International Water Law Scholarship Programme

As capacity-building support to its Partner organisations, the Global Water Partnership, together with the University of Dundee, will offer scholarships for 30 participants to undertake a module in International Water Law, in Dundee, 11-29 June 2012.

The module is aimed at persons working in water resources who wish to acquire specialist knowledge of international water law, especially as it relates to transboundary water challenges. The module will be highly appropriate for those with a law degree and environmental science background who want to specialize in transboundary water. The primary target is mid- to high-level practitioners and professionals from governments, NGOs, international organizations, academia, and the private sector.

Applications will be accepted until 3 February 2012.

Read more and apply here or www.gwp.org/GWP-Dundee-2012

Global Water Partnership (GWP)
Drottninggatan 33
SE-111 51 Stockholm, SWEDEN
Phone: +46 8 522 126 30
Fax: + 46 8 522 126 31
E-mail: gwp@gwp.org
Website: www.gwp.org,  www.gwptoolbox.org

Second Arab Water Forum

Second Arab Water Forum was organized by Arab Water Council in Cairo from 20-23 November 2011. A number of office bearers of ICID, VP Dr Ragab Ragab; Prof Mohamed Hasan Amer, President of the Egyptian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage; Prof Abu Zied, Prof Safawat Abdel Dayem and Dr. Hussein El-Atfy VPH and Mr Avinash Tyagi, SG (elect) participated in the Forum.

Out of 22 countries in the Arab region, 18 countries already suffer from water scarcity which is likely to be further deteriorated by 2050, due to population pressure and climate change. Agriculture sector that constitutes roughly 6.8% of GDP(although it reaches more than 30% in some countries) in the region continues to be a major component of the regional economy, providing jobs and food security. Arab countries continue to see agriculture as a sector with the potential for job creation. The participants at the Forum called for greater investment in agriculture and make agriculture a strategic public policy priority by integrating the land and water strategies of the Arab League, Arab Water Council and other organizations in the region with similar food, water and land management strategies. Food security is seen to have close links with the water security for the region. It is also recognized that there is a high potential to save water by improving efficiency and productivity. Science and technology is seen as the key tool for producing more with less. Desalination and use of non-conventional water sources such as use of poor quality water, rain water harvesting and recycling and reuse are seen to have high potential in addressing these challenges.

The participants gathered at the Forum called for policies that should reallocate subsidies to water saving crops and support water saving practices. The participants called for a better communication between the water experts in the region and the politicians and other decision makers and at the same time raise awareness of the general public to the water issues and all other stakeholders that need to be engaged in order to improve the water policies and their implementation.

The region also sees climate change with the consequent increased climate variability as a new and major challenge in its effort to ensure food and water security to its people. It sees the adverse consequences of climate change in the form of more frequent droughts. The ICID office bearers present at the Forum strongly feel that ICID fraternity can play an active role by supporting the region in its efforts to develop resilience in the agriculture system against droughts through proactive actions. They call upon the ICID National Committees in the region to respond to the clarion call coming out of the Forum and draw up a regional response, closely working with the other partners from the region such as FAO and IFAD. The Arab Water Council and other international centers in the Arab region (ICBA and ICARDA) are coordinating three targets out of the eight identified for the food security theme led by ICID and FAO in the 6th World Water Forum. 

Highlights of 62nd IEC, 21st ICID Congress and 8th IMIC

Winners of WatSave Award 2011

Technology: Messrs. Pieter S van Heerden and Charles T Crosby (South Africa)

Innovative Water Management: Prof. Dr. Subhash Madhawrao Taley (India)

Farmer: Mr. Jerry Erstrom (USA)

Best National Committee Award (BPNCA)

South African National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (SANCID) won the fourth Award for "Best Performing National Committee" for its outstanding achievements and contribution to ICID activities.

Best Performing Workbody Award (BPWA)

Working Group on Sustainable Development of Tidal Areas (WG-SDTA) won the third Best Performing Workbody Award.

