Dissemination of ICID's initiative of addressing the Challenge of Water for Food, Water for People and Water for Environment

Dissemination of the study components, outcome of National Consultations and the holistic Land and Water use Basin planning Model developed under Country Policy Support Program (CPSP) undertaken by ICID with the support from The Netherlands Government was done as detailed hereunder :

(i) CPSP Preparatory Workshop, Cairo, 3 August 2004

Invited participants from Egypt, India and Mexico attended this event. Both Chinese and Indian studies were presented besides BHIWA model. The interaction concentrated on how to proceed with CPSP in respect of Egypt and Mexico and BHIWA model capability.

(ii) Preparatory Meeting (February 2004) and National Consultation on CPSP, China, 7 August 2004

Chinese National Committee (CNCID) held a preparatory meeting for organizing a broad based Chinese National Consultation (CNC) under the aegis of Country Policy Support Programme (CPSP) on 17-18 February 2004 at Beijing. The meeting was attended by about 20 participants comprising professionals from CPSP-China study teams. After capturing the essence of BHIWA model capability two independent Chinese teams investigated two river basins chosen for the study purpose viz: Jiaodong Basin representing a water deficit one and Qiantang Basin, a water rich basin.

After preliminary studies, a National Consultation was organized on 7 August 2004 at Beijing. About 30 professionals including policy makers participated in the consultation. President, ICID Ir. Keizrul bin Abdullah, Secretary General Mr. M. Gopalakrishnan, Mrs. Qing Liyi, China Program Leader of IUCN and Dr. Shahbaz Khan, Research Director attended the consultation. The application of BHIWA model for Qiantang and Jiaodong basin for assessment of water use for Nature, Food and People, and extrapolation of assessment of these basins to other basins were presented by Mrs. Mu Jianxin and Mrs. Wang Shaoli, respectively. Mr. Li Daixin, Chairman, CNCID highlighted the findings of the studies and their usefulness for policy intervention in the Water Resources Development during Eleventh Five Year Plan.

(iii) DWFE, Stockholm, 15 August 2004

Secretary General introduced ICID's initiative to address the challenge faced in respect of water for food and environment in the "Dialogue" Review session organised by IWMI {Dialogue for Food, Water and Environment (DWFE)}; As partners of the Dialogue process, ICID indicated the need of 'objective assessment based negotiations' than subjective approach. ICID's CPSP initiative helped the cause tremendously. In the Stockholm session, Secretary General Gopalakrishnan brought to focus the ICID's efforts and trial basin studies both in India & China. Besides, a gist of the outcome of the studies and its relevance to 'policy support' was highlighted. It was brought out as to how such efforts could be a meaningful exercise; how best different sectoral interests could be factored in the Basin wise studies and further up-scaling to a National level.

Secretary General also participated in the discussions of Global Water Partnership in Stockholm and provided a brief of CPSP - India, China studies. This study could contribute to the exercise relating to Comprehensive Assessment that GWP attempts, on a national, regional and ultimately global basis.

In the Stockholm International Water Institute World Water Week, a paper was presented by Dr. S.A. Kulkarni, Director-I titled "Assessment of Water Resources at Basin Level - A Land Use Based Approach". This also highlighted the ICID's initiative on Challenge program explaining the outcome for Sabarmati Basin in India.

(iv) 3rd IUCN World Conservation Congress, Bangkok, 19 November 2004

Secretary General joined the panel on 'Ecosystem management - River Basin Management' to consider all the issues faced on balancing needs of water users in river basins. Secretary General brought to the fore the need for an integrated water resources development and management approach in River Basin Session. The development of a holistic land use based computer model BHIWA by ICID was explained and how Consultations at Basin level, could help for evolving a National level Policy Review by proper upscaling of the needs of Water for People, Food and Nature, given the vision needs in the years 2025, 2050.

(v) CPSP Orientation Workshop, New Delhi 13-17 December 2004

An Orientation Workshop was organized in New Delhi in December 2004 to explain CPSP approach for decision-making in respect of river basins. The audience comprised of Pakistanis and Indians working in different organizations. Experts undertaking similar studies in Mexico and Egypt too joined the discussions. Other participants included experts from agriculture, irrigation engineering, water and power development, and environmental fields.

(vi) 5th International R&D Conference, Bangalore, India 14 February 2005

Secretary General introduced ICID's initiative to address the challenge of water, food and nature by commissioning the CPSP program and explain the approach to over 300 water experts assembled to consider hi-tech applications in water resources sector. It was brought out as to how a systematic basin by basin study undertaken sequentially can help policy makers to understand the impacts of various scenarios of development that are under consideration.

