Establishment of EU-funded National Collection of Fruit Trees celebrated in Afghanistan

The EU-MAIL Transition Project recently organised a ceremony to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the National Collection of Fruit Trees Species and Varieties. The event was organised in collaboration with the Afghanistan National Horticulture Development Organisation (ANDHO) and held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) in Kabul.

Introductory speeches were given by the Minister of Agriculture, the Chief Advisor to the President on agriculture and development, and the Head of the EU Delegation. The ceremony prompted a multi-stakeholder discussion on the EU Delegation’s long-term strategic approach to development of the Afghan agricultural sector, the status of the National Collection and its key role in the development of the horticultural related value chain. It was covered widely on national TV including Shamshad TV[1].

The National Collection is one of the biggest successes of the EU-MAIL collaboration. It is a living repository of local fruit species and varieties collected from all over Afghanistan with the collaboration and approval of the elders of the villages. The varieties are kept in MAIL farms called Perennial Horticulture Development Centres (PHDCs) under the responsibility of Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA) which ensures the protection of Afghan fruit biodiversity and improves the quality and quantity of Afghan exports to enhance the livelihood of the Afghan people.

The EU-MAIL Transition Project is strengthening agriculture as a pillar of development within Afghanistan and is funded by the EU and implemented by Landell Mills.

[1] Coverage starts from 26 minutes

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Achievements of EU-MAIL Transition project presented at steering committee meeting in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project supports evidence-based policy on food security in Afghanistan

Training programme gives staff skills for accurate data analysis to address food shortages in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project showcases grapes in Afghanistan to boost trade and find potential international markets

Fruits produced by Landell Mills-managed horticultural project impress Afghanistan’s Chief Executive, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah

Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project team organise river basin learning visit

A variety of stakeholders from the Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project recently took part in a learning visit to improve their knowledge of river basins and integrated water resources management. The participants travelled from Zarafshon River Basin to the city of Khujand in the Syr Draya Basin and attended a knowledge sharing workshop from 14th to 16th November.

Landell Mills’ team of experts organised the learning visit in collaboration with the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) and Helvetas, who are implementing a river basin project in partnership with GIZ, funded by The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. They provide support to the Syr Draya Basin and agreed to share their knowledge, experience and lessons learned as they have been working in the basin for longer than the Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project. 44 people attended, including staff from NGOs, community representatives, personnel from the district government, the Zarafshon Basin Working Group and senior staff from the Zarafshon Irrigation Rehabilitation and River Basin Management Project (an EU-funded project implemented by the World Bank).

During the workshop, presentations were given by the National Water Resources Management Project with Q&A sessions. In addition to the ACTED and Helvetas staff team, eight local community representatives from the Ak-Suu Watershed Dialogue Working Group attended and contributed their experience and knowledge to the discussions. A practical site visit to Ak-Suu will take place in the spring of 2019 for the same participants to complement the workshop.

In addition to strategic and capacity-building support to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, the Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project, which is implemented by Landell Mills and funded by the EU, also trains the personnel of the Zarafshon Basin Working Group, the precursor to the River Basin Agency. The project has been running for 2 years.

 Read more articles about the project:

The first Zarafshon River Basin Dialogue in Tajikistan is a great success

Zarafshon Integrated Sub Basin Project Working Group holds inauguration meeting

Zarafshon Integrated Sub-basin Project attends regional pre-consultations of the Citizens Forum of the 8th World Water Forum

Landell Mills organises Jucar River Basin study visit for the Tajikistan Ministry of Energy and Water Resources

The Zarahshon Integrated Sub-basin Project visits Switzerland and Spain

Landell Mills supports the preparation of the third EU implementation report on food and nutrition security

The Implementing EU food and nutrition security policy commitments: third biennial report was adopted by the Commission in October 2018 and was presented to the Council and the Parliament in November.

