Profile

Biography

Dr Jennie Barron is a research fellow in water management at SEI since 2006 and affiliated to Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University. Her research is applying systems approach on water and land management in field to meso-scale watersheds for food production, livelihood improvements and ecosystems services with particular interests in areas of urgent development needs.

The research activities aim to deliver evidence-based support for local and national policy and investments opportunities in sustainable equitable development. The research is highly interdisciplinary combining a wide set of science fields,  including agriculture, soil science, and hydrology at landscape scale, and more recently social sciences, including innovations, learning and adoption, policy and processes of development.

Activities are being undertaken several international project partnerships, currently focussing in Tanzania, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Zambia and India with among others IWMI, IFPRI, FAO, IDE, Waternet, Challenge Programme Water for Food and national partners including INERA, University of Abdou Moumouni, University of Witwatersrand and Sokoine University of Agriculture. 

Career

Jennie did her Ph.D. in Natural Resource Management, Stockholm University, and a M.Sc. in Agricultural Engineering, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.  She has spent more than 15 years involved in research for development and policy with specific focus on sub-Sahara Africa, and parts of India. She also has experience in higher education and learning support activities both in Sweden and in the African context. She has contributed expertise to various international and national bodies including to the CGIAR initiative “Comprehensive assessment of water for agriculture” and made contributions towards the Swedish Environmental Advisory Council on future fresh water and land requirements for food, and bio-energy.

Jennie regularly provides input and expertise to  a range of international processes of research for development and policy, for example the consultation of the CGIAR CRP 5 ‘ Land, water and ecosystems’, FAO-OECD ‘Green economy and agriculture’, and as Task Force to develop IAHS next decadal theme  (Dec 2011-Dec 2012). She has served as a member on the Scientific Board of The Water Research Fund of Southern Africa (WARFSA) 2008-2009 and acted as external examiner for PhD at University of Witwatersrand. She has served as reviewer to Norwegian Research Council and the Austrian Research council as well as acting as reviewer for a wide range of scientific journals.

Research

Overview

Dr Barron is now working on research in integrated resource management strategies actively incorporating on and off-farm water uses in field to meso-scale watershed. Of particular interest are the opportunities to enable desirable transformations of livelihoods and production landscapes for sustainable development, in view of uncertainty and complexity of global and local change. The research activities are being undertaken in several project partnerships, currently focusing on sites in Niger, Burkina Faso, Tanzania, Zambia and India

Current projects

Current research projects

AgWater Solutions http://awm-solutions.iwmi.org/	2009-12	PI for SEI	USD 750,000 (for SEI)
AgWater Solutions Dialogue http://awm-solutions.iwmi.org/	2011-2012	PI for SEI	USD 107,000 (for SEI)
Challenge Programme Water for Food Limpopo 1(L1) http://waterandfood.org/	2010-2013	PI	USD 700,000
Challenge Programme Water for Food Volta 1(V1) http://waterandfood.org/	2010-2013	PI	USD 700,000
FP7 WHaTeR (on behalf of Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University) http://whater.eu/	2011-12	PI for Wp4 and WP8	EUR 263,000 (for SRC)

Publications

Selected publications

Peer review (selected)

Garg, K.K., Wani, S, Barron, J., Karlberg, L., Rockstrom, J. (submitted).  Upscaling potential impacts on water flow from agricultural water interventions: opportunities and trade-offs in the Osman Sagan catchment, Musi basin, India. (Submitted to Hydrological Processes)

de Bruin, A.,De Condappa, Mihkail, M, Kumar, S, Muddu, S. Barron, J.   Water resource impacts and consequence for livelihoods with stakeholder-developed scenarios in the Jaldhaka basin . Accepted in Water International Feb 2012

Barron, J., Noel, S. 2011. Valuing soft components in agricultural water management interventions in meso-scale watersheds: a review and synthesis Water Alternatives 4(2):145-155

Enfors, E, Barron, J, Rockstrom, J., Makurira, H., Tumbo, S. 2011. Yield and soil system changes from conservation tillage in dryland farming: a case study from -North Eastern Tanzania. Agricultural Water Management. 98(11):1687-1695

