This report is based on the results of an action research program in pakistan conducted by the International Water Managament Institute (IWMI). An analysis of empirical data is presented in the light of existing theoretical kmowledge on collective action for natural resources management. the report also highlights the current constraints associated with a wider application of some of these findings, which reflect the difficulties in pursuing large-scale institutional reforms in the rural sector of developing coutries. finally, the report raises some key research issues that need to be explored further.

Water and land policies form the basis for this study on the realities of policy implementation and outcomes at the local level. The empirical study focuses on two small-scale irrigation systems in Burkina Faso. It contributes to the discussion on the widespread trend to transfer management responsibilities, through the ongoing decentralisation process, from the state to water user associations. The study shows the intra-community power structures and changing relationships between state actors and the community and the consequences for the management of these systems and the related natural resources.

The purpose of this paper is to summarize IIMI/IWMI’s past research and interventions related to irrigation management transfer and to document, to the extent possible, the academic, policy, and technical outcomes of these efforts. The application of a range of direct and indirect measurement techniques suggests an overall positive contribution from IWMI to IMT theory and application.

By the year 2000, the world had built more than 45,000 large dams to irrigate crops, generate power, control floods in wet times and store water in dry times. Yet, in the last century, large dams also disrupted the ecology of half the world's rivers, displaced tens of millions of people from their homes and left nations burdened with debt. Their impacts have inevitably generated growing controversy and conflicts. Resolving their role in meeting water and energy needs is vital for the future and illustrates the complex development challenges that face our societies. The Report of the World Commission on Dams: - is the product of an unprecedented global public policy effort to bring governments, the private sector and civil society together in one process - provides the first comprehensive global and independent review of the performance and impacts of dams - presents a new framework for water and energy resources development - develops an agenda of seven strategic priorities with corresponding criteria and guidelines for future decision-making. Challenging our assumptions, the Commission sets before us the hard, rigorous and clear-eyed evidence of exactly why nations decide to build dams and how dams can affect human, plant and animal life, for better or for worse. Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making is vital reading on the future of dams as well as the changing development context where new voices, choices and options leave little room for a business-as-usual scenario.

In many developing countries, their governments dominate the field of water resources management. Even in “participatory irrigation management” efforts, the governments play a dominant role. As these efforts are rarely based on any internally generated demand from the water users, they usually fail to create viable organizations at the local level. A similar setback can be seen in the more recent institutional reforms in Asia’s water sector, which are promoted by the donor agencies and, national and international development professionals. A survey of experiences in Asian countries shows that no country has successfully completed establishing new water sector policies and laws and river basin organizations, as prescribed. The need to improve current performance of water resources management is widely appreciated.In managing the scarce water resources, a change in attitude and approach is seen to be essential. Participatory learning and action methods conducted in a study of selected river basins in five Asian countries surfaced a distinct need for coordination at the river basin level. They also indicated a clear stakeholder preference for establishing coordinating mechanisms, by way of adapting the existing institutions, as an initial step towards greater stakeholder control of river basin management. Essentially, cost-effective and contextually appropriate institutional arrangements were preferred over the prescribed standard models, in order to meet the varying needs related to integrated water resources management.

Contributed articles.

"The book is a history of the political and environmental transformation of the Indus basin as a result of the modern construction of the world's largest, integrated irrigation system. Begun under British colonial rule in the 19th century, this transformation continued after the region was divided between two new states, India and Pakistan, in 1947. Massive irrigation works have turned an arid region into one of dense agricultural population, but its political legacies continue to shape the politics and statecraft of the region"--Provided by publisher.

Iran is facing a serious water scarcity and the Government of Iran is trying to implement technical and institutional measures to meet the challenge. One of the key strategies being persuaded by the Iranian authorities is the devolution of management responsibility to users. Thus, irrigation management transfer (IMT) has been adopted as a key strategy to improve the operation and maintenance, and thereby reduce losses, and enhance the sustainability of irrigation infrastructure. However, IMT efforts are at an inception stage and are largely happening in areas where infrastructure is under rehabilitation. The key objective of this paper, thus, was to review the ongoing IMT efforts in the two provinces of Iran, as well as the lessons from the neighboring countries, and propose a viable framework for implementing IMT. To get the first hand information of the IMT activities in Iran, field visits were carried out in the provinces of Qazvin and Kermanshah where two big pilot projects are being carried out. For comparative analysis of the IMT situation in neighboring countries, a comprehensive review of experiences in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Central Asia was carried out through literature survey. Based on the synthesis of lessons from this exercise, the paper proposes a framework for irrigation management transfer in Iran.