Issue

02September2016

Inside this issueSpecial feature 1

Meetings and workshops 2

Project activities 3

Publications 9

New book 11

In the next issue 12

2016 Mid-year reviewThis newsletter highlights major activities and news stories from IWMI West Africa during the first half of 2016.

Special feature

westafrica.iwmi.org

Managing large infrastructure for river basins: Lessons from the Akosombo Dam

The Akosombo Dam, constructed in the 1960s, heralded economic growth and rapid industrialization for the then newly independent state of Ghana. The dam produced massive quantities of hydroelectric power, and the country’s industry and economy expanded so rapidly that the construction of a second dam—downstream from Akosombo—became necessary to keep up with hydropower outputs and energy consumption. However, like all interventions for development, dam construction does not only yield positive impacts. The Akosombo Dam flooded a large part of the Volta River Basin, forming the Volta Lake, one of the largest man-made lakes in the world. Flooding consumed villages and displaced over 80,000 people, and led to a loss of economic activities and the uprooting of livelihoods of downstream communities.

Today, Ghana is actively implementing further water resources development to boost hydropower production as the

demand for electricity continues to increase and the current low levels of water in the Akosombo Dam curtail optimal hydropower production, plunging the country into darkness regularly. In addition, there is a huge irrigation potential in the Volta River Basin. These planned developments will affect the natural systems on which large parts of the rural population in the basin depend. The realization of this dependency on natural infrastructure and the benefits derived from them should be taken into consideration during the planning and design stages of these projects, in order to minimize adverse impacts. Within the Volta River Basin, both natural and built infrastructure provide livelihood benefits for people, and both types of infrastructure need to be able to operate in tandem. As seen with the Akosombo Dam, neglecting the benefits of natural infrastructure has created a conflict between national interest and dam-affected communities. Future developments need to find an appropriate balance between built and natural infrastructure. Understanding the interrelationships between the two types of infrastructure is the only way we can make progress towards sustainable

IWMI West AfricaNEWSLETTER

Akosombo Dam, Ghana.

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water resources development and management, especially as the pressures on water resources and the impacts of

natural built infrastructure in the Volta River Basin through the WISE-UP to Climate project.

climate change continue to intensify. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) is at the forefront of research on

Meetings and workshops

CGIAR plans to further support agricultural development in Ghana

Numerous governmental and non-governmental groups have shown a great interest in the further development of agriculture in Ghana and have taken tangible steps to meet their goals. Among those involved in this effort are stakeholders from key government ministries and agencies, research institutions, universities, development partners, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and farmer-based organizations in the country’s agriculture sector. These groups have come together to improve coordination and communication, and to understand how CGIAR’s integrated efforts can align with the priorities of the group and those of Ghana. For this reason, a national consultation workshop under the theme ‘Developing integration plan and coordination mechanism for CGIAR research to support agricultural development in Ghana’ was held on March 2-3, 2016, at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Accra, Ghana. Present at the workshop were representatives from nine CGIAR centers and six CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs), as Participants at the national consultation workshop in Ghana.

WLE meeting on sustainable agriculture in the Volta and Niger river basins

The Volta and Niger river basins are home to large populations of farmers

Striking the right balance in sustainable waste management: The public-private partnership approach

With increasing population and rapid urbanization, the need for effective and sustainable waste management solutions is becoming more pressing. Strong collaboration between the public and private sectors is necessary to address this issue. IWMI has been working on innovative public-private partnership (PPP) models in resource recovery and reuse (RRR) in Ghana and Sri Lanka to leverage

the economic, environmental and social potential of waste-based solutions. Recovering resources from refuse can ease the waste burden and generate additional income. Through appropriate treatment, energy and nutrients can be efficiently recovered from solid and liquid waste. Organic fertilizer, briquettes, biogas and other waste-based products have the potential to develop viable value chains. IWMI has now begun to analyze the success factors and risk mitigation options for applicable PPPs in RRR, building on previous research conducted and projects implemented by the Institute. In upcoming research activities, IWMI will assess all stages of PPP management, including partnership brokerage, feasibility assessment, contract management, business planning, monitoring and evaluation, and risk management. Validation and dissemination of the findings and recommendations will be achieved through learning conferences that will allow cross-regional exchange. Emerging lessons will be applied immediately to existing IWMI-led PPP activities for practical reference and proof of concept. IWMI thereby combines practical implementation, theoretical analysis and practice-oriented guidance holistically, while building a community of practice. The analysis and findings will also reach beyond RRR, for example, to improve PPP in irrigation.IWMI researchers interacting with officials from Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly (YKMA).

