USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IMPLEMENTATION

摘要

While progress with Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) is fundamental tornsustainable development, a prerequisite for furthering this process is an effective computerizedrnsystem that serves the data and information needs of all stakeholders, and promotes equityrnthrough good governance. Developing an IWRM information system is a challenge inrndeveloping countries with limited resources. In most developing countries, water informationrnsystems at local administrative levels are generally absent or severely degraded, andrnmanagement decisions are mostly based on unreliable data and information. A lack of data andrnobsolete data capture and/or information management systems are common issues, resulting inrninadequate data/information to support IWRM implementation. An innovative, inclusivernapproach is required that will unleash the full benefit of a number of powerful technologies torncapture, manage, and disseminate water related data and information in a cost effective andrnsustainable manner.rnThe Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) has a long-term goal ofrnreorganizing internal functions and operations through a process of local governancernconsolidation and ministry-wide decentralization, including de-evolution of authority to the localrngovernment level. With that, the MWRI has adopted a policy to integrate all water managementrnfunctions at the district level to support the decentralized management process.rnThe USAID/Egypt-funded Livelihood and Income from the Environment (LIFE) IntegratedrnWater Resources Management (IWRM) Project was designed to focus on implementing policyrnreform measures on a large scale, covering 27 irrigation districts over 1.2 million acres ofrnEgyptian cultivated land. Implementation of the project began in October 2004 with three mainrnobjectives: (1) Consolidate MWRI district offices (i.e., irrigation and drainage) (2) Promoternstakeholders' participation through the formation of Branch Canal Water Users' Associationsrn(BCWUA), and (3) Support equitable allocation of water resources at the district level.rnUnder the equitable allocation of water resources objective, a series of activities were carried outrnto support the development of district water information systems. The effort focused onrnproviding technical assistance on the design, construction, and implementation of information