Garg, K.K., Karlberg, L., Barron, J., Wani, S.,  Rockstrom, J. 2011. Assessing impacts of agricultural water interventions in the Kothapally watershed, Southern India. Hydrological Processes, Available online 4 May 2011 DOI: 10.1002/hyp.8138

Stein, C., Ernstson, H., Barron, J. 2011. A social network approach to analyzing water governance: The case of the Mkindo catchment, Tanzania.  Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 36(14-15):1085-1092

Cinderby, S., de Bruin, A., Mbilinyi, B., Kongo, V., Barron, J. 2011.  Participatory Geographic Information Systems for Agricultural Water Management Scenario Development: A Tanzanian Case Study. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 36 (14-15):1093-1102

Barron, J., Enfors, E., Cambridge, H., Adamou, M. 2010. Coping with rainfall variability:- Dryspell mitigation and implication on landscape water balances in smallscale farming systems in semi-arid Niger. Int. J. Water Res Dev 26:523-542

Rockström, J., Wani, S.P., Hatibu, N., Oweis, T., Karlberg, L., Barron, J., Bruggeman, A., Farahani, J. and Qiang, Z. 2009. Unlocking the potential of rainfed agriculture; the need for a paradigm shift in water resource management. Agricultural Water Management 97(4):543-550.

Rockström, J, Kambutho, P., Mwalley, J., Nzabi, A.W., Temesgen, M., Mawenya, L., Barron, J., and Damgaard-Larsen, S. 2009. Conservation Farming Strategies in East and Southern Africa: A Regional Synthesis of Crop and Water Productivity from On-farm Action Research.  Soil & Tillage Research 103(1):23-32

Rockström, J., Barron, J. 2007. Water productivity in rainfed systems: Overview of challenges and analysis of opportunities in water scarcity prone savannahs. Irrigation Science 25(3):299-311

Fox, P., Rockström, J., Barron, J., 2005. Risk analysis and economic viability of water harvesting for supplemental irrigation in the semiarids. Agricultural Systems 83(3):231-250

Barron, J, Okwach, G. 2005. Run-off water harvesting for dry spell mitigation in maize (Zea Mays, L.): results from on-farm research in semi-arid Kenya Agricultural Water Management 74(1):1-21

Barron, J., Rockström, J., Gichuki, F., Hatibu, N. 2003. Dry spell analysis and maize yields for two semi-arid locations in east Africa. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 117:23-37

Full publications list

Book chapters (selected)

Barron, J., Tharme, R. et al (forthcoming). Drivers of and challenges for global food security (Chapter 2) . In ‘Managing agro-ecosystems for sustainable water and food security’ Eds E. Boelee, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)  and Cabi

Snelder , D. Cofie, O., Tabo, R., Bwalya, M.,Sally, H, Barron, J.  (forthcoming).Water policies revisited. In ‘Water harvesting in sub Sahara Africa’ Eds. W. Critchley and J Gowing, Earthscan

Barron, J, P. Keys. 2011. Watershed  management through a resilience lens. Chapter 12 in “Integrated Watershed Management in Rainfed Agriculture” Eds. by S. Wani, et al. CRC

Rockström, J., Hatibu, N., Oweis, T., Wani, S., Barron, J., Bruggeman, A., Qiang, Z., Farahani, J., Karlberg, L. 2007. Managing Water in Rainfed Agriculture. Chapter 8 in ‘Water for food water for life’ (Eds. D Molden) Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture. IWMI/Earthscan.

Reports and policy documents (selected)

Keys, P., Barron, J. 2012: Releasing the pressure: Water resource efficiencies and gains for ecosystem services. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Nairobi and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Stockholm/York

de Bruin, A., Barron, J. (forthcoming). AWM interventions and monitoring and evaluation 2: Developing indicators and thresholds based on stakeholder consultations at watershed level. Project Report< SEI (in review)

De Condappa, D., Barron J., S. Kumar. 2011. SWAT application for impact assessment of agricultural water management interventions in Jaldhaka watershed, West Bengal: Modelled water balances for current landuse and scenario of development, SEI Project Report, SEI