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well as stakeholders from numerous groups. The workshop helped to develop an integration plan for agricultural development, and define a coordination mechanism and resource modalities for implementing the integrated plan. The site integration and national consultative process in Ghana is being led by IWMI and the CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).

who could benefit from efficient and sustainable agricultural techniques. The need for sustainable agriculture has driven much of IWMI’s research over the years. For this reason, it is imperative that IWMI plans and coordinates with

other organizations to oversee research endeavors on sustainable agriculture. On June 7-9, 2016, numerous groups got together to discuss a sustainable approach to agriculture in the Volta and Niger focal regions. The focal region of

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the work of WLE in the Volta and Niger basins in the previous 18 months. The workshop presented WLE’s emerging contributions to sustainable agriculture in the region through ecosystem-based approaches. Opportunities to influence

policy decisions, and to collaborate and engage further with stakeholders were identified. The workshop also helped the groups to coordinate with the 40-year national plan for Ghana as a key platform for research uptake.

A cross-section of stakeholders at the meeting. Panel discussions.

Project activities

Intensifying sustainable agricultural production

Project title: Scoping study to understand and identify viable options for interventions to improve climate-resilient agricultural systems in northern GhanaDonor: Department for International Development (DFID), UKProject duration: February - August, 2016 Contact: t.o.williams@cgiar.org

Identifying viable interventions for climate-resilient agricultural systems

A scoping study to identify viable interventions to make agricultural systems in northern Ghana more climate-resilient has begun. This new study seeks a good understanding of the (1) opportunities for a market development program for the

Interacting with some onion farmers in northern Ghana.

Stakeholder consultations on the implementation of the ILSSI project in Ghana

The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation (ILSSI) project aims to increase food production, improve nutrition, accelerate economic development and contribute to protection of the environment through improved access to small-scale irrigation technologies. The project being implemented in Ethiopia, Ghana and Tanzania seeks to achieve these objectives through identifying, testing and demonstrating technological options

for small-scale irrigation in vegetable and fodder producton. On June 23, 2016, a national stakeholder meeting was held in Accra to validate key results emanating from the first two and half years of

implementation of the project in Ghana, and to also plan future activities. Participants from national and international research institutes, universities, the private sector, government organizations and

WLE held a regional workshop under the theme ‘Emerging options for sustainable agricultural intensification in the Volta and Niger basins’. The workshop, which consisted of two sessions, took place at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel and at IWMI’s West Africa Office in Accra. During the first session, participants discussed the progress made by their projects and reflected on the synergies between different projects. Key issues discussed by the participants included gender and ecosystem research, communication efforts, and new opportunities to utilize existing and completed research. During the second session, key stakeholders from the government, international organizations and NGOs engaged in a discussion of

region to support market-driven conservation agriculture approaches; (2) nature of the small-scale irrigation sector in northern Ghana to identify the right mix of interventions in the irrigation water management market to improve the performance and productivity of market-oriented smallholder farmers; and (3) opportunities for combining climate-smart irrigation and flood management in areas under recession agriculture. Expected outcomes from this project include enhanced agricultural production of onions, rice, groundnuts and vegetables; and better access to markets for, and improved livelihoods of, smallholder farmers.

Project title: Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation (ILSSI)Donor: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)Partners: International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), University for Development Studies (UDS), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Animal Research Institute (CSIR-ARI), Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), iDE, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)Project duration: November 2013 - August 2018 Contact: d.kadyampakeni@cgiar.org and n.lefore@cgiar.org

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Participants at the stakeholder workshop. Thor Windham-Wright (independent consultant) facilitating the discussions.

