Wipula K B Elkaduwa

I have a PhD in Land & Water Resources Engineering and Technology with minor in Environmental Science / Agronomy; MPhil in Agricultural Engineering (Soil and water) and a BSc in Agriculture; have over 34 years (20 years of post-doctoral) experience mostly in the Agriculture including natural resources management/sustainable development; with extensive experience at international level at the International Rice Research Institute and International Water Management Institute. As the Technical Adviser for ADB MTTF WRDIP in Afghanistan I have handled project management, fund processing, procurement of consultants, Contractors and NGOs and project monitoring including compliance monitoring, etc. As well having worked in Sri Lanka, Philippines, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Mauritius for various projects related to agriculture and natural resources management

I have gained a good knowledge of productivity and profitability of sustainable agriculture with respect to my work involved in Mahaweli Authority (as he agriculture, water resources and environmental planner for more than 10 years), IRRI (as a research Scholar to study the agricultural production system performances in the context of sustainability for 4 years), IWMI (as a research associate to deal with enhancing profitability of agricultural systems while addressing sustainability issues for 3 years ) and river basin studies (covering more than 10 major rivers) as well as my research projects for MPhil and PhD Degrees. The aspects of agricultural productivity per unit of water and land; equity; soil/crop/water relations for different cropping systems; value addition and marketing; water productivity analysis across scales, interactions with other uses and the environment, particularly Water and conservation/Wetlands portfolios, etc., were the major criteria.

I have involved in many river basin planning approaches including preparation of master plans for river basins mainly to address agricultural production and NRM. Climate change impacts on water resources as well as mitigation of them were a major concern in recent studies. In integrated water resources panning, equitable development and improved human livelihoods in the context of sustainable agriculture, conservation of biological diversity and natural resources and equitable sharing of benefits and costs

I have experience in the field of Environment, particularly with donor funded projects both in the infrastructure projects (water supply & sanitation, sewerage & waste management, storm/flood water control, roads, social amenities, various utilities, industries, etc.) and NRM (land, water resources, forestry, etc.) projects. With respect to such projects, complementary studies related to disciplines such as socio-economics, education, management, international law and agreements were dealt with. Moreover, concerns related to water use in case of trans-boundary Rivers were addressed in addition to multi-lateral environmental agreements/ International conventions and regional agreements.

Further, I have involved in integration of environmental concerns (including safeguard requirements, resettlement concerns, indigenous groups and gender issues, etc.) and issues in feasibility studies (PPTA), detailed-designs, and implementation stages of the donor funded projects, particularly funded by the ADB, WB, JICA, AusAID, NORAD, USAid, etc.

I have prepared many environmental assessment documents including SEA, IEE, EIA, EARF, DDR reports (both on Environment and Social aspects of projects) as well as EMP and relevant sections of the contract specifications. Also, I have gained knowledge and experience on governance, advocacy and policy influencing of natural resources management by involving in some projects like Capacity building of the Water Resources Secretariat.

In carrying out above tasks, I have considered international Conventions and regional agreements, particularly Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements. Also trans-boundary impacts of water resources development in case of trans-boundary Rivers and mitigation of impacts were addressed.

I have experience not only in planning [designing], implementation and management of water and natural resources project, but also in monitoring the implementation of them and evaluation of achievements with a view to identify the shortfalls and required remedial measures to ensure proper implementation and or to recommend adjustments and or alternatives. I have also served as s staff consultant for ADB to carry out due diligence in the planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting of various project activities.

I have experience in organizing and leading conferences, meetings and training workshops. I have proved my capacity to lead and work successfully in multi-disciplinary teams while working with people of different national and cultural backgrounds; as well as in oral and written communication skills, including ability to write concise reports.

In my previous assignments (refer to my CV) it has been necessary and I have proved my capacities to lead complex multi-partner interdisciplinary projects and project teams, managing resources and donor accountability; excellent personal organizational skills, leadership qualities and decision-making; and sound ability to interact with various partners (e.g. as Team Leader for review of National Environmental Strategies, develop National Environmental Action Plan and Investment Plans for donor funding in Mauritius at national level with all the ministries).

I have carried out capacity building of various stake-holders such as resource users/farmers, agency personnel; NGO members as well as the institutions such as water resources secretariat regarding sustainable use/management of natural resources mainly water and soil. Also the staff attached to PMU/ PIUs, particularly National Environmental Specialists, Safeguard Officers, Construction Supervision Engineers and Grievance Point Persons, etc., for various projects, to prepare required environmental assessment documents, implement IEE/EIAS and EMPs, monitoring and monitoring Report preparation.

I have proved my interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal; ability to explain complex research/ academic matters in simple terms in most of the assignments (e.g. Capacity building components of ADB Rural Development Project, Promotion of ecological approaches for watershed and water resources management in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka, Implementation of SCOR IWMI Project at Upper Nilwala asin).

In many of the Environmental assessments (such as development of dams/salinity barriers, estimation of salinity intrusion, assessment of drainage and flooding scenarios, etc) as well as in water resources planning projects I have incorporated modelling by liaising with others with such skills.

I have shown my analytical skills in various research Projects (e.g. IWMI studies such as “Use of historical data as a decision support tool in watershed management: A case study of the Upper Nilwala Basin of Sri Lanka” (Elkaduwa and Sakthivadivel), 1999, Research Report No. 26, IIMI; Kirindi Oya basin studies).

I have translated research findings into actionable recommendations for policymakers, resource managers and poor rural communities in case of SCOR-IWMI Project in introducing participatory interventions to resource users and decision makers at local level such as Divisional Secretariats; Research findings of Mphil project was translated to a implementation through the Mahaweli Authority; and research findings of the PhD project was incorporated into the World Bank funded Rehabilitation Programme through National Irrigation.

I am available for service at a short notice and also willing to travel and work in any part of the world as necessities arise.

I attach herewith my Detailed Cv for more information. A list of my publications and other reports are given with the detailed CV.