First regional WATDEV toolbox training successfully held in Wageningen

The first regional toolbox training for project partners and modellers of the Climate Smart WATer Management and Sustainable DEVelopment for Food and Agriculture in East Africa (WATDEV) project was held from 4 to 6 February 2026 in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The event brought together researchers, practitioners, and students working on climate-smart water management and sustainable agriculture.

The WATDEV project is funded by the European Union’s DeSIRA initiative and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The project supports research, modelling, and capacity building to strengthen climate resilience and improve water and agricultural resource management in East Africa, with a strong focus on multi-actor engagement and decision support.

The toolbox for water use planning and sustainable management will be a policy tool to help local and national decision makers in Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya to make informed decisions about water use in agriculture, while ensuring the sustainability of natural resource management and improving the livelihoods of local communities.

Organised by the International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC), the three-day training aimed to familiarise participants with the toolbox system, which runs integrated models to simulate best management practice (BMP) scenarios and to evaluate their environmental and economic impacts using multi-criteria analysis (MCA).

The training began on Wednesday, 4 February, at the Hotel Wander (WICC) with an introduction to the WATDEV toolbox. Participants were introduced to the theoretical foundations of the SWAT and MODFLOW models and gained practical experience in visualising model outputs, comparing Best Management Practices (BMPs), and conducting Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) that integrates environmental and economic indicators. The lectures and tutorials were complemented by group exercises tailored to different case studies.

On Thursday, 5 February, the focus shifted to a more in-depth exploration of the WATDEV models. Participants learned how to modify key input parameters—such as crop selection, irrigation, and fertilisation—and how to design, implement, and evaluate new BMP scenarios. Through group work, participants ran model simulations, visualised results in the toolbox, and assessed performance using MCA, with guidance from expert coaches

The final day, Friday, 6 February, took place on the Wageningen University campus and was dedicated to networking and scientific exchange. The morning session showcased cutting-edge research on water management, irrigation, earth observation, and food security, with contributions from Wageningen University & Research (WUR), ISRIC, Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari (CIHEAM Bari), and HydroSat.

In the afternoon, ongoing WATDEV PhD and research activities across Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Sudan were presented, fostering dialogue between early-career researchers and senior scientists. Participants also visited the ISRIC World Soil Museum.

The training was delivered by a multidisciplinary team of lecturers from ISRIC and CIHEAM Bari. It combined lectures, tutorials, and hands-on group exercises, with participants working on their own laptops throughout the course. Pre-training self-assessments highlighted the growing importance of model-supported multi-criteria analysis for transparent, consistent, and well-justified decision-making in water and agricultural planning.

The successful completion of this first regional training marks an important milestone for the WATDEV project and lays a strong foundation for continued capacity strengthening and collaboration on climate-smart water management in East Africa.