NGOs attended the meeting. Presentations were led by Dr. Srinivasan (Texas A&M University, USA), Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni (IWMI), Dr. Tunde Amole (ILRI) and Dr. Joseph Amikuzuno (UDS, Ghana). Key issues discussed included field-level pilot interventions in small-scale irrigation in vegetable and fodder producton, and a household-level survey on the impacts of small-scale irrigation on livelihoods. Constraints to successful

and productive small-scale irrigation and irrigated fodder interventions in Ghana were also identified for inclusion in the Integrated Decision Support System (IDSS) framework.

Ensuring water security in smallholder farms

In northern Ghana, farmers’ income and food security are vulnerable to rainfall variability, which is often affected by floods and droughts.

Project title: Securing water for improved seed and high-value vegetable production in flood-prone areas of northern Ghana (the Secure Water project)Donor: USAID through the Agriculture Technology Transfer (ATT) project of the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)Partner: Conservation AllianceProject duration: January 18, 2016 – June 30, 2017 Contact: d.kadyampakeni@cgiar.org

An installed Bhungroo at Weisi in Builsa South.

During the rainy season, there is excess water, whereas waterlogged lands become completely dry in the dry season. Limited access to water for dry season cultivation limits farmers’ ability to maximize production from agricultural lands. Addressing this issue, the Secure Water project provides water management interventions to enable sustainable dry season agricultural production. Two water management interventions - the Bhungroo Irrigation Technology (BIT) and the Pave Irrigation Technology (PIT) - are being tested in collaboration with smallholder farmers in flood-prone areas of northern Ghana. The project will produce an investment plan for out-scaling these technologies in Ghana.

Enhancing research into policy and practice

Scientific research results can only lead to improved livelihoods if they are taken up in policy processes and field practices. The Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) joined WLE, which is led by IWMI, in a drive to implement relevant research results in the SADA zone with the aim of improving livelihoods. SADA and IWMI co-organized a knowledge fair in Tamale, Ghana, on February 16-17, 2016, which brought together major stakeholders in the SADA zone to share experiences and encourage learning on current research and development interventions in natural resource management. The fair showcased the work of IWMI and WLE in northern Ghana, including the intensification of sustainable agricultural production through improved smallholder irrigation,

For complete proceedings of the knowledge fair, visit http://sadagh.org/Documentation/49893-Proceedings%20of%20the%20WLE-SADA%20Knowledge%20Fair_%20Final.pdf News story: Dry-season farming: A great opportunity to transform the economy of northern Ghana

Women in Ghana engaged in rice farming under irrigation.

flood-recession farming, and enhanced rainfed production systems and related ecosystem services. Mr. Charles Abugre, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SADA, noted that unique opportunities exist to harness the water in the Volta, its values, and ecological goods and services to provide livelihoods and transform the economy of the SADA zone. Thus, he sees the research conducted by WLE as being very timely and paramount to the aspirations of SADA.

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Improving flood-recession agriculture for food security

Flood-recession agriculture (FRA) has the potential to enhance food security in northern Ghana. To better understand this approach, IWMI has expanded its efforts to study production systems,

Project title: Flood recession agriculture for food security in northern GhanaDonor: USAID through IFPRIPartner(s): IFPRIProject duration: November 01, 2014 – September 30, 2016 Contact: b.balana@cgiar.org

water management practices, and relevant market information (prices of inputs and outputs) needs in support of FRA. IWMI researchers worked with selected communities in the identification and classification of FRA in northern Ghana.

Interviews held with a few farmers practicing flood-recession agriculture in the Kare-Natenga community.

Inundated area along the White Volta and its tributaries (Upper East and northern region).source: Benjamin Ghansah, IWMI).

