Small-scale irrigation schemes have been identified as a major vehicle to improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers and their communities in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including improving food security, education, health and adapting to climate change. Such improvements are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. However, small-scale irrigation has, for a complex set of reasons widely discussed in the literature, failed to live up to these expectations.

It is increasingly acknowledged that multiple interventions are needed to transform rural communities into sustainable communities, creating jobs, food security and prosperous livelihoods for their residents. This event will discuss what kind of approaches are required to create rural transformation and development.