Best Paper Award

Yanbo Huang, Guy Fipps, Stephan J. Maas, and Reginald S. Fletcher (USA) received 'Best Paper Award 2010' for their outstanding paper titled "Airborne Remote Sensing for Detection of Irrigation Canal Leakage" published in Volume 59, No. 5.

New Secretary General (Designate) - Mr. Avinash C.Tyagi

62nd IEC ratify the selection and appointment of Mr. Avinash C. Tyagi as Secretary General w.e.f. 1 January 2012.

International Centre for Training and Research in Irrigation and Drainage launched in Beijing

A China Research and Training Centre of International Programme for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID) was launched at the hands of ICID President Chandra Madramootoo on 12 July 2011 in Beijing. The impressive inaugural function was graced by the presence of PH Aly Shady, Secretary General M. Gopalakrishnan, VP Willem Vlotman (Australia), VP AK Bajaj (India), VPH Karim Shiati Iran), VPH Cai Lingen, VPH Gao Zhanyi (China), Prof. wang Aiguo, Chairman CNCID, Prof. Li Yangbin, DG of China Irrigation and Drainage Development Center and its staff,  Thierry Facon (FAO), representatives of National Committees of   Canada, Malaysia, Mali, Niger, Nepal, Pakistan, South Africa, and Uzbekistan and all the office bearers gathered here during this occasion, The launch ceremony was held on the occasion of the CNCID-ICID International Workshop on Water Saving Irrigation and Food Security organized during 11- 14 July 2011 with the support of the Ministry of Water Resources, Govt. of China.

The Workshop is a maiden effort following the engagement under ICID's renewed efforts to invigorate the IPTRID, a global programme on Irrigation and Drainage Technology and Research, in tune with the IEC decisions of ICID. The workshop was opened by the Vice minister, Ministry of Water Resources, China Mr. Jiao Yong in the presence of Prof. Jia Jinsheng, President ICOLD In his keynote speech ICID President Madramootoo urged on the need for Global Food Security and the importance for water savings in agriculture which shall drive the future technology and research in the sphere.

In a high level meeting held with His Excellency Hon'ble Minister for Water Resources Dr. Chen Li, expressed his strong commitment in supporting the ICID and in promoting its mission across the globe.

[Summary of the workshop] [Presentations - 33 MB]

Kyoto World Water Grand Prize - Call for applications

The World Water Council and the City of Kyoto invite grassroots organisations from developing countries to submit their candidatures for the 3rd edition of the Kyoto World Water Grand Prize.
During the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille, the award of JP¥3,000,000 will be given to the winning organisation whose grassroots activities work towards addressing critical water needs of communities and regions.

These activities may include projects, awareness-raising campaigns and promotion of participatory process on water-related issues such as water supply and sanitation, water-related diseases, irrigation, drainage, dams, river and lake basins, wetlands, groundwater, poverty, gender and/or ethnic equity, capacity building, community participation, poverty reduction and more. Deadline for applications is 15 July 2011. Apply for the Prize on the Japan Water Forum website.

24th ICID European Regional Conference, Orleans, France - A Summary

The 24th European Regional Conference of ICID on the theme “Groundwater Resource: An Essential Resource to be Saved and Managed” was successfully held on 14-16 March 2011 in Orléans, France. The Conference was attended by 300 participants from 20 countries and more than 100 papers were presented and deliberated in two plenary sessions – Key Notes presentations and Beauce session — and under six parallel topics.