Improving resource recovery and reuse of urban waste

A joint venture agreement was signed between the Volta Ghana Investment Company Limited (VGICL) and Jekora Ventures Limited (JVL) on April 14, 2016, to commercialize waste-based fuel briquettes in Ghana for domestic and industrial use. VGICL deals with the construction and

Project title: Creating and capturing value: Supporting enterprises for urban liquid and solid wastes recycling for food, energy and clean environment (CapVal)Donor: Government of the Netherlands (60% subsidy)Partners: Training, Research and Networking for Development (TREND), IWMI, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Resource Centres on Urban Agriculture and Food Security (RUAF) Foundation, JVL, VGICL, YKMA and Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA)Project duration: September 15, 2014 – September 15, 2019 Contact: j.nikiema@cgiar.org

Assessing the market potential for waste-based briquette production

As part of the CapVal project, IWMI investigated the potential market segments for briquettes produced from organic waste in Ghana. The study first reviewed the policy and regulatory frameworks relevant

to the briquetting sector. This was followed by designing suitable briquette business models and a scoping study to identify target market segments for briquettes. Finally, the study assessed the likelihood of adoption of briquettes by end users taking into consideration the case of fish smokers in Ghana.

Representatives from VGICL, JVL and TREND, together with Josiane Nikiema and Philip Amoah of IWMI, after the joint venture agreement was signed.

Signing the PPP agreement after accepting all the terms and conditions.

Joint venture agreement for transforming waste into fuel

IWMI and partners are exploring business opportunities in transforming municipal solid waste (MSW) into fuel briquettes.

renovation of residential and commercial properties. JVL is a waste management company involved in the collection and segregation of MSW so that it can be recycled. The two organizations collaborate in transforming waste into fuel. Another PPP agreement for compost production was signed recently between JVL and Yilo Krobo Municipal Assembly (YKMA). These waste reuse business interventions are in the frame of IWMI’s CapVal project, which aims at piloting three RRR business models in Ghana.

Field assistants talking to some fish smokers in their homes .

Fish being smoked on a Chorkor smoker (developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO], Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Food Research Institute [CSIR-FRI] and women of Chorkor, Ghana, during the period 1969-1971) using firewood.

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Findings from the study:

• Ghana has a number of policies, regulations and institutions in place that support the sustainable use of biomass resources, although biomass briquetting is seldom mentioned. Most of the policies emphasize the sustainable use of fuelwood through the introduction of modern technologies that enhance efficiency in the exploitation of biomass resources, introduction of efficient cooking stoves and having a designated

area for woodlots as opposed to promoting biomass briquettes as a replacement for fuelwood and charcoal.

• When making decisions on purchasing fuel for smoking fish, the quality of the fuel as measured by its burning time and heating value was the most important factor influencing the choice of fuel used by those smoking fish. However, the health impacts were among the factors least considered.

• The total amount of fuelwood used on a monthly basis for smoking fish has a negative impact on the adoption of briquettes; those who use large quantities of fuelwood per month are less likely to adopt briquettes due to their ability to get discounted prices on large fuelwood purchases.

• Most of the customer segments explored lacked awareness and knowledge about the existence of briquettes.

Project title: Marketing strategy and value chain for ‘Fortifer’, an innovative fertilizerDonor: BMZPartner(s): Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, JVL, University of GhanaProject duration: April 01, 2016 - March 31, 2018 Contact: s.gebrezgabher@cgiar.org, k.felgenhauer@cgiar.org

Fortifer product label(photo: Josiane Nikiema, IWMI).

Developing a marketing strategy for the fertilizer ‘Fortifer’

IWMI has developed an innovative fertilizer referred to as ‘Fortifer’ which could enhance agricultural production in Ghana. Fortifer is a unique product comprising organic and inorganic nutrient sources, and merits a strategic product positioning in the fertilizer market. The Marketing strategy and value chain for Fortifer, an

innovative fertilizer project, funded by Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ) (Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), Germany, aims to design marketing strategies to support small- and medium-scale private enterprises engaged in the production and distribution of Fortifer in Ghana. A kick-off meeting was held on June 22, 2016, to launch the project.

