National Irrigation and Energy Efficiency Improvement Project

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The project will be designed to ensure consistent policy, investment, and institutional approaches to deliver climate resilient water services. The project includes national-level activities, basin-level activities, and rural level activities. The project is aligned with the approved National Water Sector Development for 2020-2030 which has the goal of “creating conditions for meeting ever-growing needs of people, economy and environment for water, ensure safe and reliable operation of hydraulic infrastructure efficient water management and use, improve land reclamation of irrigated lands and achieve water security” and with the country’s climate change adaptation and mitigation agendas. The project will be structured in three components. Component 1: Infrastructure Investments and Irrigation Service Improvements. It finances civil works, goods, equipment, and related services to reduce climate risks in the provision of irrigation and drainage services, and resource utilization efficiency. These investments will be designed with the intent of minimizing GHG emissions through reductions in energy consumption by (i) prioritising gravity-based solutions for irrigation and drainage, (ii) increasing pumping efficiency for service delivery, and (iii) promoting water conservation through water metering and on-farm interventions. Hence, this component is climate co-benefit intensive.At the level of infrastructure assets, the project finances rehabilitation and modernization of existing irrigation and drainage canals and appurtenant structures. The rehabilitation and modernization are based on the World Bank’s Resilient Water Infrastructure Design principles. These activities support adaptation to drought risks through improved conveyance efficiency and control of water use with modern structures, and to flood and mud-flow risks through improved bypasses and protection structures. Modernized and well-functioning I&D schemes also help avoid maladaptation and land-use change related emissions that arise from (a) utilization of diesel pumps to withdraw groundwater to substitute for unreliable canal water supplies and (b) expansion of cropland – with related emissions associated in land-use change - to recoup losses caused by drought and lack of irrigation water supplies. At the farm level, the project will promote climate-smart irrigation practices and resource utilization through (i) improved on-farm water management practices, (ii) deep ripping, (i) laser land levelling and (iv) solar pumping. This will address the rising impact of drought, high temperature and extreme heat risks related to climate change on crop yields and agricultural production. This will also help reduce soil erosion while enhancing soil carbon sequestration and fertility. This component also finances technical assistance for preparation of the engineering studies and designs, as well as construction supervision for the above activities.Component 2: Institutional Strengthening for Climate Resilient Service Delivery, Water Resources Management and Dam Management. This component finances the acquisition and installation of equipment and services to facilitate the uptake of innovations and best-practices for water management based on climate resilience and low-carbon principles. The focus is on improving the institutional knowledge and preparedness with regards to aspects of IWRM and climate resilience, including (a) regulatory and oversight capacity at the national level, (b) operational capacity for service delivery at local level, (c) water and soil quality, and (d) dam and sediment management . Component 3: Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) and Professional Development This component will finance the required staff, consultant services, professional development and operating costs that will allow the Project Implementation Units to carry out their responsibilities for implementation. These responsibilities include project management and coordination, procurement, and financial management, monitoring and evaluation, social and environmental standards management and oversight, communications, and outreach. This component will also finance the preparation of a feasibility study for future investments aimed at improving water services. Finally, this component includes professional development and other interventions to promote gender diversity in water sector entities. For example, the project will support, among others, review of human resources policies on recruitment, promotion and retention in water sector entities, development of guidelines for a safe and comfortable work environment.