Following the adoption by the European Commission in 2010 of the EU policy framework on food security which establishes food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture among the EU’s key priorities for development cooperation, progress reports have been produced regularly. The reports track progress on commitments and enhance coherence, complementarity and coordination within and between the external assistance programmes of the EU and those of its Member States in implementing their common policy on food security. The report shows that the annual financial assistance from the EU and its Member States to food and nutrition security reached €4.2 million, an increase of 14.7% since 2014 .

The third report focuses particularly on climate-resilient approaches and nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices and is available for download here.

Through the Integrated Support Service for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (ISS-FANSSA) project, Landell Mills has supported DEVCO-C1, the unit dealing with rural development, food security and nutrition, in drafting and coordinating with Member States in the preparation of this report.

ISS-FANSSA is a technical advisory service providing support to DEVCO-C1, both to EU Delegations, as well as to C1 Policy Officers, and focuses on monitoring and evaluation, knowledge sharing and communication, gender inclusion, and land governance in the field of sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition.

The service started in January 2014 and so far it has mobilised 5,400 expert days for 150 specific assignments in support of DEVCO-C1 and 25 EU Delegations around the world.

Find out more about the project.

Landell Mills wins EU-funded contract to build capacities of State authorities in eastern Sudan

The EU has contracted Landell Mills to implement the Capacity Building Project for State Authorities in the East which is one component of the predominantly EU-funded Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP) for the Horn of Africa. Landell Mills will work closely with the State Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Kassala to strengthen the local development process, including enhancing the capacity of the Ministry’s Department of Economic Development and Planning in its role as the coordinating body for international aid agencies and their development and humanitarian activities.

Given that Sudan, and the Eastern states in particular, are home to many refugees and migrants, mainly from South Sudan and the Horn of Africa, one of the key activities will be to establish a reliable data information system, which will function as a tool for the Ministry to facilitate the prioritisation of needs in relation to basic service provision in areas such as Health, Education and WASH.

Overall, it is expected that the project will contribute towards improving the livelihoods, human development, and overall wellbeing of both refugees and host-communities in the region.

The project will run for 24 months and is expected to start in January 2019.

Training sessions enhance staff knowledge

Our head office staff recently took part in two training sessions to enhance their knowledge of the development sector. Landell Mills Regional Director, Simon Foxwell, gave an informative overview of the disbursement and distribution channels of development funding and of the project planning cycle.

This was followed by a session on value chains and their role in project planning, by Senior Project Manager, Patrick Lee. Patrick gave the example of a value chains contract that Asian Development Bank recently awarded Landell Mills that is helping to develop Timor-Leste’s coffee sector. This session will be followed shortly by a training on value chains mapping.

Landell Mills wins EU contract to conduct final evaluation of Madagascan food security project

Landell Mills is pleased to announce our implementation of the EU-funded ‘Final Evaluation of the Amélioration de la Sécurité Alimentaire et Eugmentation des Revenus Agricoles (ASARA) project’, a project seeking to improve access to food security and agricultural incomes in the southern regions of Madagascar. It will be implemented in collaboration with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management GmbH.

This assignment is the first to be implemented through the SIEA Lot 1 framework contract relating to Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Resilience. A global and complete analysis of the performance of the project and results achieved will be conducted to generate evidence that will support concrete recommendations and lesson-learning to inform the ‘Appui Au Financement De L'agriculture Et Aux Filières Inclusives’ Dans Le Sud De Madagascar (AFAFI) program (Support to Financing and Inclusion of the Agricultural Sector in the South of Madagascar) already launched as the next phase of ASARA.

Landell Mills wins EU-funded contract to guide the distribution of EU development funds in Sudan

The European Union (EU) has awarded Landell Mills a technical assistance contract to guide EU funding allocations and increase awareness of its support in Sudan. Landell Mills’ expert team will help identify and design future cooperation programmes that align with both EU and Sudanese development priorities including migration, agricultural development, basic services and sector growth.

