IWM concepts play an important role for rural communities to adapt to impacts of climate change. The holistic concept of resource management that refers to a watershed or hydrological defined planning area is following a systematic approach with a major focus on sustainable development and manifold techniques. Farmers learn to assess the potentials as well as the challenges of their watershed; they work for improving soil moisture as well as groundwater recharge by watershed development measures increasing infiltration – even under increasing climate uncertainties. They reduce over-abstraction of resources and improve the resource utilisation efficiency; they bridge the resources gap between the rainy seasons by limited water storage facilities still manageable by local communities and new water saving irrigation techniques. In general they improve their resilience towards natural disasters resulting from climate change and reduce their dependency on just one income factor, thus they reduce drastically their vulnerability.
(source: G. Förch (2009): Integrated watershed management - a successful tool for adaptation to climate change. Rural 21 Vol. 43 No. 4 pp. 22-25)


 
IWMNet is a network of universities in Germany, Eastern and Southern Africa that emphasises capacity building and research in the field of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM). With the aim of promoting a holistic approach to water resources and sanitation management, it offers Master Programmes, short courses and summer schools and supports applied research within watersheds. In consideration of existing policies, strategies and reform agendas of partner countries, it closely cooperates with relevant institutions to strengthen the ongoing water sector reform processes in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

IWMNet is funded under the 9th European Development Fund (EDF), ACP-EU Water Facility and scheduled from October 2007 until September 2011. It closely cooperates with the German Alumni Water Network (GAWN) as well as the EU-funded capacity building project in Integrated Sanitation Management (UCDISM). Other partners include: the International Water Management Institute (IMWI) in Ethiopia, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Water Sector Reform Programmes in Kenya and Tanzania, and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).