Making a Large Irrigation Scheme Work : A Case Study from Mali

This report analyzes the
government's decision on the outcome of a series of
small power shifts triggered by pro-reform players. Reform
advocates devised them whenever opportunities arose and used
whatever maneuvering room there was to tilt the power
balance between agency and farmers to further the goals of
sustainability and partnership. The shifts were thought out
for their strategic value, but most came without a timeline
or plan for the next moves. Chapter 1 presents the Office du
Niver (ON) scheme and its history. Chapters 2 through 5
analyze the reform process. Chapter 6 and appendix B discuss
the parts that might be applied in other countries. Appendix
A gives operational details on rightsizing the agency and
the legal framework. Appendix C analyzes the political
dimensions of irrigation reforms in other countries.