We will monitor the progress of current EU projects and conduct studies to identify new areas of relevant and results-oriented development initiatives. Through seminars and training workshops, the contract will raise awareness of the benefits of EU engagement in Sudan among key stakeholders, such as government staff, beneficiaries, as well as the general public.

Landell Mills’ technical assistance will also build relationships between the EU Delegation and key government stakeholders, as well as engaging with local partners and working closely with other donors to ensure synergies are created and development initiatives are efficient and effective.

The contract, Technical Assistance to the EU Delegation for Cooperation in Sudan, will run for 36 months and is expected to start in January 2019.

Landell Mills is conducting a Study on the Textile and Leather Sector in Rwanda

Landell Mills is pleased to announce our implementation of the DFID-funded contract Study on the Textile and Leather Sector in Rwanda, as part of the Expert Advisory Call-Down Services framework contract and behind lead partner IMC Worldwide. Our team of experts will conduct an in-depth study on production and demand for clothes and footwear in Rwanda and produce a baseline report for development of the country’s textile and leather sectors.

Landell Mills wins new Asian Development Bank value chains contract to improve coffee sector in Timor-Leste

Landell Mills has been awarded a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) value chains contract to help develop Timor-Leste’s coffee sector. We will be providing Technical Assistance to support a loan agreement between ADB’s private sector operations and Olam, a private agribusiness, to expand its operations in the Timor-Leste coffee value chain.

At present, the private sector economy in Timor-Leste lacks enough jobs for the volume of new entrants to the labour market each year. Coffee is the country’s largest non-oil export, grown by 38% of households. Production and quality are low, yet the coffee sector can help the private sector develop by acting as a driver of growth to Timor-Leste and supporting local livelihoods. Landell Mills’ Technical Assistance will deliver a package of training and extension services to smallholder farmers who supply coffee to Olam, and support pilots and studies, such as traceability, access to finance and gender training, to further leverage the benefits of this training.

Through the $163 million loan agreement, Olam’s $211 million investment plan will be supported and will finance an expansion in the firm’s processing of midstream products, while providing permanent working capital investments for smallholder farmers in Timor. The loan will help smallholder farmers integrate into more formalised value chains and the global economy, expand their production and operations, and improve their livelihoods by promoting inclusive and sustainable development. Olam will see improved quality and quantity of production which will help increase their profitability, which in turn should lead to better prices for the farmers.

The contract, Supporting Inclusive, Sustainable, and Connected Coffee Value Chains in Timor-Leste, started this month and will run until April 2021.

The Technical Assistance will use a smart phone app to generate farm management plans for coffee growers to improve production and quality of the product ©Olam.

Landell Mills is implementing two EU-funded projects under FWC SIEA Lot 3 Human Rights, Democracy and Peace

Landell Mills is pleased to announce our implementation of two EU-funded projects through the SIEA Lot 3 framework contract relating to Human Rights, Democracy and Peace.

Final Evaluation of the Institutional Capacity Building in the Modernisation of Civil Service Planning Programme in Angola

We are implementing this programme in collaboration with GFA Consulting GmbH. This assignment is our first through the SIEA Lot 3 framework contract and seeks to complement our existing evaluation experience in Southern Africa. The assignment aims to conduct a global and complete analysis of the performance and results achieved of the programme and to generate evidence that will support recommendations and lesson-learning to inform and justify future interventions and actions.

Global Evaluation of the EU Support Projects on Elections, Electoral Cycle 2012-2016

We will be conducting this evaluation with GFA Consulting GmbH, our lead partner on the SIEA Lot 3 Human Rights, Democracy and Peace framework contract. This evaluation will provide the European Union and the relevant stakeholders with an overall independent assessment of the past performance of two programmes in Ghana: ‘Support to Independent Governance Institutions Involved in the Election Process (2012)’ and ‘Support to Independent Government Institutions Involved in the Electoral Process – Electoral Cycle 2016’.

