Sahel Irrigation Initiative Support Project

closed

The development objective of the Sahel Irrigation Initiative Support Project for Western Africa are to improve stakeholders' capacity to develop and manage irrigation and to increase irrigated areas using a regional ‘solutions’ approach in participating countries across the Sahel. First component, Modernizing the institutional framework is to strengthen the countries’ capacity to scale up irrigation solutions. This component will finance assessments of land and water resources and of local production systems in the PIA, as well as organizational strengthening with a view to provide a basis for viable and sustainable irrigation development using the various Types of Irrigation System. Second component, Financing irrigation investment solutions is to craft irrigation solutions for the various types of irrigation systems based on emerging best practices identified in the participating countries and to implement them. It has two sub-component, (i) Preparation or update of bankable investment proposals, including carrying out feasibility studies and environmental and social assessments for medium or large irrigation schemes and assistance in mobilizing extra financing (US$9.4 million equivalent IDA) and (ii) Design and implementation of irrigation solutions for the revitalization, modernization of existing schemes and construction of new small scale irrigation schemes and appurtenant infrastructure (US$109.6 million equivalent IDA). Third component, Knowledge management and coordination are to: (a) collect, produce, and disseminate useful knowledge and allow irrigation stakeholders to communicate with one another around solutions; and (b) allow efficient coordination of the project’s activities. These will be achieved through the establishment and operation of a regional knowledge and information system, targeted action research and efficient coordination, communication and Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system.