QuickWater_final_workshop

=QuickWater final workshop=
 * 14 September 2012**
 * Addis Ababa, Ethiopia**

The ‘Quick-Water’ project on water related indicators for use in sustainable crop-livestock intensification planning in Ethiopia is part of the first phase of the USAID ‘Feed the Future’ programme. This multi-stakeholder agricultural research project aims to address global hunger and food security issues in sub-Saharan Africa by supporting the transformation of agricultural systems in areas of high poverty. In the first year of the program (2012) research was commissioned to produce tangible short-term outputs and to provide inputs to support the longer term objectives of ‘Africa RISING’. As part of this program in Ethiopia, six ‘quick win’ projects were established. The Quick-water project provides a proof of concept aimed at improving the targeting of water and landscape interventions through better integration of natural resource management and socio-economic factors used in strategic planning, which in turn will increase both productivity and sustainability of livelihoods in crop livestock systems.

The approach adopted is based on identification of development trajectories that take forward existing and planned policy towards agricultural intensification. Eight trajectories of change, which combine a number of practices to achieve different objectives have been identified and developed. These trajectories recognize a number of local spatially variable potential opportunities, limitations, existing livelihood and social conditions. To assess the suitability of these trajectories we have had to select and apply indicators to evaluate the suitability of a practice, combinations of practices, and the likelihood of their adoption by farmers. For each trajectory a number of spatially explicit indicators (1 to a maximum of 5) were selected. The final product from this development and analysis is a set of maps of suitability. Collectively these elements provide a toolbox for targeting and prioritizing future land use interventions to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods at a landscape scale. To test the proof of concept of the approach we tested the toolbox through two pilot workshops with Ethiopian university researchers and regional policy staff in which we gathered comments on the use and applicability of the approach. These comments will help focus the work if there is a subsequent call for development and incorporation into the wider second phase of Africa- RISING.

The GIS tool, maps and trajectory tool box are available, together with all of the project detailed working are available for viewing and downloading from the Africa Rising website wiki


 * List of participants**

Agenda

 * 8.30 || Registration – please by prompt so we can start on time and finish early J ||
 * 9.00 || Welcome (Charlotte MacAlister, Project Leader, IWMI) ||
 * 9.10 || Participant introductions ||
 * 9.30 || Introduction to Feed the Future: Africa RISING ( Peter Thorne, ILRI Lead, Africa Rising) ||
 * 9.40 || Introduction to Africa Rising Quick Wins – Quick Water (Charlotte MacAlister, IWMI)

Presentation ||
 * 9.55 || Agricultural development policy and initiative background in Ethiopia – from MERIT to FEWsnet (Gebre Gebrehaweria, IWMI) ||
 * 10.15 || Coffee ||
 * 10.45 || Selection of development/intensification trajectories and indicators for Ethiopia (Teklu Erkossa, IWMI / Amare Haileslassie, ILRI) ||
 * 11.15 || Roundtable discussion and feedback on initial trajectories and indicators – all participants ||
 * 12.00 || Lunch ||
 * 1.00 || Mapping indicators and development of toolbox (Catherine Pfeifer/An Notenbaert, IWMI-ILRI) ||
 * 1.30 || Demonstration of tool (Catherine Pfeifer / Yenenesh Abebe, IWMI-ILRI ) ||
 * 2.00 || Roundtable testing of toolbox by participants assisted by IWMI / ILRI staff ||
 * 2.45 || Coffee ||
 * 3.00 || Feedback on toolbox and discussion on future of Quick Water in Ethiopia – all participants ||
 * 3.45 || Closing (Charlotte MacAlister) ||