Sudanese youth create solutions to climate change in global ‘Climathon’ event

24 young people were given 24 hours to find innovative solutions to the climate challenges facing Khartoum in a Climathon event on 26th October. The capital was one of 113 cities to take part in the event created by Climate-KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation initiative, supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

Landell Mills organised the event in partnership with Impact Hub as part of the EU-funded project: Strengthening Local Communities’ Resilience to Climate Change in Sudan. Impact Hub, an innovation lab, business incubator and social enterprise community based in Khartoum, hosted the event at their workspace.

The 24 participants who took part in the Climathon at Impact Hub’s workspace. Photo by Daftar Studios.

The participants, a mixture of entrepreneurs, students and developers, were asked to form teams and present their ideas to a jury made up of representatives from the EU Delegation to Sudan, United Nations Environment Programme, Impact Hub and the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Physical Development. The themes they were given were sustainable urban development, extreme weather and waste management. The winning team’s idea was to introduce clay covered seedballs – balls of compost with seeds inside that retain moisture in dry conditions – as a way of increasing tree cover in the city to combat the effects of climate change. The idea has the potential for replication across the country in both rural and urban environments.

The winning team. Photo by Daftar Studios.

Before the event, a Public Symposium was held on 4th October to raise awareness and explain how people could apply to participate. Then a Pre-Ideation Workshop was held on 24th October where the 24 selected participants were invited to learn more about waste management and extreme weather through lectures by local experts. In addition to receiving mentoring during the event from entrepreneurs and business leaders on how to present a minimum viable product, the participants also received training on how to present a pitch.

Participants working on their innovative solutions to climate challenges. Photo by Daftar Studios

The Climathon in Khartoum resulted in five new ideas that have the potential to contribute to resolving climate related issues in the city. For example, one idea was a social enterprise aimed at improving public schools through introducing a holistic package of renewable energy infrastructure, care for the community and income generation measures. Another group designed a game to promote improved waste management in the city in which players gained points for recycling and clearing up rubbish which can be converted to rewards such as phone credit.

Landell Mills is implementing Component 2 of the Strengthening Local Communities’ Resilience to Climate Change in Sudan Project: Provision of Technical Assistance to Enhance Local Capacities Regarding Environmental Management and Environmental Governance. The event was organised as part of Component 2 and contributed towards strengthening the capacity of local stakeholders to adopt sustainable long-term approaches to natural resource management and climate change and to reduce the need of short-term emergency responses. The project is funded under the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) initiative.

Find out more:

Landell Mills organises Panel Discussion – Promoting a Climate of Change – to voice young people’s opinions on climate change issues in Sudan

Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge project features at two international water conferences

Consultants and beneficiaries of the Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge Project (KMARP) recently presented at two international conferences in South Korea and the Philippines. They highlighted how the project, funded by the Asian Development Bank and managed by Landell Mills, is addressing declining groundwater levels in Kabul.

45th International Association of Hydrogeologists Congress, South Korea – September 2018

Hugh Klein presenting at the 45th International Association of Hydrogeologist Congress, South Korea

Two of Landell Mills’ consultants presented at the congress which was made up of nine technical sessions related to the theme: Groundwater and Life: Science and Technology into Action. Additionally, the project funded four Afghan Government officials to attend and learn about groundwater management topics.

Hugh Klein’s presentation – Managed Aquifer Recharge and Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Kabul, Afghanistan – gave an overview of the declining groundwater levels in Kabul and how the project will pilot Managed Aquifer Recharge technology to address the issues. Managed Aquifer Recharge is the intentional recharge of water to aquifers (underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock) under controlled conditions.

Attendees at the 45th International Association of Hydrogeologist Congress, South Korea

Boris Matti’s presentation – Evaluating Managed Aquifer Recharge and Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Kabul, Afghanistan, Using Regional and Site-Specific Models – gave an introduction to the three-dimensional hydrogeological modelling of both the whole of Kabul basin and the project Managed Aquifer Recharge sites.

