Service oriented management of irrigation systems is gaining ever-increasing attention globally due to greater emphasis on improving the performance of irrigation systems while making them ecologically and socio-economically sustainable.

The key to achieve this largely lies in effective operation, maintenance and management of irrigation systems by adopting a user-centered and user-driven approach.

Learning objectives

Centered on the same notion, this SOMIS course has the objective to educate the participants about:

1. Basic principles, significance, and concepts of Service Oriented Management of Irrigation Systems ;

2. Key activities and processes associated with service oriented management in real field situations; and

3. Physical, economic, and institutional requisites for service oriented management.

As the expected outcomes, the participants will learn and understand how to:

1. Formulate objectives for irrigation, define different levels of water delivery service, design water delivery systems, and estimate related costs;

2. Identify physical, economic, and institutional constraints and gaps to instigate appropriate measures;

3. Prepare a service agreement and design an action plan for its implementation; and

4. Monitor and evaluate the performance of the irrigation systems.

Target group

Irrigation system management professionals

This course is designed for mid-level professionals and water managers who are engaged or aspire to engage into sustainable, service-oriented, and participatory management of irrigation systems. It encompasses both surface and groundwater schemes.

Participants may be from organizations, regional or national governments, involved in the different aspects of irrigation system management, non-governmental organizations, companies or universities and who do not have the time and other resources to take a course that lasts several weeks abroad.

Partners

The course is jointly offered by UNESCO-IHE and Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand.

Additional information

For more information about the module contents, please contact the module coordinator: Krishna Prasad or one of the following persons: Roberto Clemente, AIT (clemente@ait.ac.th); Sylvain Perret, AIT/CIRAD (sylvain@ait.ac.th, sylvain.perret@cirad.fr)