The Lake Hawassa sub-basin is a vital ecosystem and source of livelihood for its growing population. But it is facing increasing pressure on its water resources. Rapid population growth, urbanization, agricultural expansion, and climate change have led to concerns regarding water quality degradation, declining water availability, and potential conflicts over water use. Further, the sub-basin faces challenges related to water resource management, including contamination from agricultural runoff, industrial discharge, and sewage; inefficient water use; and lack of coordination among stakeholders. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the Protecting Lake Hawassa (PLH) Multi-Stakeholder Partnership was established in 2018, working to foster collaboration and coordination among actors from the public and private sector and civil society. 

To enhance water use efficiency in the Lake Hawassa sub-basin and build capacities among stakeholders, the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS) implemented by GIZ recently organized trainings on water use efficiency for key stakeholders in the sub-basin. Resource efficiency is defined as a way of using natural resources that is sustainable for all involved stakeholders, fostering economic productivity, ecological sustainability and social justice. This training initiative, as part of the PLH partnership, brought together representatives from various sectors, including industry, irrigated agriculture, hospitality, urban greening, and municipal water supply.

Stakeholder collaboration for more efficient water management

Held from May 7 to 9, 2025 in Hawassa, the three-day training focused on demonstrating and presenting the findings of a gap assessment on water usage efficiency and facilitated discussions to identify practical solutions for the sustainable management of this vital resource. The training attracted a total of 45 participants. These comprised 10 high-level decision-makers from public regulatory bodies and 35 senior professionals from relevant sectors.

Key public stakeholders included officials from the Ministry of Water and Energy, as well as representatives from the Sidama and Oromia regional state bureaus, and Hawassa City Municipalities. The private sector also played a crucial role in the discussions, with representatives from companies such as Moha Soft Drink Factory, Haile Resort, Almeta Farm, ELFORA, and Klaver Flowers.

The active stakeholder participation underscored the importance of mutual understanding and participatory actions in addressing the findings of the gap assessment study, conducted in collaboration with experts from Hawassa University. During the sessions, officials acknowledged the valuable insights gained and committed to fostering further cooperation towards shared solutions. Emphasis was put on the need for balanced and responsible utilization of water resources across all sectors. After the training, participants successfully demonstrated their learning outcomes in an assessment test.

Steps to improve water efficiency in the Lake Hawassa Sub-basin

The training highlighted several critical findings and recommendations for improving water use efficiency in the Lake Hawassa sub-basin:

1. Reduce Non-Revenue Water: Implement strategies for leak detection and repair, as well as meter maintenance and replacement.
2. Promote Water-Saving Behaviours: Encourage the adoption of water-saving fixtures and behaviours, particularly in growing middle-class neighbourhoods.
3. Introduce Tariff Systems: Consider block tariffs and metering for billing households to incentivize conservation among users.
4. Implement Rainwater Harvesting: Encourage practices to harvest and reuse rainwater for non-potable demands.
5. Upgrade Infrastructure: Invest in supply infrastructure to alleviate pressure on boreholes and improve water supply continuity.
6. Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR): Undertake MAR interventions to enhance groundwater recharge and sustainability.

The collective commitment demonstrated during this training marks a substantial step towards more efficient and sustainable water management practices in the region, ensuring the preservation of Lake Hawassa and its vital resources for future generations. Follow-up on these recommendations will take place through the technical committees of the Protecting Lake Hawassa (PLH) partnership. They will offer joint support to the respective stakeholders and institutions to act upon the identified needs and objectives for realizing more efficient use of water resources in the endangered ecosystem of Lake Hawassa.

Addis Ababa as Ethiopia’s capital and economic powerhouse is experiencing fast population growth, to a large part from people drawn to the city by its economic opportunities. The city’s slowly developing infrastructure struggles to manage the increasing amount of waste generated. This causes many challenges, with inefficient waste collection and management leading to pollution of life supporting natural resources. Plastic waste in particular is causing long-term environmental harm. This is expected to intensify in the coming years, with projections indicating a 5% annual increase in waste generation. 

To address this issue, a Center of Excellence for a Circular Economy is currently under development on the outskirts of Addis Ababa. This is led by the Addis Ababa Cleansing Management Agency (AACMA) and supported by the Partnership for Circular Value Chains with technical assistance from Soil and More Ethiopia. Through the partnership, the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS) is providing support for the architectural designs and a comprehensive master plan which includes environmental and social impact assessments. This initiative marks a major step toward promoting sustainable resource use, protecting natural resources from pollution caused by unmanaged waste, and embedding circular economy principles in the region’s development.

Supporting the Transformation to a Circular Economy in Ethiopia

The center is envisioned as a central hub to foster research, demonstrate and transfer knowledge on circular economy practices, technologies, and business models to drive innovation for sustainable solutions. 

• Implementing and demonstrating circular economy practices: Practical provision of different waste management systems, including recycling, composting, and pollution reduction 
• Education and innovation: Offering training courses for stakeholders along the value chain, expert services and acting as technology transfer station for the circular economy 
• Engaging the private sector: A core goal of the Center of Excellence is to drive the shift toward a circular economy by actively engaging the private sector in transforming waste management practices. By showcasing cutting-edge technologies and their economic viability, the center aims to inspire circular business models that reduce waste, generate local employment, and contribute to a broader socio-ecological transformation.

Public-private partnerships are central to the center’s approach. As a flagship initiative aligned with Ethiopia’s national circular economy roadmap and the national plastic strategy and action plan, the center will play a critical role in achieving the country’s transition goals. 