Gender and irrigation

Addressing gender challenges in irrigation

IWMI’s work in gender and irrigation has been important to decision makers. Recent studies conducted in the region have shown that challenges in integrating gender into irrigation schemes are not

a result of lack of policies, but rather a lack of implementation of those policies. Introducing new technologies that do not directly improve existing technologies and systems being practiced by farmers make these new technologies unsustainable. This conclusion was reached by stakeholders at a technical workshop that was held to

exchange knowledge on supporting gender equity in irrigation and agricultural water management in Ghana. The technical workshop was organized by IWMI, IFPRI and the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), and held at the Best Western Premier Accra Airport Hotel, Ghana, on April 13-14, 2016, as part of the ILSSI project.

Women on their farms. Participants at the ‘gender in irrigation’ workshop.

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pressing water-related issues, and ultimately contribute to empowering local communities and their members. This will enable communities to identify and work towards common benefits ranging from improved water management to social cohesion, environmental sustainability and broader economic development.

Hydrology and river basin management

are also affected by the damage caused to their properties and the increasing prevalence of Malaria as a result of dams, as seen during the spilling of the Akosombo Dam in 2010. To further explore the project’s implications and initiate discourse on implementation, a durbar (community meeting) was organized at the Volta River Authority (VRA) Akuse Club House to provide details of the findings from the project to all the relevant stakeholders, including chiefs, opinion leaders, and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). The forum agreed that the main issues of great concern were the proliferation of aquatic weeds and prevalence of bilharzia, for which two studies provided alternative solutions (weevils and topical herbal medication) beyond reoperation of the two dams. The guest speaker, Hon. Mavis Ama Frimpong, Eastern Regional Minister, pledged to ensure implementation of the recommendations made by the project.

Participants of the grand durbar. Hon. Mavis Ama Frimpong, Eastern Regional Minister, during her keynote address.

IWMI advises against reoperation of the Akosombo and Kpong dams, and explores the way forwardThe Akosombo and Kpong dams project aims to contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction through the restoration of downstream ecosystems, food systems and livelihoods by reoperating the Akosombo and Kpong dams. In the frame of the Akosombo project led by WRC of Ghana, IWMI i) developed dam restoration hydrographs from the component studies; ii) provided key scientific evidence on the impact of restoration hydrographs; and iii) carried out a cost-benefit analysis of the different flow scenarios. The results of these integrated studies show that, from a technical and economic point of view, reoperation of the two dams is not advisable. Rather, the project identified alternative livelihood strategies for the downstream communities, including the provision of water for irrigation to smallholder farmers. VRA intends to incorporate some of the research findings into their planning process and implement them as part of its corporate social responsibility.

Inclusivity as a path to progress in Burkina Faso

An important objective of IWMI is to assist local government and local populations in Burkina Faso to find new ways to strengthen institutions that are critical to the implementation of water reforms, and foster policy development through shared experiences and learning. A new project is being implemented by IWMI in Burkina Faso as part of the thematic priorities of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) rural development sector. The project will use a participatory action research methodology to allow stakeholders to achieve progress through a process of self-awareness, experience sharing and rethinking of objectives in water management. Activities include participatory mapping, which provides a valuable insight into community perceptions and attitudes towards landscapes and resources. In implementing this project, IWMI intends to contribute to building community cohesion, help rural communities to be involved in water-related decision making, raise awareness about

Project title: Participatory planning for more inclusive and sustainable water management in rural Burkina FasoDonor: ADAPartners: Agence de l’eau de Mouhoun; Agrinovia, University of Ouagadougou; Vienna University of TechnologyProject duration: September 01, 2016 - August 31, 2019 Contact: l.debevec@cgiar.org

Project title: Reoptimization and Reoperation study of the Akosombo and Kpong damsDonor: African Water Facility (AWF) through the African Development Bank (AfDB)Partners: Water Resources Commission (WRC), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Water Research Institute (CSIR-WRI), Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), Centre for African Wetlands (CAW)Project duration: August 2013 - June 2016 Contact: m.mul@cgiar.org

Grand durbar with downstream communities on the Akosombo and Kpong reoperation and reoptimization project

