Priority issues of least developed countries in Africa

This is an outcome of contributions from stakeholders in the Africa region in the identification of critical priority issues in irrigation and drainage practices in the least developed countries (LDCs) in Africa, and ways in which the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) can assist to address them. The LDCs are characterised by endemic poverty, human resources weaknesses and economic vulnerability that are partly contributed to by the instability of their agricultural production which is dependent on rainfall and its vagaries. Out of the 51 countries classified as LDCs, 34 are in Africa. They have a predominantly agrarian economy with underdeveloped irrigation potential, and are faced with inconsistent and poor policies, poor environmental stewardship, insufficient investment and high cost of irrigation development, non‐inclusive and non‐participatory governance, threats of climate change, and weak research capacity among other challenges. The following priority irrigation and drainage issues were identified based on their relevance to these challenges, their impact on the majority – who live below the poverty line – and those in which ICID has a comparative advantage to assist: database management and information sharing; pro‐poor irrigation and drainage policies; participatory irrigation management; capacity building of all stakeholders; technological learning, research and development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.