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| Irrigation and Water Conservation Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Irrigation and Water Conservation Association |
| Formation | 20th century |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | International |
| Region served | Global |
| Membership | Agricultural, engineering, environmental stakeholders |
Irrigation and Water Conservation Association
The Irrigation and Water Conservation Association is an international non-governmental organization focused on sustainable irrigation practices, water resource management, and agricultural resilience. It convenes practitioners from United Nations Environment Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Bank, and World Wildlife Fund forums to advance field-tested technologies, policy frameworks, and capacity building in arid, semi-arid, and irrigated landscapes. The association engages with a wide array of institutions including national ministries, research institutes, and private sector actors to mainstream efficient water use across major river basins and agro-ecosystems.
The association traces its roots to cross-border collaborations among engineers and agronomists who participated in projects associated with the International Hydrological Programme, Green Revolution initiatives, and post-war reconstruction programs linked to the Marshall Plan and United Nations development agendas. Early convenings included participants from United States Department of Agriculture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and regional commissions such as the Nile Basin Initiative, Indus Water Commission, and Mekong River Commission. Milestones involved partnerships with International Water Management Institute, Rockefeller Foundation, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded agricultural research, reflecting influences from pioneers like Norman Borlaug and institutions such as CIMMYT and CGIAR centers. Over subsequent decades the association expanded engagement with European Commission research programs, Asian Development Bank, and multilateral climate funds, aligning with frameworks negotiated at conferences like the Rio Earth Summit and UNFCCC COP meetings.
The association's mission emphasizes resilient water stewardship, integrating technologies from drip and sprinkler irrigation to soil moisture monitoring pioneered in projects with Israeli Ministry of Agriculture, California Department of Water Resources, and research from Imperial College London and Wageningen University. Objectives include promoting efficient water delivery demonstrated in trials supported by USAID and DFID, advancing institutional reform in collaboration with entities such as the World Bank Group and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and supporting farmer-centric adoption pathways showcased by programs involving International Fund for Agricultural Development and Heifer International.
Governance typically comprises an international board with representatives from national ministries (e.g., Ministry of Water Resources (India), Department of Water Affairs (South Africa)), academic leaders from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Davis, and ETH Zurich, and private sector partners including firms influenced by standards from ISO and American Society of Civil Engineers. Secretariat functions often operate regionally with liaison offices collaborating with regional bodies such as the African Union, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and the European Union institutions, and technical advisory panels including specialists from International Renewable Energy Agency and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Programmatic work spans demonstration projects in river basins like the Ganges Basin, Amazon Basin, and Colorado River Basin, pilot schemes on drip irrigation and precision irrigation with technology providers linked to John Deere, Netafim, and research deployment with CSIRO. Initiatives include watershed restoration modeled after Loess Plateau rehabilitation, salinity management informed by Australian Water Partnership studies, and agricultural water accounting aligned with Global Water Partnership methodologies. Capacity-building courses are delivered with universities and professional bodies such as American Society of Agronomy and Institution of Civil Engineers, and youth engagement programs connect to networks like Youth Water Network and One Young World.
The association supports applied research on evapotranspiration measurement, remote sensing of soil moisture using satellite programs like Landsat, Sentinel-1, and partnerships with European Space Agency and NASA projects. Collaborative studies draw on expertise from CIFOR-ICRAF, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research to model irrigation demand under scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Technical manuals and standards incorporate best practices from United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization hydrology guidance and engineering methodologies promoted by International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage.
Advocacy efforts engage with intergovernmental negotiations at United Nations General Assembly sessions and climate finance mechanisms associated with the Green Climate Fund and Global Environment Facility. The association partners with think tanks and NGOs such as World Resources Institute, The Nature Conservancy, and Conservation International to influence national water policies and integrate nature-based solutions promoted by Ramsar Convention frameworks. Collaborative memoranda have been signed with banking institutions like the Asian Development Bank and philanthropic organizations including Rockefeller Foundation to accelerate investment in sustainable irrigation infrastructure.
Membership comprises public agencies, private corporations, academic institutions, and civil society organizations, including networks tied to International Union for Conservation of Nature, Farmers’ associations linked to unions such as International Federation of Agricultural Producers, and local water user associations modeled on systems in Israel and The Netherlands. Funding streams include grants from multilateral development banks, contracts with governments, philanthropic endowments from entities like Gates Foundation, and fee-based services delivered to stakeholders across transboundary basins. The association maintains transparency through periodic audits and reporting aligned with standards from International Federation of Accountants and governance guidelines from Transparency International.
Category:Water management organizations