PROJECT OVERVIEW
For the past thirty years, the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) has worked with the Ministry of
Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI), to improve water management in
support of economic growth in Egypt. The current project is
LIFE-
Integrated Water Resource Management II (IWRM)
(2009-2012). LIFE, an acronym for
Livelihood and Income from the Environment,
highlights the benefits the initiative provides farmers and the country.
This is a follow-on project to IWRM I (2004-2008).
The IWRM II project is being implemented by the International Resources
Group (IRG)in collaboration with its Ministry partner, the Integrated Water
Management Unit (IWMU). The IWRM II project provides technical assistance,
training, equipment, and the materials needed to enable water user
participation and to advance decentralization of water
management to the
district level.
Integration is Key to
...
• Increased productivity of water resources
• Increased efficiency of water resources
• More equitable allocation of water resources
• Improved water quality
Project
Duration
January 2009 to September 2012
|
IWRM I (2004-2008)
During this period, the IWRM I project focused on five Irrigation
Directorates in four Governorates. The Irrigation Directorates are Zifta,
and West Sharkiya in the Delta; both East and West Qena; and Aswan in Upper
Egypt.
Twenty-seven Integrated Water Management Districts (IWMD) and 600 Branch
Canal Water User Associations were established, managing water for 1.2
million feddans or 15% of Egypt’s agricultural land. Annual water supply to
the target Directorates was reduced 14%. Approximately 9 million farmers and
other water users benefited from the project, 500,000 of them directly
through the BCWUAs
IWRM II
(2009-2012)
During phase two, the IWRM II project is expanding throughout the entire
East Nile Delta to include an additional eight Irrigation Directorates in
seven Governorates. The Irrigation Directorates are Qualubiya, East
Sharkaiya, Salhiya, East and South Dakahliya, Ismailiya, Damietta and
Elsalam.
Forty-five IWMDs and BCWUAs covering 1200 branch canals will be established,
managing water for 2.2 million feddans, or 27% of Egypt’s agricultural land.
It is expected that over 12.5 million farmers and other water users will
benefit from the project, 900,000 of them directly through the BCWUAs.
Partners
• Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation
• Stakeholders from the Ministries of Agriculture
and Land Reclamation, Environment, Education, Housing and Health
• Non-Government organizations
(NGOs). |