With the participation of groundwater scientists, engineers, academics, policy makers, and industry members, the congress is one of the largest and most important conferences for groundwater specialists.

Asia Water Forum 2018, Philippines – October 2018

One of KMARP’s government beneficiaries, Engineer Anayatullah Popalzai, a Hydrogeologist from the Ministry of Energy and Water in Afghanistan, received funding from the project to present at the Asia Water Forum. He also learnt about relevant water management topics and Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) interventions.

Anayatullah Popalzai’s presentation – Managed Aquifer Recharge and Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Kabul, Afghanistan – discussed the problems surrounding groundwater availability in Kabul and how ADB funding is helping the government address the issues through pilot Managed Aquifer Recharge technology.

The Asia Water Forum 2018 was held at the Asian Development Bank Headquarters in Manila and focussed on the theme of Information, Innovation, and Technology. It provided a platform for sharing knowledge and experience on water information, innovation, and technology. 800 delegates attended the event, including government, donor, multi-national bank, NGO and private sector participants.

Visit the KMARP website and find out more here:

Landell Mills and Schlumberger train project and government staff in groundwater management in Afghanistan

Drilling begins for the new monitoring network to analyse groundwater levels in Kabul

Landell Mills shares knowledge of international urban water management at national meeting of Irrigation and Water Forum and British Hydrological Society

World Water Day Conference casts a spotlight on the Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge Project

Landell Mills welcomes new staff to the Africa, Caribbean and Latin America Division

We recently welcomed two Junior Project Executives to support Landell Mills’ work in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America.

Hannah Mary Harrington has a BA Hons in French and Spanish from University College London. Prior to joining Landell Mills, she completed the Charityworks Leadership Programme and worked as a Transformation Officer at GreenSquare Group, a housing association in Wiltshire. Hannah Mary has spent time in Togo as a Team Leader on the DFID-funded International Citizen Service Programme, as well as Canada and Chile as an exchange student, and as a volunteer in India at The Ashraya Initiative for Children.

Elisabetta D’Amico has a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from LUISS University in Rome and an MSc in Development Economics and Policy from the University of Manchester. Prior to joining Landell Mills Elisabetta volunteered for AFS International Programs in Italy, and as an English teacher in China for over a year. Elisabetta was also a Speaker at the TEDxLUISS Conference in 2016.

Landell Mills organises Panel Discussion – Promoting a Climate of Change – to voice young people’s opinions on climate change issues in Sudan

On 10th July 2018 Landell Mills held a lively Promoting a Climate of Change Youth Panel Discussion at the University of Khartoum as part of the EU financed Global Climate Change Alliance+ project: Strengthening Local Communities Resilience to Climate Change in Sudan. Landell Mills is implementing the following contract under this project: Provision of Technical Assistance to Enhance Local Capacities Regarding Environmental Management and Environmental Governance. The event was organised to coincide with the European Union Climate Diplomacy Week and highlight the role of youth in addressing climate change issues through an interactive workshop and talks focused on the following three themes:

1. Youth, innovation, technology and climate change

2. Education, social behaviour change and communication – engaging youth to address climate change

3. Enterprise and the green economy – opportunities for youth in the context of climate change

Participants at the Promoting a Climate of Change panel discussion – including Mr. David Lelliott OBE, Deputy Head of Mission (2nd from left, backrow), H.E Hans Henric Lundquist, Ambassador of Sweden (3rd from left- backrow), H.E. Jean Michel Dumond (centre, backrow) and Dr. Hana Hamadalla (Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Physical Development, Director of the General Directorate of Climate Change). Photograph by Nisreen Alsaiem

The Panel Discussion

The panel brought together representatives from the Government of the Republic of Sudan, the international donor and diplomatic community, national and international NGOs, as well as fifty Sudanese young people from various disciplines and with different backgrounds to identify the key issues and discuss policy solutions.

