ABSTRACT
Flexibility is considered as one of the key ingredients of coping strategies. However, the concept of flexibility in the context of spate irrigation systems is poorly defined. A framework to assess and operationalize flexibility in spate irrigation is lacking. While flexibility is widely recommended as strategy to cope with unpredictable water supply in spate irrigation systems, there is no in-depth analysis on the subject. A systematic framework to better understand flexibility and to provide a conceptual approach to formulate flexible real options in the planning, design and operation of spate irrigation systems is lacking. Capabilities are the system characteristics that enhance the system’s flexibility to make necessary adjustments to cope with change and uncertainty. Strategic flexibility concerns medium or long-term changes such as change in irrigation requirements, land entitlements, constructing new canals or irrigation structures, change of irrigation source, and abandonment decisions.
