The Dutch Water Authorities (DWA) are providing support to the Ethiopian government in the Awash basin to increase the availability of water and achieve a more inclusive and fair water allocation.
Significant challenges
This goal faces significant challenges due to sedimentation of water bodies caused by erosion and unsustainable land use. Nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, can reduce erosion and generate revenue. It proves to be an effective way to improve the livelihoods of poor communities.
Green Legacy Initiative
The Ethiopian National Government launched a massive reforestation project known as the ‘Green Legacy Initiative (GLI)’. Over the course of four years 25,000,000,000 trees will be planted. This initiative operates from the top-down. DWA is in the process of developing an intervention strategy to empower local governments and communities, thereby strengthening the GLI process bottom-up.
Several questions
We faced several questions: How can we gain a good understanding of the local challenges? How can we garner support for this initiative? Particularly in an effective and efficient manner, given the vast area, equivalent to half of the Netherlands?
Our own approach
We came up with our own approach to engage stakeholders interactively and at scale. Watch our video if you wish to learn more!
Collaboration
In our project(s) in the Awash basin, Ethiopia, DWA (Zuiderzeeland) collaborates closely with Woord&Daad, VNG International, Eijkelkamp, and many other Dutch regional water authorities, including Hunze en Aa’s, Hollandse Delta, Vallei en Veluwe, Drents Overijsselse Delta, Aa en Maas, Brabantse Delta, Hollands Noorderkwartier, and De Stichtse Rijnlanden.