The speakers at the event included H.E. Jean Michel Dumond, Head of Delegation for the European Union; Dr. Hana Hamdalla, Director of the Directorate for Climate Change, Ministry of Environment Natural Resources and Physical Development (MENRPD); Andrew Billingsley, Landell Mills Team Leader, and Dr. Mey Ahmed from the United Nations Environment Programme.

Presentations were also given by young people involved in the sector. This session demonstrated practical ways for young people to engage in positive action to address climate change and to encourage creative solutions to a range of pressing climate related issues. Khalid Ali from Impact Hub, for example, noted that youth represent more than 60% of the Sudanese population and that climate change is going to affect them the most. He also explained that the local context is complicated and required a range of innovative solutions, and that Sudan has a decent telecom infrastructure, which he thinks is a great opportunity to reach a wide range of stakeholders, especially in remote areas. 

Basil Ahmed presenting: Education, Social Behaviour Change and Communication – Engaging youth to address Climate Change, Photograph by Nisreen Alsaiem

Education, social behaviour change and communication – engaging youth to address climate change

On the topic of education, social behaviour change and communication – engaging youth to address climate change, Basil Ahmed from the Arab Youth Climate Movement highlighted key methodologies for the communication of messages and the techniques for engaging youth, children and communities in climate change activities.

Amro Khalafalla presenting on Enterprise and the Green Economy – opportunities for youth in the context of Climate Change. Photograph by Nisreen Alsaiem

Enterprise and the green economy – opportunities for youth in the context of climate change

On the theme of enterprise and the green economy – opportunities for youth in the context of climate change, Amro Khalafalla, co-founder and Head of the Founding Committee of the Sudanese Solar Energy Society, discussed economic development opportunities for youth in the context of climate change. He also addressed the background to the green economy and environmental entrepreneurship, and, critically, the various possible entry points for youth, especially in the energy sector. Finally, Lujein Mohamed talked about her experiences in running a recycling project that won her a national award for her efforts. 

The Discussion

In the afternoon, a discussion session was held in which participants were divided into two groups in order to discuss the role of technology and the importance of policy in addressing climate change. 

The Panel Discussion participants. Photograph by Nisreen Alsaiem

Discussion groups of young people addressing questions on technology and policy to address climate change. Photograph by Nisreen Alsaiem

Discussions during these sessions concluded there is a need to improve environmental awareness using both technology and social media. Workshop participants also felt that further campaigning is needed to increase environmental awareness in remote areas and access to technology. It was proposed that the government, experts, civil society and the private sector should coordinate to create an enabling environment for technology. Finally, the group discussed the need to increase awareness and ensuring implementation of national and international policies and proposed a series of possible next steps including:

• Awareness events with the private sector that focus on how they can adapt their activities to mitigate and adapt for climate change and what support they can offer to young people in tackling common challenges.  

• An annual event that brings together software developers, inventors and engineers to showcase technologies to address climate change.

• Bi-annual events with inspirational Sudanese speakers.   

• Engagement with diplomatic cultural centres such as the British Council and French and Italian organisations to encourage the spread of climate change related messages through their events.

• A training programme for CSOs and journalists on Social Behaviour Change Communication and climate change focused project fundraising. 

More than 150 tonnes of waste collected in Zambia for World Clean Up Day

This year’s World Clean Up Day, on the 15th September, included several successful clean-up activities in Zambia, which Landell Mills helped to manage in cooperation with our partner, Ku-Atenga Media. Events were organised in Lusaka, Ndola, Choma and Livingstone, whilst a number of smaller activities were staged in other areas of the country. The annual event, which takes place across 158 countries, is organised by the Let’s Do It! Foundation and aims to increase awareness of the importance of waste management and the need to recycle.