Dam development majorly impacts nearby livelihoods through the displacement of people to form the upstream reservoir and through changing downstream flow regimes. IWMI has explored how its research findings on dam reoperation may improve the livelihoods of downstream communities. Reoperation scenarios showed clear trade-offs between different benefits in the Lower Volta. Although downstream communities are expected to benefit from more natural flow regimes, they

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Small reservoirs can help adapt to climate variability in semi-arid areas

Small-scale farmers in water-scarce areas can be more resilient to climate variability if they have access to water in the dry seasons. The IWMI-led project on Managing water and food systems in the Volta and Niger basins explores the role that small reservoirs play in securing water functions and livelihoods in vulnerable landscapes, by analyzing the social, economic and biophysical complexities involved in the management of these reservoirs in Burkina Faso. However, both the positive and negative interactions between small reservoirs, farmers’ livelihoods and their water-dependent agricultural practices have been given little attention in research

consideration both the natural and human factors in the landscape. To ensure human health and sustained benefits of the small reservoirs, a proactive approach to water quality is needed. The use of small reservoirs for vegetable production has been increasing, even though most of the earlier small reservoirs constructed were for livestock watering. Specific case studies of small reservoirs show that both planned and unplanned small reservoirs such as Navrikpe and Bapla, respectively, serve as important sources of water for farmers, thereby improving their livelihoods. However, the water in unplanned reservoirs is not always fully exploited.

A small reservoir (Bapla reservoir). Interacting with a women farmers’ association in Navrikpe community.

Project title: Managing water and food systems in the Volta and Niger basinsDonors: European Commission/International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)Partners: ILRI, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) and La recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD)Project duration: January 01, 2014 - December 31, 2016 Contact: o.cofie@cgiar.org

Climate-smart water management innovations in West Africa

Weather station installed at a climate-smart village in Tongo, near Segou, Mali. A group of farmers participating in a discussion on climate-smart water management technologies in Tongo, Mali.

Climate-smart water management innovations in Mali and Burkina Faso

Understanding the mechanisms and trade-offs in investing in water storage innovations is important in agricultural water management interventions. For this reason, IWMI is exploring options for developing climate-smart agricultural

conducted in the past. For this reason, IWMI’s research in Burkina Faso aims to gain a better understanding of how social, cultural and economic characteristics of communities influence or are influenced by water-dependent agricultural practices around reservoirs in a watershed. To further understand the role of these reservoirs, a case study conducted in March 2016 at the Navrikpe reservoir identified the living conditions of small-scale farmers, and compared a range of indicators before and after the establishment of the water reservoir.

Most small reservoirs in the Volta Basin in Burkina Faso fall within the moderate to high natural and anthropogenic impact zones. Analysis of water samples from selected small reservoirs in Burkina Faso showed the presence of pathogens (Vibrio cholerae) and pesticides, indicating the ongoing process of eutrophication. Construction of any small reservoir needs to be designed taking into

testing appropriate water management techniques in Tongo and N’gakoro together with selected male and female farmers. A weather station was installed at a climate-smart village in Tongo to record solar radiation, temperature, humidity, wind speeds and soil moisture remotely as part of the exercise to monitor performance of the technology.

water management technologies in Mali and Burkina Faso. In Mali, on January 11-18, 2016, Davie Kadyampakeni (Researcher - Agricultural Water Management, IWMI) and project partners (Institut d’Economie Rural [IER] and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics [ICRISAT]) defined protocols for selecting and

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Similar activities were carried out in three climate-smart villages (Tougou, Ramdolla and Tibtenga), as well as in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, during a field visit during the period May 29 - June 13, 2016.

Project team from IWMI in a community meeting with farmers at Tibtenga. Malo Florent conducting a survey at Ramdolla.

