Outcomes of the workshop

The workshop emerged from a joint mission of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) to Ethiopia in February–March 2002, at the invitation and enthusiastic support of various Ethiopian government ministries and other institutions for developing long-term collaborative research and capacity building in integrated water and land resources management. Other visits and missions, including a workshop-planning mission in August 2002 by a senior IWMI staff member followed. The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) and the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organization (EARO) along with IWMI and ILRI later agreed to hold a ‘Workshop on research and capacity building priorities 2002–2020’. This workshop was organised by representatives from the MoWR, EARO, ILRI, and IWMI and was held at the ILRI Addis Ababa campus in early December 2002.

The workshop brought together about 80 professionals, both researchers and practitioners drawn from a wide range of institutions in Ethiopia, in addition to the international participants. Twenty-five papers were presented and discussions conducted on land and water management research. The participants worked in five discussion groups to prepare the workshop outputs.

Well-targeted and good quality research is essential to develop Ethiopia’s natural resources and to reduce poverty and promote development. A range of important research issues were identified, which will be useful for guiding future research projects in Ethiopia. These research issues need further prioritising. Carrying out the research will require co-operation among Ethiopian research institutions and partnerships with federal ministries and regional governments, and can be strengthened through partnerships with international institutions. They can facilitate collaborative research among the countries sharing the Nile and other river basins, and exchange of experiences with other regions and basins.

The workshop made it clear that there is considerable research and development capacity in Ethiopia. However, this capacity is fragmented among diverse institutions. Integrated water and land management research must be interdisciplinary, including the social, physical and biological sciences. The human, institutional and financial resources for carrying out research are well short of the level required to meet the needs of the country.

Substantial financial resources over a period of time will be required to build the necessary capacity for land and water management research. Such resources can be raised from many sources, including government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), bilateral and multilateral partners, and regional sources such as the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI). A joint effort by Ethiopia and international partners to raise the necessary funds is needed.

The workshop recommended the implementation of the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission (ESTC) proposal to establish an institutional framework for supporting and strengthening water research and development. It also recommended establishing strong linkages with appropriate international networks and institutions. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) could play a role in developing this institutional framework.

An Ethiopian Consultative Committee for Water and Land Management Research should be established to serve as an interim mechanism to support water research in collaboration with the planned research department in the Ministry of Water Resources. This Committee will help prioritise research issues and facilitate co-operation between Ethiopian institutions and international bodies such as IWMI and ILRI.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Ethiopia and IWMI should be prepared and adopted as soon as possible to facilitate co-operation. Several projects are already in the pipeline and an MoU would facilitate their implementation and the development of a strong collaborative programme. Posting of IWMI staff in Ethiopia, if desired, will be under ILRI’s agreement with the Government of Ethiopia.

Finally, the Organising Committee wishes to thank the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada and the Global Mechanism for Combating Desertification for their support, which made the workshop possible.

Gulilat Berhane (MoWR), Paulos Dubale (EARO), D. Merrey (IWMI) and D. Peden (ILRI)