Republic of the Sudan Local governance to secure access to land and water in the lower Gash watershed Dr Ali M. Adeeb

Location

Background Land Registry Land Allocation Water Resources

The Context Hadendowa tribe territory (agro-pastoral way of life) Spate irrigation scheme Population pressure (droughts, conflict) Gash River Canal Regulator Canal Off- take Masga Masga Channel Balak

The Problem - a farmer’s point of view Decrease of cultivated area in the scheme Decrease of rangeland for livestock Inequitable mechanism in place to cope with scheme deterioration Fragmented scheme management organisation

Proposed Solutions Secure land tenure Update of registry, Increase nominal area Secure water management Formation of WUA-Training Support natural resource management Holistic approach (governance, conflict mitigation)

Land & Water Governance Innovation Clarification of roles, responsibilities, funding of stakeholders Access rules to viable land tenure Devolution of responsibilities over land and water management to Gur’a level Creation of intermediate levels of responsibility for the scheme

Project Implementation Partnership with the Farmers’ Union Achievements as of July 2004: Creation of Legal Committee for Land Reform Stakeholders consensus on eligibility criteria WUA status officially created Creation of the Gash Delta Agricultural Corporation Maintaining 1 st flood for range (tradition) Flood control for Kassala city

Results & impacts Work in progress… 2005 Objectives on Degain pilot block: WUA formed at mesga & block levels Land & Water service fee collected Cleared registry book: list of tenants, fixed plots allocated Improved flood control Fd cultivated (50%)

Lessons Learned About institutional reforms Implementation of legal framework (LCLR, WUA) requires intensive consultation processes Timing of critical steps has to respect farmers’ priorities regarding the agricultural cycle Local organisations (FU) are required to reach critical mass of ownership

Conclusion An IFAD loan can be instrumental for Land & Water Governance reform The challenge: to turn around from supply-driven state services to active citizen-farmers This reform process requires checks & balances to avoid highjacking of change agenda