Groundwater for Food Sustainability and Sovereignty

pipeline

The project aims to improve Indonesia’s water and food security by expanding groundwater irrigation (through new and rehabilitated small-scale irrigation systems), strengthening groundwater governance, and improving the sustainability of irrigation investments. The project will develop 1,300 new irrigation systems and rehabilitate 1,000 existing ones, thereby creating approx. 23,000 ha of additional irrigated area. These investments will be implemented in 17 provinces of Indonesia. In addition, the project will strengthen groundwater governance by providing support for (i) clarifying the legal and regulatory framework; (ii) promoting cooperation between key institutions with groundwater-related mandates; (iii) including groundwater in basin management planning; and (iv) development of groundwater data and models for estimating aquifer-level water balances and sustainable yields. The project will also aim to improve the sustainability of groundwater-based irrigation investments by: (i) strengthening the capacity of farmer groups; (ii) exploring models for recovery of O&M and replacement costs; (iii) assessing feasibility of assets transfer to farmer groups, and (iv) introducing asset management plans. The project will include the following components: (1) Groundwater-based Irrigation Development; (ii) Technical and Institutional strengthening; and (iii) Project Management. The project will leverage the broader regional MPA of which it is a part, and will strengthen capacities through regional exchange and learning across all components.