The project aims at improving food security and reducing rural poverty of smallholder farmers through improving the quality, impact and sustainability of investments in agricultural water management. The project is currently being developed in six African countries: Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Rwanda and Tanzania.

There are three specific objectives:

• Improve knowledge and assess the potential for scaling up and design innovative agricultural water management solutions and business models for the successful adoption of specific interventions. The aim is to analyze the needs, opportunities and potential for agricultural water management solutions in support of smallholders.
• Provide technical assistance, training and mentoring services to farmer organizations and service providers on agricultural water management in order to promote the adoption of appropriate technologies and establish the necessary local capacity to put farmers in charge of water management.
• Enhance existing dialogue platforms to improve the effectiveness and impact of public and private sector investments in agricultural water management solutions.

Specific attention is paid to equity issues, lessening the burden on women by improving their access to technology and multiple uses of water, as well as creating opportunities for young people.