The report is the third in of a series of three reports being developed as part of an IWMI-led project
investigating water resources and livelihoods in the Dry Zone of Myanmar. The overall objective of
the project is to provide information on water resources and management which can serve as input
to the formulation of a LIFT Dry Zone program, which will run from 2013 to 2016. The study had
three main components:
• A water resources assessment (surface and groundwater) of availability and current use of
water resources, and patterns, trends and variability at different spatial and temporal scales.
• Community survey to evaluate issues of water availability, access and management for
different livelihood types in 24 local communities, including evaluation of institutional
arrangements in relation to farming strategies and water management practices
• Review and analysis of existing program investments in water in the Dry Zone
This report synthesizes results, analyses existing investment patterns and outcomes, and makes
recommendations for priority areas for future investment.
The heterogeneity of the Dry Zone in terms of physical environment, farming systems, access to
water and infrastructure results in significant differences in development opportunities and
priorities between villages, even over quite small distances. This means that there are no blanket
solutions: the details of water-related interventions must be shaped with each community. It is
important that water interventions are embedded into broader village livelihood strategies and take
account of the full range of uses, rather than a focus on domestic supply separate to other needs.
Existing studies and agencies working in the area emphasize that there is good understanding of
issues and potential solutions within local communities and agencies. The need is not so much for
new technologies, but for approaches to support implementation; and refinement and targeting of
known technologies.
We propose consideration of water-related interventions in five domains; for each we have
identified opportunities and priorities, as well as factors constraining implementation, knowledge
gaps and potential entry points for LIFT.