Building Resilience to Climate Change in Sub-Saharan Africa through Irrigation Investments

There is renewed interest in irrigation to help build climate resilience in sub-Saharan on the part of governments and donors. However, many previous irrigation investments have significantly underperformed. In this brief we consider the factors that are associated with irrigation system performance for two different types of systems: surface water irrigation schemes with many irrigators and groundwater pumping systems adopted by individual farmers. Surface water schemes that take advantage of economies of scale in design and construction must also build strong management systems that promote collective action and ensure reliable irrigation water supplies in the face of climate-change related water volatility. Groundwater irrigation requires an effective regulatory framework in order to avoid negative environmental and socio-economic impacts associated with overdrafting. Both types of systems need strong linkages to markets and related institutions.