Albania Irrigation Rehabilitation Project in the Context of Community Driven Development

WUAs in Albania Established in 1994 Manages Entire Irrigation Schemes – From Primary to On-Farm Self Financing (no subsidies) 408 WUAs, 21 Federations covering 180,000 ha, 200,000 families (1/3 of total population)

A Head Work

A Primary Canal

A Secondary Canal

A Field Application

WUAs Democratic Organization to Manage Irrigation Facilities ( hectares) involves villages Responsible for O&M for Irrigation Participate in Design/Supervision on Rehabilitation

General Meeting

Election

Impact Better Management -> More Irrigated Area Better Coordination among farmers -> Delivery to the Tail End Cost Recovery Increased from $0 (1994) to $ 700,000 (2000)

Factors Contributing to Success Setting Approach Institutional Support

Setting Government is extremely weak Farmers do not trust the Government Irrigation is critical for agriculture

Approach Community Initiative and Ownership Gradual Empowerment (Learning by Doing) village -> hydraulic based -> federation (50 ha) ( ha) (6,000 ha+) Try or Die (26 percent of WUAs Defunct)

Institutional Support Political Commitment Committed PMU technical assistance, prevention from political manipulation, and supervision Bank - Frequent Supervision Appropriate Legal Framework

Outstanding Issues WUAs Deferred Maintenance Weak Administrative Skills Political Involvement Members Lack of Interest as WUAs get bigger PMU Long-term institution to support WUAs

Recent Actions Systematic Training through a university Financial Audit and Publication of the Results Monitoring of Election Strengthening Internal Control PMU being transformed into National Association of WUAs

Irrigation has some recreational values for communities..

Thank you very much