Partial evaluations of livelihood support from water

The way in which water supports the mixture of livelihoods in systems that consume it is of core interest to many. Food production systems that are inefficient, over-thirsty, unproductive or polluting can cause problems by aggravating income, water, environment or food insecurity at any scale. Hence they provide opportunities for improvement.

We need methods of evaluating the condition of specific systems. Water footprinting is one way of estimation (backwards from the final product); water productivity is another (upwards from the water); poverty analysis is another (from the livelihood system down). All look at parts of the system only and this can lead to serious mis-evaluation if the system in which they are evaluated isn’t characterized first. Input output analysis provides a more systemic evaluation but may be difficult to apply at the detail required.

We need better evaluation - to clarify exactly how improved agricultural water use will increase livelihood support. Without clearer evaluation, partial assessment can be overlooked, or worse, become hostage to rhetoric and politics.