9AWW: Harnessing the Potential of Small-Scale Irrigation: Need assessments, Business Models, and the enabling environment

This side event will share lessons learnt in the on-going assessment and compendium of business models for private sector engagement (including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in small-scale irrigation services in Eastern and Southern African countries. The event will show how various forms of innovations in small-scale irrigation are bundled to enhance agricultural productivity, resilience, economic growth, and efficient water use. Through using data-driven evidence and case studies, the event aims to inform investment decisions and facilitate the scaling of these solutions across Eastern and Southern Africa countries. The findings show the private sector’s engagement, and the interventions appropriateness depends on the type of irrigation in use, innovation, and service availability, and enabling environment. This side event will ensure that the participants are well informed and gained a deeper understanding of the enabling environment, institutional frameworks, and private sector governance structures which are critical for the realization of successful growing private sector engagement and investment decision in the region.