CONCEPT NOTE
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON WATER MANAGEMENT FOR CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE
COURSE BACKGROUND
Freshwater resources are fundamental to agriculture, yet their availability is increasingly threatened by the impacts of climate change, including altered rainfall patterns, droughts, and floods. This variability poses significant challenges to food security and rural livelihoods globally. While climate-smart agriculture (CSA) offers a holistic approach to address these challenges, the specific role and strategic management of water within CSA often require deeper understanding and practical application. There’s a clear need for integrated knowledge on how to manage water resources effectively to both adapt to climate change and mitigate its effects in the agricultural sector.
ECAS Institute, dedicated to fostering sustainable agricultural practices and building climate resilience, recognizes the critical importance of water management in achieving climate-smart agriculture. By offering this training course, ECAS directly addresses the identified gap in comprehensive understanding and practical application of water management strategies within a changing climate. This initiative aligns with ECAS’s broader mission to equip diverse stakeholders with the knowledge and tools necessary to build more sustainable and resilient food systems, ensuring water security for agricultural production.
This course is specifically designed to provide a comprehensive overview of water management’s pivotal role in climate-smart agriculture. It will analyze the impacts of climate change on freshwater resources for agriculture and explore various water management options for both adaptation and mitigation. By equipping participants with technical insights and practical approaches, ECAS aims to empower policy makers, practitioners, and specialists to develop and implement effective water management responses to climate change in agriculture.
COURSE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING
Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:
- Explain the current status, trends, and challenges in water resources management for agriculture.
- Analyze the impacts of climate change on water resources relevant to the agricultural sector.
- Identify the main water management options for climate change adaptation in agriculture.
- Utilize tools and approaches for preparing water management responses to climate change in agriculture.
- Understand measures pertaining to water management that contribute to mitigating Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This course will provide participants with essential knowledge and practical insights into managing water resources effectively within a changing climate for agricultural sustainability. You will learn:
- The global and regional status of water resources for agriculture, including current trends and challenges.
- How climate change specifically affects water availability and demand across various agricultural contexts.
- A range of water management options designed to help agricultural systems adapt and build resilience to climate change.
- Practical tools and methodologies for planning and developing effective water management strategies in response to climate change.
- The specific ways water management practices can contribute to reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint and mitigating GHG emissions.
DURATION AND PROGRAM
This is a structured training course. The program is organized into three comprehensive lessons, designed to provide a focused yet thorough exploration of water management for climate-smart agriculture. The detailed program schedule, including specific session timings and interactive components, will be communicated prior to the training commencement.
TARGET PARTICIPANTS
This course addresses the subject matter from a technical perspective, making it beneficial for a broad audience interested in the intersection of water, agriculture, and climate change. Individuals who would especially benefit from taking this course include:
- Policy Makers: Involved in developing agricultural, water, and climate change policies.
- Development Practitioners and Programme Managers: Working on agricultural development, climate resilience, and food security projects.
- Sectoral Specialists and Academics: Researchers, scientists, and educators in fields such as hydrology, agronomy, environmental science, and climate studies.
- Trainers and Extension Agents: Responsible for disseminating knowledge and promoting sustainable water management practices to farmers and rural communities.
TRAINING MODULES
The course consists of three sequential lessons, each focusing on a critical aspect of water management for climate-smart agriculture:
| No | Module | Details | |
| 1. | Water management |
This introductory lesson sets the foundation by providing an overview of global water resources, current management practices, and the significant challenges facing water availability for agriculture in a changing climate.
The key objectives include;
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| 2. | Water management options for improving adaptation and building resilience to climate change |
This module delves into practical strategies and technologies that enable agricultural systems to adapt to the impacts of climate change on water resources. It focuses on building resilience through innovative water management approaches.
The key objectives include:
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| 3. | Water management and climate change mitigations |
The final lesson explores how water management practices can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the agricultural sector. It highlights specific measures and policies that support climate change mitigation efforts.
The key objectives include:
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TRAINING STYLE
The modules will be taught through PowerPoint presentations, and lectures and will include a case study/field visit, breakout sessions, case studies and other interactive discussion components.
The course will also include a few guest speakers, both in person and via Zoom and other online learning platforms for overseas speakers. This provides useful real-world insights alongside the more theoretical aspects of the course.
The conference faculty shall consist of experienced decision makers, as well as practitioners and representatives from established educational and research institutions active around climate change, engineering and international development. Throughout the course, theoretical presentation of concepts will be moderated and more group discussions and plenary engagements will be optimized. PowerPoint presentations will be made by facilitators and resource persons, to highlight key concepts before embarking on group work.
GENERAL NOTES
- Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
- Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a certificate.
- We can also do this as a tailor-made course to meet organization-wide needs. Contact us to find out more: info@ecasiafrica.org.
- Payment should be sent to our bank account before the start of training and proof of payment sent to: info@ecasiafrica.org.
ABOUT ECAS INSTITUTE
The ECAS Institute designs and delivers independent and targeted training, research, and consulting services. Our work focusses on climate change and resilience building, carbon markets, renewable energy, nature-based solution, biodiversity conservation, agriculture and food systems, We are located in Nairobi Kenya and work across the African region. We have implemented training and research assignments in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Malawi, Rwanda, Congo, and South Africa. Globally, we have supported our partners from the UK, Denmark, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and USA.