The Keynote Session was inaugurated by President Prof. Dr. Chandra Madramootoo who spoke of global trends in the usage of the groundwater reserves and resulting pressures from overexploitation. Dr. Margat, a world-renowned Hydro-geologist then presented key data on the usage of the groundwater for irrigation, noting its rapid development over the past 50 years and the difficulties of managing a collective resource for which thousands of individuals have liberal access. Pr. Ghislain de Marsily, an eminent Hydrologist and Member of the French Academy of Science, presented a case study on aquifer management in the French region of Marais-Poitevin which calls into question the necessity for extensive knowledge of water resources for its management. On behalf of Dr. T. Shah, Senior Fellow at International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Dr. Marcel Kuper described how communities in the India have responded to aquifer development and overexploitation, noting two distinct responses based on the abundance and accessibility of water resources. Pr. B. Barraqué, Political Scientist and Economist with the French Centre International de Recherches sur l’Environnement et le Développement, described the evolution of water management in Europe, as the status of groundwater resources move from a thing that is privately owned to a common resource under Public Trust.

The plenary Beauce session looked exclusively into the development of irrigation in the French region of Beauce, an important region for grain production in France, and the system progressively put in place to manage volumetric demands on the aquifer. Five presentations provided different points of view on a shared challenge. The other key issues of groundwater management were addressed through paper presentations made under six topics.

The Proceedings and the presentations of the conference are available on the Conference website: http://www.groundwater-2011.net/program_and_proceedings.

Invitation : 21st Congress on Irrigation and Drainage, 62nd International Executive Council meeting and 8th International Micro Irrigation Congress

In a few months from now Iranian National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (IRNCID) will host the ICID’s 21st Congress on Irrigation and Drainage, 62nd International Executive Council (IEC) Meeting, 8th International Micro–irrigation Congress from 15-23 October, 2011 in the magnificent city of Tehran. There will be many other International meetings like FAO organized session on Modernization of Irrigation, high level meeting by Australian National Committee, Symposium on Climate Change among others. We hope delegates will be benefited by the variety of International events, technical exhibition and post conference tours.

IRNCID is fully geared in making this event the most successful and memorable. A special strategic high level council with the Chairmanship of Minister of Energy, a Executive Board has been setup to operationalize the technical, organizational, financial, promotional activities of the event (see box). The strategic high council will work in close cooperation with Minister of Jahad–E-Agriculture, Deputy Minister of Energy for water and wastewater affairs, representatives of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology, Cultural Heritage Organization, Consulting engineering Companies, Contractor Companies, etc. With this arrangement we fully ensure the comfortable and pleasant stay, safety, of all the honorable delegates during the entire period of the event.

It’s my pleasure to appraise the various actions taken by IRNCID and the Congress Secretariat until now as follows:

• A fully functional Congress Website in 7 languages;
• Preparing and widely distributing several bulletins, call for papers and invitations among ICID members and other International Organizations to participate in the events;
• Organization of technical and sightseeing tours to see historical monuments, beautiful coasts of Caspian Sea in the North, Historical and Modern Water Structures of Khuzestan in the South, as well as, tours to historical cities ofISFAHAN and SHIRAZ for the honorable guests. Accompanying persons shall also enjoy themselves in their free time by participating in the attractive Tehran tours.
• The Executive Board has facilitated issuing visas with the cooperation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The participants are requested to fill in the registration form and visa application form by accessing the Congress website.
• The Executive Board has made agreements with many reputed hotels with reasonable prices and hope that participants’ will find it satisfactory. Information of such hotels can be found on the Congress Website.
• The Congresses and various meetings shall be held in the magnificent, modern and fully equipped venue in Tehran. The venue has glorious halls, modern audio – visual equipments, and simultaneous translation facility. The entire organization of the event is handled by a high level internationally experienced organizers.

I am honoured to take this opportunity to invite all ICID members, Office Bearers, Experts/Professionals from various International Organizations to attend this one of the unique and wonderful Tehran Congress, to enjoy the Iranian hospitality in a friendly atmosphere, as well as, to experience technical, social and cultural heritage of Iran. For further information, please refer to the Congress Website <http://www.icid2011.org>.

