Algerian team holds workshop on participatory water management in the Badriane region

A four-day workshop on participatory water management was organized by the Algerian team of eGROUNDWATER from 19th to 22nd February 2024, in collaboration with different institutions related to water management in the Badriane region.

The workshop brought together the directorate of agriculture, the directorate of water resources, the drinking water company, the hydrographic basin agency, representatives of executive institutions, the foggara and farmers of the Badriane perimeter.

The aim of the workshop was to obtain a model co-constructed by researchers, water users and institutions to support the integrated and participatory management of water resources in the Badriane region. The model’s objective is to enable users and institutions to collaboratively build water management plans.

During the workshop, the participants used Ini-Wag, a software tool developed by the Algerian team, to create some scenarios to enrich the conceptual model. Ini-Wag allows users to simulate the impacts of different water management options on the hydrological system, the agricultural production, and the socio-economic aspects. The participants have also accepted the first proposal for an operational prototype of Ini-Wag. It will be refined and tested in future project phases.

At the end of the workshop, the following results were obtained:

• A participatory map of the Badriane region, showing the main water infrastructure and land use.
• A listing of stakeholders (actors) linked to the water management in the studied region, along with their roles and interests.
• A determination of the activities carried out by each stakeholder, and the resources mobilized and produced by these activities.
• A set of scenarios reflecting the current and future water management challenges and opportunities in the Badriane region.

The workshop was a great success, thanks to the active participation and contributions of all the attendees. The Algerian team, led by Mr. Amine Saidani, expressed their gratitude to all the partners and collaborators for making this achievement possible. They also revealed their plans to carry on with the participatory water management model and organize more workshops and field visits in the future.