Lisa Schipper, PhD International Water Management Institute IIED/IISD Development & Adaptation COP11 4 December Montreal A Closer Look at Water Resources Management for Adaptation: Small-Scale Irrigation for Adapting to Droughts in Ethiopia

Project Objectives: Impact of irrigation development on rural poverty and the environment  Quantify impacts of irrigation development  Information to improve performance of irrigated agriculture  Help guide future irrigation investments  Develop methodological guidelines for assessing impact of irrigation investment  Environmental impact  Policies and institutions for irrigation in Ethiopia  Capacity building  Impacts of irrigation on livelihoods during drought

Irrigation: A Solution to Increased Rainfall Variability?  Not physically but economically water scarce  Water management itself a challenge  Very little irrigation now  Significant interest  Supplemental to rainfed  The question: Is irrigation a sustainable adaptation to climate change and variability?

Challenges to Irrigation in Ethiopia  User conflicts  Low technical capacity  Regional differences  Insecure land holdings  Irrigation unreliable during drought?  Drought-food security link?

Vulnerability in Ethiopia  Dependency: food aid  High population growth  Highly sensitive to El Niño & La Niña  Few alternative livelihoods  Agriculture focus for development  Emergency mindset – social construction of risk

Research Questions  How are surrounding communities affected by nearby irrigation schemes?  What are the long-term impacts of irrigation on vulnerability to climate change?  What is the role of irrigation for adapting to climate change?  What is the link between irrigation, drought and food security and to what extent can irrigation address food security? Can this only be on a small scale or also on a larger scale and what sort of irrigation is needed for this?

Any comments? Work in progress – your input is welcome me: