Activities

The Spate Irrigation Network intends to promote appropriate spate irrigation development programmes and facilitate knowledge exchange on spate irrigation through documentation and capacity building.

Between December 2001 and June 2004 with support of DFID spate irrigation guidelines were developed. In 2006/ 2007 training packages were developed for Yemen and Pakistan with support of NUFFIC. A training package on spate irrigation in Ethiopia is under preparation together with the Haramaya University.

At present the Spate Network is documenting local practices in Yemen and Eritrea partnership with the Institute for Low External Input Agriculture (Leusden, the Netherlands). More information available on the documentation site of LEISA.

A technical meeting on spate irrigation was organized with the FAO from 7-10 April 2008, the first meeting of its kind in 20 years. This meeting had country case studies from Algeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Iran, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Pakistan and Yemen. In addition there were technical papers on engineering, soil moisture management, sediment control and water rights. The papers will be published in proceedings by FAO.  A brainstorm on the future of the Spate Network was held as well: main points of discussion of 8 April>>

The preparation of the updated guidelines as an FAO publication is underway and scheduled for the second part of 2008. 

IFAD has asked the Spate Network to undertake a global assessment of spate irrigation development opportunities in the context of poverty alleviation and climate change adaptation. This paper is attached (IFAD Paper 2 Mb)>>

The Spate Irrigation Network is also providing support to Small Scale River Diversion Development Programme in the Western Lowlands, Eritrea supported by SOS-FAIM and  the EU Food Security Project in Tihama, Yemen.

A short course on spate irrigation is planned at UNESCO-IHE from 10-21 September 2008.  Please download the brochure here: Spate Irrigation Short Course Brochure

A national Spate Irrigation Network is in place in Yemen, hosted by the Water and Environmental Centre of the University of Sana'a. National network are in preparation in Pakistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea.