planned, but patrolling is not that profound.

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

• Seedling were bought locally

Give further details:

The seedlings were bought from local community based organisations.

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

bio-physical aspects were None monitored by land users through observations; indicators: surviving trees were counted

There were several changes in the Approach as a result of monitoring and evaluation: It turned out that areas for the seedling distribution should be identified in a first step.
Also care taking of the seedlings is an important step to ensure the survival, since 25% of the seedlings died.
4 out of ten drip irrigation demonstration plots were relocated.

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:

• 10,000-100,000

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

Approach costs were met by the following donors: government (Water services trust fund): 57.0%; local government (district, county, municipality, village etc) (Laikipia Wildlife Forum): 43.0%

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):

Got the seedlings

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

Comments:

Land users got the seedlings and planted them by themselves.

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:

Under the condition that they 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
The meetings show a good turn up of people, this shows that they are needed. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Maybe even more land users can be motivated to show up at the meetings.)
A main advantage is that it is easy to communicate among the water stakeholders. (How to sustain/ enhance this strength: Regular meetings should be scheduled.)

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?
Not all riparian members are totally committed to the activities of the WRUA.	Try to persuade them to show more motivation.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information