| This study was carried out based on data collection through a survey in the Nile Delta area where two irrigation improvement projects are being implemented through the Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI). The first project established new structures and water users' associations on the Mesqa level by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the second project is consolidating the irrigation district, integrating the use of water resources, and forming a branch canal water user association by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The factors evolved from the presence of these projects to improve water control, availability, and irrigation conditions were analyzed. The chi-square test was used to test the strength of relation between different factors in the irrigation system to identify which of them lead to system improvements, and the lessons learned during the different phases of the establishment, and their causes.;The formation of water users' associations was the main factor for improving the irrigation conditions in both projects, as the JICA project showed better indications of improvement in the different dimensions of improvements compared to the USAID project. Moreover, the USAID project showed weakness indicators to become sustainable in the long term; however, the improvements of the JICA project were based on incorrect policies. It was concluded that the way to achieve the MWRI objectives in the Nile Delta is by reforming the reformed policies to serve the farmers and improve their management and technical skills, as well as to improve the skills of the ministry personnel so they can handle the tasks appointed to them under the new policies. |
