A Proposed Framework for Irrigation Management Transfer in Iran Lessons from Asia and Iran

Iran is facing a serious water scarcity and the Government of Iran is trying to implement technical and institutional measures to meet the challenge. One of the key strategies being persuaded by the Iranian authorities is the devolution of management responsibility to users. Thus, irrigation management transfer (IMT) has been adopted as a key strategy to improve the operation and maintenance, and thereby reduce losses, and enhance the sustainability of irrigation infrastructure. However, IMT efforts are at an inception stage and are largely happening in areas where infrastructure is under rehabilitation. The key objective of this paper, thus, was to review the ongoing IMT efforts in the two provinces of Iran, as well as the lessons from the neighboring countries, and propose a viable framework for implementing IMT. To get the first hand information of the IMT activities in Iran, field visits were carried out in the provinces of Qazvin and Kermanshah where two big pilot projects are being carried out. For comparative analysis of the IMT situation in neighboring countries, a comprehensive review of experiences in Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Turkey and Central Asia was carried out through literature survey. Based on the synthesis of lessons from this exercise, the paper proposes a framework for irrigation management transfer in Iran.