AC4D's Proposed Path to Capacity Development for Farmers in the Northern Ghor

Currently in the Jordan Valley, as Water User Associations (WUA) mature and develop they are given additional responsibilities in the area of maintenance and administration of their canal-to-field water infrastructure.  This administration allows a degree of autonomy within the WUA to distribute water based on crop type, water quality and rotational schedule. 

With autonomy comes the opportunity to manage water more beneficially.  Maximizing economic return for farmers, safeguarding the environment and cooperating for mutual benefit can all come from the adoption of irrigation best management practices (BMP). 

Our goal is creating a Win-Win-Win for Farmers - The JVA - Operation Mercy.

We propose a three step process in coordination with the Jordan Valley Authority and GIZ

By cooperating we all achieve our goals. 

Farmers: Increase Revenue & Decrease Risk

JVA:  Is given an inducement to move WUAs toward a greater degree of autonomy. 

Operation Mercy:  Fulfills it’s mandate for partnering to build capacity, hope  and community. 

A Three Step Process:

1. Operation Mercy meets with members of the JVA two high performing Water User Associations to assess the type of upgrading and training needs within the WUA.                           
2. Operation Mercy brings in an expert in this field to offer a training workshop that focuses on practical strategies for addressing the needs assessed by the WUA.  This cycle continues for the 1^st year with a number of capacity development trainings focusing on only a few (2-4) WUAs.                                                                                                                   
3. After the first year the WUAs who have received trainings are required to offer a training to another WUA for every training that they receive.  Capacity is developed within the first 2-4 WUAs to offer training thereby allowing the AC4D model to equip 4-8 new WUAs in the second year.  The WUAs who are active in teaching have the opportunity to receive upgrading both in field and out.  Those that are willing to participate in the training model receive more training and upgrading opportunities over a longer timespan than those who are not.