Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs

Development of irrigation can result in negative environmental and human health impacts. Irrigation undertaken without full consideration of these impacts can have serious adverse repercussions, not only undermining the investment but also worsening poverty and contributing considerably to peoples?...

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Autores principales: McCartney, Matthew P., Boelee, Eline, Cofie, Olufunke O., Mutero, Clifford M.
Formato: Conference Paper
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38100
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author McCartney, Matthew P.
Boelee, Eline
Cofie, Olufunke O.
Mutero, Clifford M.
author_browse Boelee, Eline
Cofie, Olufunke O.
McCartney, Matthew P.
Mutero, Clifford M.
author_facet McCartney, Matthew P.
Boelee, Eline
Cofie, Olufunke O.
Mutero, Clifford M.
author_sort McCartney, Matthew P.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Development of irrigation can result in negative environmental and human health impacts. Irrigation undertaken without full consideration of these impacts can have serious adverse repercussions, not only undermining the investment but also worsening poverty and contributing considerably to peoples? suffering. The impacts are strongly inter-linked because it is changes in the environment that cause changes in health. Furthermore, mitigation measures that reduce environmental damage often improve health outcomes. In the past, research into impacts, and the development of impact assessment methodologies, has focused primarily on large scale, capital intensive, schemes. However, small scale and less formal water management interventions, which are increasingly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, can also have significant environmental and health impacts. This paper summarizes the findings of a study of environmental and health issues associated with all scales of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is not a compendium of data, but rather provides an overview and framework for understanding policy and programming issues. It is recommended that a pragmatic approach to address current environmental and health planning includes three levels of implementation: i) strategic planning at the national and regional level; ii) full environmental and health assessment for government and donor funded projects; and iii) development of simplified tools for impact assessment relevant to community led, NGO and small private projects.
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spelling CGSpace381002025-11-07T08:34:05Z Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs McCartney, Matthew P. Boelee, Eline Cofie, Olufunke O. Mutero, Clifford M. irrigation management irrigation programs planning public health health hazards environmental effects Development of irrigation can result in negative environmental and human health impacts. Irrigation undertaken without full consideration of these impacts can have serious adverse repercussions, not only undermining the investment but also worsening poverty and contributing considerably to peoples? suffering. The impacts are strongly inter-linked because it is changes in the environment that cause changes in health. Furthermore, mitigation measures that reduce environmental damage often improve health outcomes. In the past, research into impacts, and the development of impact assessment methodologies, has focused primarily on large scale, capital intensive, schemes. However, small scale and less formal water management interventions, which are increasingly prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, can also have significant environmental and health impacts. This paper summarizes the findings of a study of environmental and health issues associated with all scales of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is not a compendium of data, but rather provides an overview and framework for understanding policy and programming issues. It is recommended that a pragmatic approach to address current environmental and health planning includes three levels of implementation: i) strategic planning at the national and regional level; ii) full environmental and health assessment for government and donor funded projects; and iii) development of simplified tools for impact assessment relevant to community led, NGO and small private projects. 2008 2014-06-13T11:40:43Z 2014-06-13T11:40:43Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38100 en Open Access application/pdf McCartney, Matthew; Boelee, Eline; Cofie, Olufunke; Mutero, Clifford. 2008. Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs. In Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Loulseged, Makonnen; Yilma, Aster Denekew (Comps.). Impact of irrigation on poverty and environment in Ethiopia: draft proceedings of the symposium and exhibition, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 27-29 November 2007. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). pp.389-399.
spellingShingle irrigation management
irrigation programs
planning
public health
health hazards
environmental effects
McCartney, Matthew P.
Boelee, Eline
Cofie, Olufunke O.
Mutero, Clifford M.
Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs
title Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs
title_full Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs
title_fullStr Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs
title_full_unstemmed Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs
title_short Planning and management of irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: reducing the environmental and health costs
title_sort planning and management of irrigation in sub saharan africa reducing the environmental and health costs
topic irrigation management
irrigation programs
planning
public health
health hazards
environmental effects
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/38100
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