Publications

Journal articlesPerformance evaluation of Biofil toilet waste digester technologies in Ghana: The efficacy of effluent treatment options

The study assesses the efficacy of a standard biofil toilet digester with regard to its effluent quality, and evaluates the performance of new effluent polishing options being developed by BiofilCom. Influent and effluent were collected from 18 standard Biofil digesters connected to full-flush toilets. Effluent from five pilot installations with improved effluent polishing options were also taken for analyses. Ten other Biofil installations were selected to assess the impact of digester effluent discharge on the surrounding soil. Pollutant concentrations in the Biofil effluent exceeded the standards for discharge of both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana, and World Health Organization (WHO), though pollutant removal efficiencies were high: 84% for biochemical oxygen demand, 86.1% for chemical oxygen demand and 82.4% for total suspended solids.

Amoah, P.; Nartey, E.G.; Schrecongost, A. 2016. Performance evaluation of Biofil toilet waste digester technologies in Ghana: The efficacy of effluent treatment options. Environmental Technology. DOI:10.1080/09593330.2016.1173116

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09593330.2016.1173116?journalCode=tent20

Agricultural land investments and water management in the Office du Niger, Mali: Options for improved water pricing

Focusing on a vast irrigable area in Mali with recent large-scale investments, a bio-economic model was used to demonstrate that an improved water valuation system is needed to balance different water users’ needs while ensuring adequate environmental flow.

Sidibé, Y.; Williams, T.O. 2016. Agricultural land investments and water management in the Office du Niger, Mali: Options for improved water pricing. Water International. DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2016.1178900

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02508060.2016.1178900

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Targeting investments in small-scale groundwater irrigation using Bayesian networks for a data-scarce river basin in sub-Saharan Africa

Many geographic information system (GIS)-based tools have been developed to identify suitable areas for investments in different types of small-scale irrigation, but they do not explicitly address uncertainty on the data input and on the determination of factors that affect success of an investment in a given context. This paper addresses this problem by presenting an application of a decision-support targeting tool based on Bayesian networks that can be used by non-expert policymakers and investors to assess the potential success of specific technologies used for groundwater-based small-scale irrigation.

Katic, P.; Morris, J. 2016. Targeting investments in small-scale groundwater irrigation using Bayesian networks for a data-scarce river basin in sub-Saharan Africa. Environmental Modelling & Software 82: 44-72

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364815216300937

ReportsCo-composting of solid waste and fecal sludge for nutrient and organic matter recovery

Biological treatment, composting, in particular, is a relatively simple, durable and inexpensive alternative for stabilizing and reducing biodegradable waste. Co-composting of different waste sources allows to enhance the compost nutrient value. In particular, integration of ‘biosolids’ from the sanitation sector as potential input material for co-composting would provide a solution for the much needed treatment of fecal sludge from on-site sanitation systems, and make use of its high nutrient content. This research paper elaborates in detail the main parameters that govern the co-composting process as well as factors that control the production of a safe and valuable quality compost. It further explains technological options to tailor the final product to crop and farmer needs.

Cofie, O.; Nikiema, J.; Impraim, R.; Adamtey, N.; Paul, J.; Koné, D. 2016. Co-composting of solid waste and fecal sludge for nutrient and organic matter recovery. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 47p. (Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 3)

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/wle/rrr/resource_recovery_and_reuse-series_3.pdf

Testing the implementation potential of resource recovery and reuse business models: From baseline surveys to feasibility studies and business plans

This report presents a detailed methodological framework that can be used for the feasibility assessment of RRR business models in the context of developing countries. Its purpose is to support public and private sectors as well as investors in determining the potential viability of RRR in a particular location and context. The conceptual framework adopted a step-wise assessment of the implementation potential of RRR business models, consisting of three main phases: (a) prefeasibility study (baseline survey), (b) feasibility study, and (c) implementation planning.