In Zambia’s capital city, activities took place across three locations, under the ‘Keep Lusaka Clean’ campaign and more than 1,000 members of the public took part. The clean-up exercises were supported by the EU Delegation to Zambia, Lusaka City Council and recycling organisations Trashback and Manja Pamodzi, as well as various other local partners.

Attendees brought along their own cleaning equipment including wheel barrows, brooms and rakes. All participants were given gloves, whilst the EU Delegation provided branded t-shirts. An estimated 140 tonnes of waste was collected across the sites in Lusaka alone. Trash Back, Lusaka City Council and Manja Pamodzi then provided trucks to collect all of the waste.

The largest of the gatherings was attended by the Head of the EU Delegation to Zambia and included a demonstration on effective waste management and how to make a compost heap by Trashback. The events received coverage across four radio stations, including an interview with the Ambassador to the EU Delegation, three Zambian TV channels and a national newspaper.

Landell Mills develops methodology for monitoring cropping intensity changes in irrigation schemes using remote sensing satellite technology

Landell Mills has developed a methodology to assess the status of vegetation within individual canal command areas of the Panj-Amu River Basin (P-ARB) in Afghanistan and to compare this with other irrigation areas in the basin. The report explores the use of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250m resolution Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to record vegetation levels in mid-August.

The MODIS NDVI is effective in independently verifying reported increases in irrigated areas and improved water allocation within command areas, and could be used as a tool to prioritize investments in irrigation areas (i.e. for irrigation schemes with low NVDI which could be increased with investment). It is freely available (https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov).

Evolution of Late August NDVI: 2008 - 2016

The average NDVI index for the whole of the P-ARB was compared with the annual Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) calculated by the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) Water Resources Department. The Mann-Kendall statistical analysis indicates that the P-ARB SWE was stable between 2008 and 2015 with a confidence level of 73%, while the NDVI is probably increasing with a confidence level of 95%.

This supports the hypothesis that crop productivity has improved over the basin, because of better water management within the irrigation areas, and thus supports the P-ARBP final report conclusions, developed by Landell Mills, that EU investment has had a beneficial impact on cropping intensity.

The methodology was developed as part of the EU-funded Panj-Amu River Basin Programme (P-ARBP), which was implemented from 2009-2017.

Landell Mills leads framework consortium for evaluation and impact assessment of the European Commission’s humanitarian aid and civil protection activities

Landell Mills is a consortium leader for the multiple framework contract for services related to evaluation and impact assessment of the European Commission’s humanitarian aid and civil protection activities for the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO).

Our highly competent consortium is made up of: Universalia (Canada), International Alert (UK), Femconsult (the Netherlands) and the American Institutes for Research (USA). The evaluations and impact assessments that come through this framework are complex in nature and cover a geographic region, country, or a horizontal thematic area, such as health projects, of DG ECHO’s activities.

Our consortium is currently implementing two evaluations, the first is the evaluation of DG ECHO-funded interventions relating to transport and logistics from 2013 to 2017. It includes interventions being delivered directly by DG ECHO itself, or via its humanitarian partners, participating states or by other organisations who are receiving support from DG ECHO. These include organisations such as the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS), Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Our partner Universalia is leading the second evaluation; the independent evaluation of the European Union’s humanitarian response to the refugee crisis in Turkey during the period of 2016 to 2017. This evaluation will cover all humanitarian aid actions under the EU Facility for Refugees in Turkey, including those that are ongoing. The results will be used to inform future programming and funding. The evaluation is set to be completed in March 2019 when the final report will become publically available.

Study Tour to Japan enhances knowledge in effective river basin management for Bhutan and Nepal

Executive members from the Wangchhu Basin Committee in Bhutan, and the High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization and the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat in Nepal, recently took part in a study tour to Japan. They learnt about sustainable management of water resources in river basins from Japanese projects.

