Water Balance-Related Performance Indicators for International Projects

Charles M. Burt, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Stuart W. Styles, California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

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Copyright © 1999 United States Committee on Irrigation and Drainage.

Abstract

A unique study to examine the impacts of irrigation project modernization was funded by the Research Committee of the World Bank and managed by the International Program for Technology Research in Irrigation and Drainage (IPTRID). The project examined 16 irrigation projects in 10 developing countries, 15 of which have been partially modernized in some aspects of hardware and/or management. Besides developing specific recommendations for donor agencies interested in irrigation project modernization, this project also accomplished the following:

1. A Rapid Appraisal Process (RAP) was developed to quickly (within a week) evaluate an irrigation project to assess what type of modernization is needed.

2. External performance indicators were quantified and modified. These characterize the inputs and outputs of irrigation projects, including amounts of water, yield, and economics.

3. Internal process indicators were developed and quantified for each irrigation project.

This paper focuses on the RAP as well as various external performance indicators that are related to water balances --a small fraction of the total report. The complete report has been reproduced by FAO of the United Nations in Rome.