De Condappa, D., Barron J., S. Kumar. 2011. SWAT application for impact assessment of agricultural water management interventions in Jaldhaka watershed, West Bengal: Data and model set-up, SEI Project Report, SEI

Barron, J., in  Boelee, E. (ed). 2011. An ecosystem approach to water and food security. Background report. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo (180 pp)

Barron, J., Noel, S., Mihkail, M. 2010. Review of Agricultural Water Management Intervention Impacts at the Watershed Scale: a Synthesis Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework. Project Report, Stockholm Environment Institute SEI, Stockholm/York

De Bruin, A., Mihkail, M., Noel, S. Barron, J. 2010. AWM Interventions and Monitoring and Evaluation: Potential Approaches at the Watershed Level. Project Report, Stockholm Environment Institute SEI, Stockholm/York

Barron, J (Editor). 2009. Rainwater harvesting: a lifeline for human well-being. United Nations Environment Programme, Nairobi/Stockholm Environment Institute, Stockholm (69 pp)

Kijne, J, Barron, J., Hoff, H., Rockström, J., Karlberg, L., Gowing, J., Wani, S.P. and Wichelns, D. 2009. Opportunities to increase water productivity in agriculture with special reference to Africa and South Asia. SEI, Stockholm (40 p)

Barron, J., Fox, P. Koudenoukpo, J. 2007. Water and Poverty linkages. Senegal –a case study. Report commissioned by African Development Bank. Stockholm Environment Institute/African Development Bank (26 pp)

Soussan, J., Noel, S., Barron, J. 2007. Water and Poverty linkages. Tanzania –a case study. Report commissioned by African Development Bank. Stockholm Environment Institute/African Development Bank (18 pp)

Soussan, J. Barron, J., Noel, S. 2007. Water and poverty linkages in Africa: A literature review. Report commissioned by African Development Bank. Stockholm Environment Institute/African Development Bank (110pp)

Lundqvist, J., Barron, J., Berndes, G., Berntell, A., Falkenmark, M., Karlberg, L., Rockström, J. 2006. Water pressure and increases in food and bioenergy demand - implications of economic growth and options for de-coupling. Report to the Swedish Environmental Advisory Council.

Presentations and talks (selected)

Barron, J. et al. 2011. Agricultural Water Management at watershed scale: benefits of interdisciplinary approaches. 6th ICEF conference Newcastle, UK, 18 July 2011

Barron, J., 2010. UNCCD-SEI SIWI seminar: Combating Desertification: A Strategic Response to Global Change and Challenges Invited panellist session Livelihood and Policy Implications at the Interface between Desertification, Land Degradation, and Water Management, 5 Sep 2010 Invited panellist

Barron, J. 2009. Building Water Resilience in the Face of Global Environmental Change: The Need for a Green-blue Water Paradigm. CGIAR Science Forum Wageningen 16-17 June, 2009: Workshop 5: Eco efficiencies in agro-eco systems (invited speaker):

Barron, J. 2009. Water, food security and climate change: Opportunities with green-blue water management. Horn of Africa Conference, Lund, 7-9 August 2009 (invited speaker)

Barron, J.2008. Hatibu, N., Trade-offs or opportunities? A think piece on biofuels, land and livelihoods in SSA. Invited presentation at SIWI seminars, Stockholm 17 August, 2008

Barron, J. 2008 Africa Green Revolution Conference: An Alliance for Action, invited panel member in Technologies and processes for sustainable usage of and access to water, 28-29 August, Oslo Invited panellist

Barron, J., Noel, S.  2008. The values of agricultural water management interventions in meso-scale catchments: a synthesis of cases“ 9th Waternet/WARFSA/GWPSA symposium Johannesburg 29-31 October

Barron, J. 2007.  Inter-dependence of GDP on rainfall: deepening the analysis for some African case countries. Invited presentation at the 17th Stockholm Water Symposium, Stockholm 12th August, 2007

Teaching

Undergraduate

At SEI- University of York, Jennie regularly supervise and mentor MSc , PhD ,Post docs and interns in relation to her projects from various universities.

