Irrigation management transfer (IMT) means the relocation of responsibility and authority for irrigation management from government agencies to non-governmental organizations, such as water user's associations. It is a widespread process that is taking place in more than 40 countries. These guidelines have been written to assist policy-makers, planners, technical experts, farmers' representatives and others involved in IMT programmes to design and implement an effective comprehensive and sustainable reform.

Globalization of irrigation management transfer: a summary of ideas and experiences fron the Whuhan conference; Irrigation management transfer: towards an integrated management revolution; Considerations in the transfer of responsibilities for services in the water resources sector; Lessons learned from irrigation management transfer programmes; Irrigation management transfer: problems in implementation; Institutuional context of irrigation management transfer; Gender aspects of irrigation management transfer: rethinking efficiency and equity: Overview of irrigation management transfer in China; Changes in irrigation as a result of policy reform in China leading to irrigation management transfer Chamgming Liu, Haisheng Mou, Quijun Ma, Jiang Kaipeng and Yang Guangxin; A better reform form of management system in irrigation districts: the system of contracted managerial responsibility; Institutionalmanagement and performance changes in two irrigation districts: case study from Hebei Province; Irrigagion management transfer: an Indian perspective; Transfer of management to water users in stages I and II of the Bhairawa-Lumbini Groundwater project; Developing share systems for sustainable water users associations; Financing participatory irrigation management in Sri Lanka; How to turn over irrigation systens to farmers? Questions and decisions in Indonesia; Irrigation service fee in Indonesia: towards irrigation comanagement with water users associations through contributions, voice, accountability, discipline and hard.

Contributed articles.

Programs, institutions, and support for the transfer of services in the water sector; The adequacy of country transfer programs.