M.R. Attarzadeh
Deputy Minister of Energy for Water and Wastewater Affairs and
Chairman of IRNCID

President's Visits, March 2011

President Chandra Madramootoo attends INCID Meeting

President Prof. Dr. Chandra A. Madramootoo, during his visit to New Delhi, graciously accepted the invitation from ICID Vice President Er. A.K. Bajaj, Chairman, Indian National Committee of ICID (INCID) and Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC), Govt. of India to attend 27th meeting of INCID held on 24 March 2011 at INCID Secretariat. During the meeting, President had fruitful exchanges with INCID members on various ICID matters which was also attended by Secretary General Er. Gopalakrishnan as a special invitee.

President Chandra delivers a talk on the occasion of 68th NDC-WWC Brainstorming Session,
25 February 2011 

During his visit to New Delhi, one of the key engagements that ICID President Madramootoo, performed related to delivering a talk on “The role of irrigated agriculture in securing global food security” before the New Delhi Associate Centre of World Water Council (NDC-WWC). To the immense benefit of audience gathered on the occasion, President Madramootoo impressed upon the major role irrigation would play when the food production needs to be doubled over the next 25 years to meet increasing population demands. The session was chaired by Secretary General Er. M. Gopalakrishnan who is also the President of NDC-WWC.

The PP presentation made by President on the occasion is uploaded on ICID website at URL: http://www.icid.org/chandra_ndc_wwc_mar11.pdf.

President ICID meets Hon’ble Union Minister of Water Resources, Government of India during his
visit to New Delhi

President Madramootoo had the honour to meet Hon’ble Minister of Water Resources of Indian Union Dr. Salman Khurshid on 25 March 2011. President Madramootoo acknowledged the excellent support that ICID receives since 1950s from Govt. of India. ICID President thanked the Hon’ble Minister for India’s continuing support and encouragement. He recalled the ICID’s Indian National Committee’s role in recent times. The impressive manner in which India could organize the 60th IEC and 5th Asian Regional Conference in New Delhi in December 2009 with the gracious presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh with a galaxy of distinguished cabinet colleagues in inaugural session is still fresh in the minds of ICID fraternity, President Madramootoo told.

President Madramootoo extended an invitation to the distinguished Hon’ble Minister for the upcoming 21st ICID Congress to be held at Tehran, Iran, in October 2011. The ‘Intensification Programme’ for Technology and Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID) and the new thrust since Delhi meet, the possible role for India in the global research in irrigation and drainage sector were the other points of discussion.

(L to R) : Mr. Dhruv Vijai Singh, Secretary, MoWR, Hon'ble Minister of Water Resources Salman Khurshid, President Chandra Madramootoo and Secretary General M. Gopalakrishnan

Secretary General M. Gopalakrishnan accompanied President Madramootoo during the courtesy call. Vice President A.K. Bajaj (Chairman, INCID) had organized the engagement; Water Resources Secretary Mr. Dhruv Vijai Singh too spared time for the meetings.

President Madramootoo in Central Office

President visited Central Office on 25 and 26 March 2011 and held discussions on various ICID matters. He met with all Central Office staff to convey his appreciation for their selfless and dedicated service to ICID.

Visit of President to UK.ICID

On return leg of his visit back to Canada, President Chandra Madramootoo made a quick visit to UK.ICID. He had an opportunity to meet and interact with UK.ICID members at Canfield and HR Wallingford. Presidents Hon. John Hennessy and Peter Lee and also Geoff Pearce, Tom Brabben and Graham Johnson, amongst others, participated. A special lecture was slotted for the ICID President by the members of UK.ICID.

President Chandra Madramootoo and President Hon. John Hennessy at HR Wallingford, UK

U N I T E D   N A T I O N S / N A T I O N S   U N I E S

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
--
MESSAGE ON WORLD WATER DAY
22 March 2011

As the world charts a more sustainable future, the crucial interplay among water, food and energy is one of the most formidable challenges we face.  Without water there is no dignity and no escape from poverty.  Yet the Millennium Development Goal target for water and sanitation is among those on which many countries lag the most.