Otoo, M.; Drechsel, P.; Danso, G.; Gebrezgabher, S.; Rao, K.; Madurangi, G. 2016. Testing the implementation potential of resource recovery and reuse business models: From baseline surveys to feasibility studies and business plans. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE). 59p. (Resource Recovery and Reuse Series 10).

http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/Publications/wle/rrr/resource_recovery_and_reuse-series_10.pdf

11

Conference paperEvaluating seasonal soil water dynamics using a simple soil water balance model in northern Ghana

This paper presents the results from field studies of rainfall and runoff monitoring in rainfed maize-based cropping systems in northern Ghana. Rainfall was measured using rain gauges and runoff was estimated using runoff pits in selected field plots. Long-term 20-year weather data were used in simulation experiments using a deterministic water balance model to represent the smallholder rainfed maize crop system. Field studies in the three regions of northern Ghana resulted in the development of regression rainfall-runoff relationships with R2 in the range 0.75 to 0.97 for fields with/without in situ. Further, estimation of the size of water conservation/storage structures could be designed based on long-term rainfall-runoff relations to increase timely crop water availability and reduce spatial losses of water through surface runoff.

Kadyampakeni, D.M.; Ellis, T.; Sidibé, Y. 2016. Evaluating seasonal soil water dynamics using a simple soil water balance model in northern Ghana. Paper presented at the African Soil Science Society Conference, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, February 8-12, 2016. 14p.

Evaluating Seasonal Soil Water Dynamics Using A Simple

Soil Water Balance Model In Northern Ghana

Davie M. Kadyampakeni1*, Tim Ellis1,2, and Yoro Sidibe1

1International Water Management Institute (IWMI) West Africa,PMB CT 112, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.E-mail: d.kadyampakeni@cgiar.org; y.sidibe@cgiar.org;

2Environment Southland – Te Taiao Tonga,Corner of North Road and Price Street,Private Bag 90116, Waikiwi, Invercargill 9810,New Zealand.E-mail: Tim.Ellis@es.govt.nz

*Corresponding author

The Volta River Basin: Water for food, economic growth and environment

ContentsPart 1: IntroductionPart 2: Basin Resources: Trends, Drivers and StatusPart 3: People, Policies and InstitutionsPart 4: Challenges and Opportunities in the Use of Water ResourcesPart 5: Balancing Development and NaturePart 6: Governance and Livelihoods

Williams, T.O.; Mul, M.L.; Biney, C.A.; Smakhtin, V. (Eds.) 2016. The Volta River Basin: Water for food, economic growth and environment. Routledge. 282p.

https://www.routledge.com/The-Volta-River-Basin-Water-for-Food-Economic-Growth-and-Environment/Williams-Mul-Biney-Smakhtin/p/book/9781138900240

This publication is part of the Earthscan series on major river basins of the world.

Newbook

IWMI Regional Office for Africa and West Africa Office IWMI HeadquartersC/o CSIR Campus 127 Sunil Mawatha Airport Residential Area Pelawatte, Battaramulla (Opposite Old Chinese Embassy) Colombo, Sri LankaAccra, Ghana Mailing address:Mailing address: P. O. Box 2075IWMI Ghana, PMB CT 112, Cantonments Colombo, Sri Lanka Accra, Ghana Tel: +94 11 2880000, 2784080Tel: +233 302 784753/4 or Fax: +94 11 2786854 +233 289 109561/+233 544 088 277 Email: iwmi@cgiar.org Fax: +233 302 784752 Web: www.iwmi.orgEmail: iwmi-ghana@cgiar.org Web: http://westafrica.iwmi.org

Printed: September 2016

IWMI is a member of the CGIAR SystemOrganization and leads the:

RESEARCH PROGRAM ON

Water, Land and Ecosystems

Copyright © 2016, by IWMI. All rights reserved. IWMI encourages the use of its material provided that the organization is acknowledged and kept informed in all such instances.

In the next issue …

IWMI West Africa promotes RRR solutions at the 39th International WEDC Conference in Kumasi, Ghana (July 11-15, 2016)

The conference was organized by the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) at the School of Civil and Building Engineering, Loughborough University, UK. IWMI West Africa held a side event at the conference on July 12, 2016, which was aimed at providing a platform for exchange of knowledge and experiences on innovative technologies in upscaling RRR options. The side event included poster sessions and overview presentations, as well as a high-level panel discussion on upscaling RRR businesses in Africa and beyond with experts from around the world.