Project News

Based on the results of the baseline survey and discussions with stakeholders, the Project for Water Management and Capacity Building in Rwanda (WAMCAB) reviewed the cascade training implementation structure which was initially planned, and proposed a new structure, in which district administration specializes in monitoring and evaluation (M&E). To examine the new structure, WAMCAB conducted pre-training and M&E on Farm Management for the representatives of Irrigation Water Users Organization (IWUO) and cooperative in the model sites of the three target districts from 10th to 12th February 2020.

The new training implementation structure can involve beneficiaries (IWUO members) from the initial stage of training. Also, before and after the pre-training, WAMCAB discussed with the Task Force (TF) members at the district level regarding the content of the training, implementation structure and M&E system. As a result of the discussion, TF members gained a common understanding of the following points.

• The proposed training implementation structure is a realistic and effective system, as it has achieved certain results in the pre-training.
• On the other hand, regarding the involvement of the district administration, it is necessary to secure the district budget for M&E.

Looking ahead to the future extension to other districts, WAMCAB will continue to consider the collaboration with district administration in the training activities while trying to get them involved in the M&E.

Besides, from mid-February to early March, WAMCAB supported to reorganise the IWUO both in marshland and hillside at the model site of Ngoma district. First, as a preliminary preparation, necessary information such as a water users list and maps of irrigation facilities of Ngoma22 and Mwanbu schemes was organised. After that, WAMCAB explained to the beneficiaries of each scheme the organisational structure and establishment procedure of IWUO and reorganized from the lower level of IWUO through several workshops. The procedure for the IWUO reorganization in Ngoma model site is as follows.

1. In marshland, the members are organized into an Irrigation Unit according to each turnout facility, and Seasonal Water Distributor is appointed who will be responsible for the operation of turnout on each Irrigation Unit. This Seasonal Water Distributor will be rotated among the member of each Irrigation Unit seasonally.
2. Water Users Team was organized for each main canal from each weir in marshland or every five division boxes in the hillside, and a team leader was elected for each Water Users Team.
3. Zonal Committee was organized for every two weirs in marshland or each main canal in the hillside, and two (2) representatives were elected for each committee.
4. Scheme Management Committee was organized for marshland and hillside separately, and three (3) representatives were elected from each Scheme Management Committee.
5. The overall IWUO board member was formed by combining the marshland and hillside scheme members. A joint workshop with marshland and hillside areas was held on 27th February 2020, in the presence of the Vice-Mayor of Ngoma district. Eleven (11) representatives of IWUO board members were elected.

Furthermore, WAMCAB supported to reactivate the District Irrigation Steering Committee (DISC), which had not been organised well so far, in the target districts. As a result, a workshop was held on 5th February, 7th February, and 3rd March in Ngoma, Rwamagana, and Gisagara district respectively under the leadership of the Vice-Mayor of each district. In the DISC meeting, During the meeting RAB has explained the purpose, the structure and role and responsibility of DISC. WAMCAB team also explained the bottom-up approach and its procedure for reorganizing IWUO which was implemented in the Ngoma model site. According to the Ministerial order, Vice-Mayor of the district is the Chairman of DISC, hence the Vice-Chair and secretary were elected during this meeting.

(Shemsu Kemal Andeta, WAMCAB expert in charge of IWUO)
(Shohei SENDO, WAMCAB expert in charge of Farm Management)