Workshop objectives

D.J. Merrey
Director for Africa, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)

Friends and colleagues

I am very pleased that this workshop has materialised so quickly, and that there are so many participants here today. I welcome everyone on behalf of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

The main objectives and expected outcomes of the workshop are to:

• identify priority research issues in land and water management research in Ethiopia
• identify priority capacity building needs related to land and water management in Ethiopia
• advise on the niche and roles of various partners in the research and capacity building programme, including the Ethiopian partners who must take the lead, IWMI, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), and other international and regional partners
• advise on the governance framework for partnership among the various parties and
• outline a resource mobilisation strategy to make it possible to implement the programme.

We all agree that improved land and water management is essential for sustainable development and poverty reduction in many African countries including Ethiopia. Ethiopia has considerable research capacity already, but perhaps it is not always as effectively mobilised as it could be. The intention of the proposed long-term programme is to help mobilise and focus these capacities, and help Ethiopia further strengthen its research capacities and its policies and management strategies in natural resource management.

I am sure that this workshop will be an important milestone in achieving this objective and Ethiopia’s long-term development goals.

Thank you.