(vii) The East African Integrated River Basin Management Conference, Morogoro, Tanzania, 7-9 March 2005

Secretary General participated in the EARBM Conference and presented a paper besides a PowerPoint presentation on the subject: "An Integrated Water Assessment Model for Future Scenario Studies of Sabarmati River Basin in India".

(viii) 2nd International Forum on Partnerships for Sustainable Development, Marrakech, Morocco 21-23 March 2005

In response to an invitation received from UN/DESA/ His Highness The Majesty, The King of Morocco, Secretary General attended the 2nd International Forum for Partnerships for Sustainable Development at Marrakech in March 2005. The focus in the presentation on CPSP was how ICID as a lead investigator partnered with IWMI, IFPRI, FAO and several other Indian as well as international organizations to undertake a study that focused on challenge of water for sustainable development. Amongst other things, the study results enabled the participants appreciate the importance of the policy review co-opting different international and national agencies.

(ix) 3rd International Conference on Irrigation and Drainage, San Diego, USA, 30 March - 2 April 2005

Secretary General presented ICID's CPSP initiative on 30 March 2005 in the USCID Conference. The aim was to introduce the capabilities of BHIWA Model in addressing issues related to food security and environmental sustainability considering together land and water, surface and sub-surface water resources, return flows, interest of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem etc.

(x) Inception/Preparatory Workshop, Cairo, 3 August 2004

A CPSP preparatory workshop was held on 3 August 2004 in Egypt with an objective of introducing CPSP methodology, modeling approach and presenting the outcome of the studies carried out so far in respect of China and India to other participating countries viz. Egypt, Mexico and Pakistan. Senior level water professionals/experts from Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egyptian National Committee (ENCID) and a professional from Mexican National Committee (MXCID) participated in the workshop. During the workshop, presentations were made by experts from India, Egypt and Mexico.

(xi) National Consultation on CPSP, Beijing, China, 7 August 2004

(xii) IWMI/ICID Workshop, 3-4 September 2004, Moscow, Russia

As a part of IWMI/IFPRI component of CPSP study, an "IWMI/ICID Scenario Development Orientation Workshop for India and China" was held on 3-4 September 2004 at Moscow, preceding to the 55th annual IEC meetings. The overall purpose of the workshop was to bring policymakers and researchers of India and China to provide information and generate future scenarios of water supply and demand for the two countries. The workshop was attended by 24 professionals comprising wide array of relevant disciplines like engineers, economists, environmentalists, sociologists, policy makers/ planners, agronomists from China and India besides experts from CGIAR/IWMI, IUCN, WWF and ICID.

The workshop sessions were jointly handled by Dr. David Molden, Leader, Comprehensive Assessment Program, and Dr. Ian Makin of IWMI and Secretary General Er. M. Gopalakrishnan.

(xiii) Special Session on CPSP, 5 September 2004, Moscow, Russia

A Special Session on CPSP was held on 5 September 2004. The purpose of the Special Session was to apprise ICID professionals about the work carried out in CPSP since Montpellier meeting. Ir. Keizrul bin Abdullah, President, ICID in his opening address said that through CPSP it was possible to bring together individuals and groups of diverse views to discuss future water policies. Detailed presentations on BHIWA model and major findings of the selected river basin assessments were made by CPSP India and China teams. Dr. M.H. Amer, Chairman, Egyptian National Committee (ENCID) presented the outcome of the CPSP Cairo Workshop held on 3 August 2004 and briefly outlined the possible use of CPSP approach in the Nile basin area. Dr. Molden provided feedback on the outcome of the IWMI-ICID workshop. President Hon. Prof. Bart Schultz said that there was a need to shift the focus to other three participating countries viz. Egypt, Mexico and Pakistan and also on developing broad based scenario through a consultative process at the national level involving all stakeholders.

(xiv) CPSP Participating National Committees meeting, 6 September 2004, Moscow, Russia

An exclusive meeting with the representatives of CPSP participating National Committees was held on 6 September 2004. Dr. Luis Rendón Pimental, Chairman (MXCID), Mexico chaired the meeting. Other participants of the meeting were Er. M. Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General , Dr. S.A. Kulkarni from Central Office, ICID; Dr. Gao Zhanyi, Secretary General (CNCID), China; Dr. Illahi B. Shaikh, Chairman, (PANCID), Pakistan; and Dr. M.H. Amer, Chairman (ENCID), Egypt besides CPSP India study team leaders. The purpose of the meeting was to plan schedule of CPSP activities of Phase I in Egypt, Mexico and Pakistan with a view to complete those by December 2004 and also to initiate preliminary discussion on CPSP phase II proposal.

