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Project Title: Health Impact Assessment of Small Dams in Africa: formulating recommendations for better management and increased well being of the local communities. Phase I Morocco – methodology development and community mobilization IWMI Theme: Basin Water Management - understanding water productivity
2005-2006 Asgherkiss dam in Southern Morocco Project Description / BackgroundSmall dams are promoted in several parts of Africa as an alternative to large scale irrigation, for water harvesting, to increase food security and to enhance rural livelihoods. However, negative health impacts such as increased transmission of water related diseases may be substantial and the investments do not always result in sustainable development. The project studies the Asgherkiss small dam in Souss Massa in Morocco in detail to determine the overall impact of the dam on the well-being of the local community. A combination of participatory methods, secondary information and classical primary data collection is applied to investigate positive and negative health effects and their ecological determinants, but also socio-economic impacts and potential technical shortcomings of the dams. The study will help to develop a methodology for community (self) assessment of small dams and their impact, to be applied in a second phase elsewhere in Morocco. Therefore, the ultimate goal of the project is to optimize the contribution of the small dams to sustainable development in Morocco and in the region by developing participatory tools and methods for impact assessment of small dams to maximize their benefit to the community and mitigate their adverse impacts. As such, the project links to the CPWF Small Reservoirs Project (www.smallreservoirs.org). For the study site, Asgherkiss dam, preliminary recommendations for improved management of the dam will be formulated.
The project is funded by International Development Research Center (IDRC), Ottawa, Canada
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| Last update: 01.03.07 |