This research focuses on the evolution of farmer-led irrigation along ephemeral rivers in Zimbabwe and Kenya (Mzingwane and Athi catchments). The objective is to evaluate the spatial and temporal dynamics of these smallholder farmers. It analyses the types of farm ventures, the drivers, their adaptive strategies. The study integrates different socio-economic levels: household, farm and rural networks. It aims to explain the dynamics of FLI within the livelihoods of rural farming families. It conceptualises irrigation as social-ecological systems to enable integrating biophysical and socio-economic components and analyse processes of change at system and individual farmer level. Qualitative data is collected through the monitoring of diverse farming families over several years, in order to analyse their irrigation histories as integral part of their livelihoods.