Jennie has experience with university teaching and course development in previous positions at Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (1995-1996), and later at Stockholm University in subjects relating to hydrology and soil-plant –atmosphere modelling, and water, land and agricultural development issues.  During 1996-1997 she worked with a human capacity development network ANAFE with African universities and technical colleges to support introduction of interdisciplinary teaching, course and curriculum development at International Centre for Agroforestry research (ICRAF).  She has various training in higher education. During 2004-2005 Jennie worked part time at the Stockholm University Centre for Higher Education and Training developing material on improved teaching and learning strategies to support the centres’ training modules to teaching staff.

 In her current position at SEI, Jennie gives occasional lectures and presentation at various universities on invitation.

Postgraduate

PhDs

2010-2014	PhD student Hanna Larsson in the project “Adapting to changing climate in drylands: The re-greening in Sahel as a potential success case” at Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University (co-supervisor)
2004-2009	PhD Elin Enfors ”Links between resilience and intensification of smallholder farming through water system innovations in semi-arid agro-ecosystems”.  Department of Systems Ecology, Stockholm University. Thesis defended successfully May 2009 (co supervisor)
2007-2011	PhD student Chuba Jamir “Ozone impacts and climate change effects of food security: impacts in south Asia”, Environment Department, University of York (Member of TAC committee), accepted with minor revisions 3 Nov 2011

MSc (or equivalent) since 2006

2010	Stein, C. . MSc. Stockholm Resilience Centre/Stockholm University: Institutional setting and governance of green blue water at an agricultural meso-scale catchment in central Tanzania
2010	Keys, P.MSc, Washington University/SRC, Stockholm University: Application of WEAP in Volta Basin
2009	Dowson, T.  MSc. University of York: Evidencing the re-greening in the Nigerien Sahel
2008	Shute, R. MSc. University of York. Water management mainstreaming within the poverty reduction strategy process, throughout sub-Sahara Africa
2008	Abbott, G.MRes, University of York.  Determining spatial distribution of irrigation potential on the African continent with the consideration of environmental and human land use constraints

Post docs mentored

2012-13	: 2 Postdocs under recruitment at Stockholm Resilience Centre/Stockholm University  funded through FP7 WHaTer (WP 4 Environmental Impact Dr  I. Ouedraogo and WP8 Global –local drivers and impacts: Dr T. Karpouzouglou)
2011-2012	Post-Doc Dr M. Magombeyi, University of Witwatersrand/ SEI: Integrated hydrologic model to simulate surface-ground-water interactions for basin-wide smallholder farmer agricultural water management interventions
2009-2011	Post-Doc Dr V. Kongo, University of York- SEI/ Stockholm University-Stockholm Resilience Centre: Meso-scale effects by agricultural water management interventions in pilot watersheds in Tanzania and Zambia
2009-2010	Post –Doc Dr K. Garg, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)/Stockholm University-Stockholm Resilience Centre: Water flows and potential shifts: a resilience perspective on agricultural development in Kothapally watershed, Andrah Pradesh, India

Other teaching

Intern projects

2011	Review study: Fertiliser use in smallholder farming with particular focus on Ghana, Zambia, Ethiopia, Tanzania
2011	Quantity and types of pesticide used with focus on small holder rural farming in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia:  A review.
2010	Review of experiments for parameterisation of landuse types in SWAT
2010	Stockholm Resilience Centre: Using PGIS for ecosystems productivity in a semiarid re-vegetated village in Niger
2010	Carbon footprint of agricultural development: the potential impact of uptake of small electric and diesel pumps in five countries in sub-Sahara Africa (SEI Working Paper M SEI. Stockholm/York http://www.sei-international.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Air-land-water-resources/carbon-footprint-agricultural-development.pdf)
2008	Coupling different abiotic stresses in modelling of biomass: a test of DO3SE model capacity to couple water stress and ozone impact C3 crop (with Lisa Emberson)
2008	Farmers interviews assessing livelihood dependencies on and off farm landscapes in Makanya, Tanzania. Field work in Tanzania
2007	Assessing food dependency on local produce and ecosystem services, in Makanya, Tanzania
2006	Review on payments for ecosystem services in watershed management. SEI-Stockholm