In little over a generation, 60 per cent of the global population will be living in towns and cities, with much of the increase taking place in the inner city slums and squatter settlements of the developing world.  The theme of this year’s observance of World Water Day -- “Water for Cities” -- highlights some of the main challenges of this increasingly urban future.

Urbanization brings opportunities for more efficient water management and improved access to drinking water and sanitation.  At the same time, problems are often magnified in cities, and are currently outpacing our ability to devise solutions.

Over the past decade, the number of urban dwellers who lack access to a water tap in their home or immediate vicinity has risen by an estimated 114 million, and the number of those who lack access to the most basic sanitation facilities has risen by 134 million.  This 20 per cent increase has had a hugely detrimental impact on human health and on economic productivity: people are sick and unable to work.

Water challenges go beyond questions of access.  In many countries, girls are forced to drop out of school owing to a lack of sanitation facilities, and women are harassed or assaulted when carrying water or visiting a public toilet.  Moreover, the poorest and most vulnerable members of society often have little choice but to buy water from informal vendors at prices estimated to be 20 to 100 per cent higher than that of their richer neighbours, who receive piped city water in their homes.  This is not just unsustainable; it is unacceptable. 

Water problems will figure prominently at the forthcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, in 2012 – Rio + 20.  My High-level Panel on Global Sustainability and UN-Water are examining ways in which we can connect the dots among water, energy and food security, with the aim of reducing poverty and inequality, generating jobs, and minimizing the risks of climate change and environmental stress.

   On World Water Day, I urge governments to recognize the urban water crisis for what it is – a crisis of governance, weak policies and poor management, rather than one of scarcity.  Let us also pledge to reverse the alarming decline in pro poor investment in water and sanitation.  And let us reaffirm our commitment to ending the plight of the more than 800 million people who, in a world of plenty, still do not have the safe drinking water or sanitation they need for a life in dignity and good health.

The 61st International Executive Council (IEC) meeting and 6th Asian Regional Conference (ARC) of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) were held during 10-16 October 2010 at Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The theme of the 6th Asian Regional Conference was “Improvement of irrigation and drainage efficiency through participatory irrigation development and management under the small land holding conditions”.

During events, over 31 ICID Workbody meetings and 2 Special Sessions were held.  The papers received for 6th Asian Regional Conference were presented in 9 Technical Sessions. Three full day seminars were held by WG-ENV, WG-HIST and WG-YPF.  The events were organized by the Indonesian National Committee of ICID (INACID) under the leadership of Dr. Ir. Roestam Sjarief, President of Indonesian National Committee of ICID (INACID) and Dr. A. Hafied A. Gany, Vice President of ICID.

More than 500 delegates from 35 countries of which 196 were foreign delegates participated in various events.  The following are the highlights of the events:

Opening Ceremony

The 6th Asian Regional Conference was inaugurated by His Highness Sri Paduka Paku Alam the 9th / Vice Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region; H.E. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources Government of India; Mr. Agus Widjanarko, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Public Works represented the Minister of Public Works of the Republic of Indonesia; Prof. Chandra A. Madramootoo, President of the ICID; Dr. Ir. Roestam Sjarief, President of INACID and Mr. Imam Agus Nugroho, Chairman of the Organizing Committee graced the occasion.  President Madramootoo delivered the opening address.

Exhibition

An impressive number of international and national agencies, manufacturers of irrigation and drainage products put their stalls in an exhibition which was also inaugurated by His Highness Sri Paduka Paku Alam the 9th / Vice Governor of Yogyakarta Special Region.

