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Lessons Learned in the Past Four Years and Implementation Strategy in the

Fifth Year

SWHISA Watershed Group

Aug. 05-06/2009Bahir Dar

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LESSONS

SWHISA project activity implementation started since 2005.

Interventions are focusing on water harvesting, research and extension, watershed management and capacity building of partner institutions

However, the watershed component, due to different problems, could not move in the same pace until January 2008 when WME and SCE are employed and started working.

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Lessons cont’d

The experience of the consultants in watershed management activities of the project is, therefore, one and half years old.

Within this period the major lesson learned:

– Experience sharing tour has significantly changed the attitudes of the farmers and the experts to do a better job on implementation of watershed management from the start.

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Lessons cont’d

– Farmers training also contribute substantially to effect some of the development activities in enthusiasm

– The applied participatory approach of the planning process created interest and sense of ownership among the communities.

– Frequent visits to the woredas encouraged the experts and farmers activity implementation

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Challenges Faced During the period

Woreda experts were busy with other activities that have delayed the preparation of the watershed development plan and other assignments.

Lack of explicitness of the role of SWHISA (at woreda level) in the watershed component

High staff turnover at woreda offices

BPR have affected some arrangements and activity schedules

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Opportunities realized

Some woredas and experts were interested to work in the watershed planning, though they were engaged in timely woreda activities

The commitment shown by the community in terms of interest towards watershed development activities

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5th year watershed implementation strategies

Implementation strategies are the following: Provision of training to communities and

experts on watershed management planning. Conduct experience sharing tours to

successful watershed sites in and outside the region for farmers, woreda cabinet, and experts.

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Implementation strategies cont’d

Carry out participatory monitoring and evaluation on watershed activity implementation

Develop and apply community by-laws for the implementation of watershed development activities

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Implementation strategies cont’d

Purchase and supply of forage and tree seeds required for the development work with some improved crop seeds and fruit tree seedlings for demonstration purpose

Purchase and supply of hand tools such as pick axe, shovel, crow bar, and sledge hammer etc. as per the plan for the development work.

Demonstrate fuel saving stoves and solar energy devices.

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Implementation strategies cont’d

Provide financial support the construction of water harvesting schemes at household level as appeared in the watershed plan.

Assist woredas in obtaining resource from other organizations who are interested in implementing the development work

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Implementation strategies cont’d

Focus on the treatment of Household water harvesting (HHWH) catchments with appropriate SWC measures

Create strong linkages among partner institutions and SWHISA including the management through workshops, regular meeting, discussions, and field visits

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Implementation strategies cont’d

For different reasons SWHISA groups have not participated in the process of watershed management planning.

For sustainable development of the watershed, therefore, all groups should participate and contribute to the plan and implementation process as per their expertise.

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Implementation strategies cont’d

Performance indicators can be collected through different measurement methods and observations such as field visits, direct measurement, beneficiary interviews, reports, and workshops.

From this, expected results and effects would be obtained and analyzed accordingly

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THANK YOU!