Download - Republic of the Sudan
Republic of the SudanLocal governance to secure access to land and water in the lower Gash watershed
Dr Ali M. Adeeb
Location
Background
• Land Registry
• Land Allocation
• Water Resources
The Context
• Hadendowa tribeterritory (agro-pastoral way of life)• Spate irrigation scheme• Population pressure (droughts, conflict)
GashRiver
CanalRegulator
Canal Off-take
MasgaMasga Channel
Balak Balak
The Problem- a farmer’s point of view
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
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35000
40000
1947 1950 1993 2003
Year
• Decrease of cultivated area in the scheme
• Decrease of rangeland for livestock
• Inequitable mechanism in place to cope with scheme deterioration
• Fragmented scheme management organisation
Proposed Solutions
• Secure land tenureUpdate of registry, Increase nominal area
• Secure water managementFormation of WUA-Training
• Support natural resource managementHolistic approach (governance, conflict mitigation)
Land & Water GovernanceInnovation
• Clarification of roles, responsibilities, funding of stakeholders
• Access rules to viable land tenure• Devolution of responsibilities over
land and water management to Gur’a level
• Creation of intermediate levels of responsibility for the scheme
Project ImplementationPartnership with the Farmers’ Union
Achievements as of July 2004:• Creation of Legal Committee for Land
Reform• Stakeholders consensus on eligibility
criteria• WUA status officially created• Creation of the Gash Delta Agricultural
Corporation• Maintaining 1st flood for range (tradition)• Flood control for Kassala city
Results & impactsWork in progress…
2005 Objectives on Degain pilot block:
• WUA formed at mesga & block levels
• Land & Water service fee collected• Cleared registry book: list of
tenants, fixed plots allocated• Improved flood control• 20 000 Fd cultivated (50%)
Lessons Learned
About institutional reforms
• Implementation of legal framework (LCLR, WUA) requires intensive consultation processes
• Timing of critical steps has to respect farmers’ priorities regarding the agricultural cycle
• Local organisations (FU) are required to reach critical mass of ownership
Conclusion
• An IFAD loan can be instrumental for Land & Water Governance reform
• The challenge: to turn around from supply-driven state services to active citizen-farmers
• This reform process requires checks & balances to avoid highjacking of change agenda