First Capacity Building Program on PIM (December 2004)

INPIM and DSI conducted the first international capacity building program on participatory irrigation management from December 5-15 at the International Agrohydrology Institute, Menemen. The course was inaugurated by the Deputy Director General, DSI Mr. Mehmet Gullu. Arrangements for the course were locally coordinated by Mr. Hasan Ozlu and his team in Ankara and the Regional Directorate of Izmir. INPIM coordinated the arrangement. The 10 day training program was both intensive and enjoyable providing a unique expereince for participants to interact, learn, exchange information and practically see turkish water user assocaitions in action. Participants also had a day of local sight seeing to the historic city of Ephesus, virgin Mary and Izmir. The International Agrohydrology Insititute provides excellent facilities for training and extra curricular activities.

Objectives

1. To learn from international experience where PIM is being promoted.
2. Focus substantively on the different dimensions of water user associations
3. Learn from the experience of Turkey
4. Capacity builidng for the sustainability of water user associations.
5. Networking among participants and learn from each other through country experiences.

Participants: 43 participants form 12 countries participated in the course. The countries include Afghanistan(2), Albania(3), Cambodia(1), China(8), Egypt(4), Georgia(1), Kyrgysthan(1), Macedonia(5), Pakistan(11), Turkey(8), USA(6), Uzbekistan(2). Participants were quite active and energetic and took an active role in the sharing and learning from mutual experience and interaction with resource persons and among participants themeselves. At the start of the program participants were asked to identify the purpose of attending the training program. The participant expectation cards were put in the hall for reference of the participants and to structure the needs of the participants. Participants were asked to present thier country expereinces for 30 minutes and answer questions or give clarifications. The training program used a combination of lectures, group discussions, group work and participant presentations all which aimed to make the program highly interactive. Participants also had opportunities to interact in the evenings as the facilities in the International Hydrology Institute are excellent. 

Participants also had an excellent opportunity to make country presentations.  Country presentations were an excellent medium of exchange on international expereinces.  participants took the opportunity of comparing situations in thier own countries.  Presentations were made on Albania, Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Georgia, Kyrgystan, Macedonia, Pakistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. 

Field visits were organized to the Soke Water User Association and the Sarikiz Water User Association falling under the Jurisdiction of the DSI Regional Directorates of Izmir and Ayden.  Participants had a chance to meet the Chairman, members of the WUA , Turkish farmers and also DSI staff.  Participants also had an occassion to visit the historic city of Ephesus, Virgin Mary and the City of Izmir.  The International Agrohydrology centre provided the right atmosphere and tranquil environment for participants to interact and network with each other.  Each participant also displayed his talents during the cultural program.  View the image gallery for some of the activities of the CBP. 

Organized Jointly by:
International Network on Participatory Irrigation Management (INPIM)
State Hydraulic Works (DSI) Turkey
in cooperation with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, the Netherlands