Landell Mills arranged for the executives to visit a functional river basin organisation and find out about the required governance and institutional structures for integrated water resources management, as well as planning, implementation and monitoring mechanisms. Together they travelled to Osaka from Tokyo visiting offices en route to learn from river basin organisations, basin water plants and integrated dam management offices. Prior to the study tour, the executives lacked experience in river basin management so the trip was an excellent opportunity for them to enhance their knowledge and transfer it to river basins in Nepal and Bhutan.

The tour forms part of the Strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management in Mountainous River Technical Assistance project administered by ADB, funded by the Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction and managed by Landell Mills. It is providing technical assistance to river basin organisations in Afghanistan, Nepal and Bhutan. By strengthening water resources management it will help each of the three countries to cope with expected changes in water availability due to climate change and increases in water demand to support economic and population growth.

Find out more about the project here:

Mid-project workshop in Kathmandu discusses way forward for Strengthening Integrated Water Resource Management in Mountainous River Basins project

The first Zarafshon River Basin Dialogue in Tajikistan is a great success

The first River Basin Dialogue under The Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project recently took place at the Dilkusho Tea House in Panjaken Town in Tajikistan. It was organised by the Zarafshon Basin Work Group and Landell Mills, who is providing technical assistance to the project. Through River Basin Dialogues, the Work Group is able to collect feedback and organise discussions among various stakeholders to incorporate into a new River Basin Plan. The plan is being developed by the Zarafshon Basin Work Group and the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources (MoEWR) to guide the development and management of water resources in the Zarafshon Basin. 130 stakeholders attended the inaugural dialogue including the First Deputy of MoEWR, the Head of Operations and the Rural Development Task Manager from the EU Delegation to Tajikistan, and representatives from the Academy of Science of Tajikistan.

As well as helping to develop the River Basin Plan, the first River Basin Dialogue also promoted the work of the European Union’s Rural Development Programme, which focusses on integrated water resources management in river basins. During the event, several presentations were given on water sector reforms and plans for the development of the Zarafshon Basin. Other Integrated Water Resource Management programmes working in river basins in Tajikistan also presented and highlighted their progress. Lastly, a working session gave participants the chance to discuss major water related issues in the basin to discuss feedback from questionnaires distributed before the meeting. The dialogue was featured on regional TV as well as in the national media.

The Zarafshon Basin Work Group is a group of professionals who are currently being trained under the Zarafshon Integrated Sub Basin Project to become a River Basin Agency. The project is funded by the European Union and is contributing the sustainable management and protection of water and land resources in the country.

Find out more about the project here:

Zarafshon Integrated Sub Basin Project Working Group holds inauguration meeting

Zarafshon Integrated Sub-basin Project attends regional pre-consultations of the Citizens Forum of the 8th World Water Forum

Landell Mills organises Jucar River Basin study visit for the Tajikistan Ministry of Energy and Water Resources

The Zarahshon Integrated Sub-basin Project visits Switzerland and Spain

Landell Mills to deliver variety of high quality projects as lead partner on EU SIEA Lot 1 Framework Contract

Landell Mills is pleased to announce it is a lead partner on the EU Framework Contract Services for the Implementation of External Aid for Lot 1 Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Resilience (FWC SIEA Lot 1). We are leading a consortium of nine partners including Adam Smith International, Danish Forestry Extension, Danish Management, Ecologic Institute, Frankfurt School, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Linpico, Natural Resources Institute (University of Greenwich), and Teagasc (the Agriculture and Food Development Authority).

Landell Mills has been managing EU Framework Contracts for over 10 years, implementing more than 150 short-term assignments in excess of 50 countries. We hosted our first consortium meeting in June in the Pump Rooms in the city of Bath. The meeting highlighted the consortium’s abilities to supply the best quality services at very short notice through extensive framework experience and excellent networks and systems which have been established and proven over time.

Our consortium looks forward to successfully delivering a wide variety of high quality projects under FWC SIEA Lot 1.