(xv) Orientation Workshop, 13-17 December 2004, New Delhi, India

The workshop was opened with the introductory speech by Er. M. Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General, ICID who provided background, objectives of the workshop and the progress achieved by the CPSP participating countries. The main purpose of the workshop was to orient the participants on the updated version of Basinwide Holistic Integrated Water Assessment (BHIWA) model evolved by ICID and work out an action plan for holding broad based national consultations in the participating countries.

Dr. I.B. Shaikh, Chairman, PANCID informed that the PANCID has selected Nari river basin located in Balochistan province for CPSP study. Dr. (Mrs.) Maha Tawfik (Egypt) made presentation on Egypt's water resources management policy and strategy and Dr. Jaime Collado (Mexico) in his presentation said that the present population of Mexico is 104 million and is projected to increase to 130 million by 2025.

(xvi) Training Programme on BHIWA model, 27 January to 02 February 2005, New Delhi

At the request of Pakistan National Committee (PANCID) a training programme for two more experts from Pakistan was held from 27 January to 02 February 2005 at New Delhi. The programme was attended by Mr. Nasirud-din, NESPAK and Mr. Naseem Bazai, Irrigation & Power Department, Balochistan. These experts worked on Basinwide Holistic Integrated Water Assessment (BHIWA) model developed by ICID using the data of Nari basin belonging to Balochistan province of Pakistan. Peculiarities of water scarcity and use by different sectors in Nari basin were discussed and analyzed by these experts. The objective of the consultation was to bring out broad scenarios of present water use and future demands for three sectors viz. food, people and eco-system for the basin in particular and for the province in general.

(xvii) Special Session, 11-12 September 2005, Beijing, China

A Special Session to present the final outcome of the studies in India and China and of the preliminary studies conducted in Egypt, Mexico and Pakistan was held on 11-12 September 2005 at Beijing on the occasion of 56th IEC/ 19th ICID Congress. Representatives from five participating countries, member countries of ICID and international organizations attended the session.

(xvii) National Consultation, 30 July 2005, Lahore, Pakistan

A National Level Consultation to present and discuss preliminary assessment of the Nari basin was held at Lahore, Pakistan on 30 July 2005. The consultation was organised by Pakistan National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (PANCID) in collaboration with National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK). The consultation was attended by more than 40 participants representing different disciplines like engineering, agricultural sciences, environment, hydrologists, modelers, administrators and development planners. ICID experts team led by Er. M. Gopalakrishnan, Secretary General, ICID joined and participated the consultations. The session concluded with a discussion on the policy issues emerging from Nari river basin studies and their implications for the overall policy issues for Pakistan.

The outcome of the consultation was included in the CPSP Report 8.

(xviii) National Consultation, Mexico City, Mexico, August 2005

Mexican National Committee (MXCID) organized a 'National Consultation' in August 2005, in collaboration with National Water Commission, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, Fishing and Nourishment, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mexico.

The outcome of the consultation was included in the CPSP Report 9.

(xix) Special Session on CPSP, Beijing, China, 11-12 September 2005

A Special Session on CPSP was held at Beijing on 11-12 September 2005 on the occasion 56th IEC/ 19th Congress. Presentations were made by representatives from the National Committees of CPSP participating countries viz. China, India, Egypt, Mexico and Pakistan besides the Secretary General, ICID. A presentation by Ms. Charlotte de Fraiture (IWMI) on WATERSIM was also held during the session. Final study reports pertaining to China and India and draft reports pertaining to Egypt and Mexico studies as well as a CD on BHIWA MODEL was widely circulated during the session. The session was attended by more than 50 professionals including senior office bearers of ICID, member countries of ICID, and international organizations. Poster presentations highlighting key outcome of CPSP studies in India and China was also organized on this occasion.

(xx) OECD Workshop, Adelaide, Australia, 14-18 November 2005

On an invitation of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Secretary General Er. M. Gopalakrishnan introduced ICID's CPSP initiative in a Workshop held on 'Agriculture and Water: Sustainability, Markets and Policies' at Adelaide, Australia during 14-18 November 2005. The efforts to address the 'Challenges in Water for Food, People and Environment' by a comprehensive land and water use modeling at basin level and the results emerging out of the studies in suggesting policy options for several likely scenarios in the future were explained. Several professionals from OECD member and non-member countries, International Government and Non-Governmental Organizations were participants in the workshop. Besides, poster presentation on CPSP was also organised.

(xxi) 4th World Water Forum, Mexico, March 2006

The CPSP outcome formed part of an inscription by ICID under the "Local Actions for a Global Challenge". The Sabarmati river basin case study from India, as submitted by ICID was listed as one of the Local Action vide ID: LA0114. The presentation was titled as "Sabarmati basin - Policy Support Program". This is available at the 4th World Water Forum website under the Framework Theme: 'Water Management for Food and the Environment'.