Irrigation Assistance to Developing Countries Should Require Stronger Commitments to Operation and Maintenance
NSIAD-83-31
Published: Aug 29, 1983. Publicly Released: Aug 29, 1983.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the operation and maintenance (O&M) of U.S.-financed irrigation systems in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand to determine how the Agency for International Development (AID) can: (1) improve operation and maintenance practices of developing countries and extend the economic life of the irrigation systems; and (2) design irrigation systems that adequately consider O&M requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Agency for International Development | The Administrator, AID, should: (1) as an integral part of project planning and as a condition for project approval, require that recurrent cost plans be developed in conjunction with recipient governments and other donors to recognize the principle of cost recovery from all beneficiaries; (2) project the annual life-of-system O&M costs; (3) identify the source of O&M funds and the funding options available to the country and the donors; (4) include specific plans to strengthen each recipient country's capability to budget for O&M funding and to account for O&M expenditures on a project basis; (5) institutionalize management monitoring and evaluation of plan implementation; and (6) encourage other donors to define their recurrent cost financing options. In addition, the Administrator should encourage the multilateral development banks to further define their recurrent cost financing options as they relate to future financing of irrigation project development. |
Closed – Implemented
AID stated that appropriate provisions would be made in future projects. A letter of guidance had been sent to Asian missions. Follow-on actions included: (1) an Asian Bureau recurrent costs study to identify more workable and self-sustaining O&M programs; and (2) an AID/FAO international conference to bring together national irrigration policymakers to discuss improved O&M for Asia and Africa.
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| U.S. Agency for International Development | The Administrator, AID, should adopt stronger design and construction criteria for improving O&M performance as standard prerequisites of approval for new irrigation and rehabilitation projects. The criteria should include: (1) quality assurance measures in design and construction to ensure that local engineers and contractors take heed of technical advisors and require site visits during the design process; (2) the involvement of farmers in the planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation process; (3) priority consideration of O&M requirements during project design; and (4) appropriate transition between construction and O&M. |
Closed – Implemented
AID stated that it would explore, with missions, building a component into ongoing or new projects. Follow-on actions included: (1) the Small Scale Irrigation project in Indonesia to improve O&M performance; and (2) the Irrigation Systems Management project in Sri Lanka to develop an institutional capacity for irrigation management, with full participation of Sri Lankan farmers.
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| U.S. Agency for International Development | The Administrator, AID, should require from the host governments, before the construction of irrigation systems begin written certifications that: (1) active, viable water user associations have been established; (2) designers have met with association members, discussed their needs and system benefits, elicited their input into on-farm system design, and stressed that the on-farm system will be theirs and that they must operate and maintain it; (3) each association has submitted a written request for the system and has agreed to the on-farm O&M; and (4) local users, to the extent possible, will be used to help construct the on-farm portions of each project. |
Closed – Implemented
AID will not approve projects requiring effective farmer participation unless its is evident that viable and effective water user associations exist or will be established. Associations will be formed as an integral part of the planning, design, and construction process. Emphasis will be placed on helping host goverments develop the means to organize farmers effectively.
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Topics
Cost analysisDeveloping countriesForeign aid programsInternational cooperationIrrigationIrrigation systemsMaintenance (upkeep)Program managementSystems designWater resources developmentIrrigation projects