New Vice Presidents

• Dr. Ragab Ragab (United Kingdom)
• Engr. Husnain Ahmad (Pakistan)
• Mr. Chaiwat Prechawit (Thailand)

The ICID WatSave Award Winners

• Technology Award -  Dr. Keith Weatherhead, Mr. Melvyn Kay and Dr. Jerry Knox (UK)
• Innovative Water Management Award - Mr. Kobus Harbron (South Africa)

Best Paper Award 2010 was presented to W. Ghazouani (France), S. Marlet (France), Mekki (Tunisia) and A. Vidal (France) in recognition of their paper on “Farmers' perceptions and engineering approach in the modernization of a community-managed irrigation scheme : A case study from an oasis of the Nefzawa (South of Tunisia)” published in Volume 58, Issue S 3.

MoUs – Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed  between International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) and Chinese National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (CNCID) to set up a Research and Training Centre in Beijing, China.

Another Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID), Regional Association on Irrigation and Drainage in West and Central Africa (RAID-ARID) and French National Committee of ICID (AFEID) to consolidate the bonds between ICID, RAID-ARID and AFEID.

New Chairs, Vice Chairs and Secretaries of ICID Workbodies

• VPH Felix Britz Reinders (South Africa) will serve as the new Chairman of PCTA
• Vice President Laszlo G. Hayde (Hungary) will serve as new the Chairman of ERWG.
• Dr. Kamran Emami (Iran) will serve as the new Chairman of WG-CAFM.
• Mr. Yaser Barghi (Iran), Ir. Fabian Priandani (Indonesia) and Ms. Hayati binti Zainal (Malaysia) will serve as the new Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of WG-YPF.
• Dr. Luis Rendón Pimentel (Mexico) and Ing. Agr. Sergio Domingo de Agrela Vaccarezza (Uruguay) will serve as the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of AMRWG.
• Mr. Laurie Tollefson (Canada) will serve as the Chairman of TF-BIO-ENERGY.
• PH Bart Schultz (The Netherlands) and Mr. François Brelle (France) will serve as Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of TF-WWF6.
• Prof. Daniele de Wrachien (Italy) and Mr. Bernard Vincent (France) will as new the Associate Editors, respectively, of EB-Journal.
• VPH Dr. Mohammed Hassan Amer (Egypt) and Dr. Juan Antonio Rodriguez (Spain) will serve as the new Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of WG-WATS.
• PH Peter S. Lee (UK) and Ms. Mary Jean Gabriel (South Africa) will serve as the Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of WG-POVERTY.
• Prof. Sylvain-Roger Perret (France) and Dr. Michael van der Laan (South Africa) will serve as the new Vice-Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of WG-ENV.
• Dr. K. Yella Reddy (India) will serve as the new Secretary of WG-CROP.

Re-named ICID Workbody

PCSPOA renamed as Permanent Committee on Strategy and Organization (PC-SO)

Closing Ceremony

Dr. Ir. Moch Amron, Director General of Water Resources, Indonesia delivered the closing speech and President Chandra Madramootoo the closing remarks.

Newly Elected Vice Presidents (2010-2013)

Dr. Ragab Ragab (United Kingdom)
Engr. Husnain Ahmad (Pakistan)
Mr. Chaiwat Prechawit (Thailand)

PowerPoint Presentations

• President Chandra Madramootoo during 61st IEC Meeting
• President Hon. Aly M. Shady

Winners of WatSave Awards 2010

Technology Award : Dr. Keith Weatherhead, Mr. Melvyn Kay and Dr. Jerry Knox (UK)

Innovative Water Management Award : Mr. Kobus Harbron (South Africa)

Best Paper Award 2010

Farmers' perceptions and engineering approach in the modernization of a community-managed irrigation scheme. A case study from an oasis of the Nefzawa (South of Tunisia)
W. Ghazouani, S. Marlet, Mekki and A. Vidal
Volume 58, S3

Yogyakarta Declaration

Memorandum of Understandings (MoU)

Between ICID and Chinese National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (CNCID) to set up a Research and Training Centre at Beijing, China

Between ICID, Regional Association on Irrigation and Drainage in West and Central Africa (RAID-ARID) and French National Committee of ICID (AFEID) to consolidate the bonds between ICID, RAID-ARID and AFEID