Irrigation Management in the Southern Mediterranean: EU project to hold meeting on development of monitoring and evaluation system

AN EU-funded water management project is bringing together a group of experts to work on the development of irrigation monitoring and evaluation systems in the southern Mediterranean.

The Sustainable Water Integrated Management–Support Mechanism (SWIM-SM) project is organising a regional experts group meeting on the development of a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation system for participatory irrigation management and irrigation management transfer process from 2 to 4 September in the Greek capital Athens. 

The project is developing a regional monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system for Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) and Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) Process that is best suited for the southern Mediterranean partner countries, taking into consideration international experience in M&E systems used and/or recommended by international organisations.

The experts’ group meeting aims to contribute to the development of a regional Monitoring & Evaluation system (M&E) for Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) - an approach involving the people who directly use the irrigation water, i.e. farmers - and transfer of irrigation management (IMT) responsibilities from the government to Water Users Associations (WUAs).

Participants will include representatives from national authorities dealing with or distributing irrigation water to water users or their associations, including irrigation Advisory Services,representatives from the national water users or their associations, regional and international experts renowned for their contribution in the establishment, management and operation of water users associations in water scarce countries, and NGOs.

Sustainable Water Integrated Management (SWIM) is a Regional Technical Assistance Programme launched by the EU, with a total budget of approximately €22 million, to contribute to the extensive dissemination and effective implementation of sustainable water management policies and practices in the Southern Mediterranean region.

The Programme carries forward the results achieved by two earlier regional programmes, SMAP (I, II and III) and MEDA Water. SWIM consists of two major components, which are inter-related and complement each other: a Support Mechanism funded with a budget of €6.7 million and Demonstration Projects funded with a budget of €15 million.

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For more information: Information Note