Assessing the Outcomes of IWMI's Research and Interventions on Irrigation Management Transfer

Abstract

"Irrigation management transfer (IMT) served as the cornerstone of the research agenda of the International Irrigation Management Institute (IIMI) and later, the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) for nearly a decade. The research theme arose for IWMI in response to the growing evidence of under-performance by publicly owned irrigation schemes and widespread belief that the transfer of management responsibilities to farmer organizations could improve the management of irrigation systems and make irrigated agriculture more productive and sustainable. IIMI/IWMI contributions to the topic included literature reviews and analyses of experiences and impacts of past IMT processes, advice to policymakers in planning and implementing IMT, and the development of generic IMT guidelines and technical support for governments implementing IMT programs. The purpose of this paper is to summarize IIMI/IWMI'spast research and interventions related to irrigation management transfer and to document, to the extent possible, the academic, policy, and technical outcomes of these efforts. The application of a range of direct and indirect measurement techniques suggests an overall positive contribution from IWMI to IMT theory and application. Bibliometric and webmetric analyses suggest a large and continuing demand for IWMI research products on IMT. Direct and indirect data sources also indicate that IWMI policy and operational level interventions have in general contributed positively to IMT decision-making and action, both nationally through action research projects as well as regionally and globally, through the development of generic IMT guidelines. Finally, the continued demand for IWMI involvement in IMT action research serves as an important indicator of IWMI's past contributions."