Towards a Holistic and Sustainable Circular Economy Hub

The center, located in Bole Arabssa, follows a broader vision of sustainability – integrating social, environmental, and economic considerations. Beyond promoting efficient waste management and circular economy practices, the concept also emphasizes the restoration and protection of local ecosystems. Planned features include rainwater harvesting systems, riverbank rehabilitation, and urban agriculture zones – enhancing climate resilience, supporting biodiversity, and improving livelihoods for surrounding communities. This holistic approach reflects the center’s ambition to serve as a model for sustainable urban development and demonstrates the transformative potential of circularity in Ethiopia and beyond.

Complementing the vision for innovative waste solutions, the potential for utilizing Black Soldier Fly (BSF) technology at the Center has been specifically explored. A rapid assessment conducted by one of our partners, the ACEN Foundation, confirms the site’s suitability for BSF application, underpinning the Center’s role as a prospective location for demonstrating and advancing this effective organic waste valorisation method within Addis Ababa.

Unlocking Potential Through Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

The Center of Excellence is a key initiative under the Partnership for Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa. During the partnership’s recent general assembly, stakeholders from across the sector came together to align on the next steps in the design process. The meeting underscored the importance of strong stakeholder collaboration to turn the vision of the center into a reality – mobilizing collective expertise and commitment to advance circular economy solutions in Ethiopia.

“This center will be a hub for research, innovation, and capacity building in circular waste management practices. It will serve as a platform for stakeholders from all sectors to collaborate, develop and implement circular solutions, and promote resource efficiency across the city. We believe that this center will play a pivotal role in driving the transition towards a truly circular economy in Addis Ababa”

Dr. Eshetu, Director of the Addis Ababa Cleansing Management Agency

To address expressed stakeholder interest and ensure the long-term operational success of the facility, a comprehensive business model and financial plan is currently being prepared, as a key component of the ongoing operationalisation of the center. This strategic planning will detail the financial modalities and operational framework for the center’s diverse activities and technologies, providing essential clarity for potential investors and partners, thereby bolstering the foundation for its sustained impact.

For more information or to get engaged in the center, please reach out to the Partnership for Circular Economy in Addis Ababa. 

Natural Resources under Pressure in the Dembel-Shalla Sub-Basin 

The Dembel-Shalla sub-basin (DSSB) is one of the major four sub-basins in Ethiopia’s Rift Valley. With its rich natural resources – including lakes, national parks, and reserves – the region holds both environmental significance and strong economic potential for multiple sectors. These include tourism and hospitality, horticulture (particularly export flowers), fruit and vegetables, livestock rearing, smallholder crop farming and more.

However, the sub-basin is under enormous resource use pressure from anthropogenic and natural influences that jeopardise both the ecology and the socio-economic endeavours it supports. The use and management of water in the DSSB is not well planned and regulated, leading to excessive abstraction and uncontrolled pollution, resulting in decline of water quality and quantity.

Similar challenges are evident in land use: Unsustainable farming practices – such as deforestation, encroachment into buffer zones, and unregulated agrochemical use – contribute to land degradation, resulting in desertification, gully formation, and lake sedimentation. These problems in current water and land-based resources management can only be addressed collaboratively to enable a long-term sustainable development of the sub-basin.

Stakeholders Coming Together: Formation of the Partnership

As a result, around 50 partners from public, private and civil society organizations came together to establish the Dembel-Shalla Sub-Basin Multi-Stakeholder Platform (DSSB MSP), a stewardship partnership supported by the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS). They signed a Memorandum of Action for collective and coordinated efforts in June 2024, formalising membership structure and governing bodies, and combining their activities into a joint partnership action plan. The shared vision of the DSSB MSP is to see natural resources in the sub-basin developed and managed in an efficient, equitable and sustainable manner by 2035 through collective action – fostering a Just Transition that balances environmental stewardship, social justice, and economic development.

Getting to Work: First Technical Committee Meetings

Part of the governance structure of the partnership are three technical committees. Here, the thematic collaboration of the platform partners takes place and specific activities are defined and monitored. From March 25-27, these committees gathered for the first time in Batu town to develop operational plans for 2025, completing the formation of the platform. Now they are setting out to jointly drive the following activities:

1. Water Allocation, Use and Management:
   • Promoting a water use data monitoring system 
   • Identifying and promoting techniques for water use efficiency in the agriculture sector 
   • Raising awareness on up-to-date legislation and guidelines 
   • Delivering capacity building on efficient water management to key water users
2. Water Quality, Pollution Control, Wetland and Lake Management: 
   • Supporting water quality and wetlands ecosystem monitoring 
   • Providing capacity building and technical guidance on wastewater management 
   • Raising awareness of water quality and pollution for water users  
3. Integrated Watershed Development and Management: 
   • Mapping erosion hotspot areas in the DSSB 
   • Identifying good practices in watershed management 
   • Providing targeted capacity development to stakeholders from the sub-basin 

Looking Ahead

After three months, the committees will meet again to review progress and plan for further activities. Together with the stakeholders’ own activities these will be collected and aligned in the partnership action plan – a key tool of the Natural Resources Risk and Action Framework (NRAF), NatuReS’ guide for stewardship practitioners. Through these joint actions, the partnership contributes to a socio-ecological transformation that leaves no one behind – fostering inclusive, sustainable development and resilient ecosystems across the sub-basin.

Click on the technical committees below to see which stakeholders are involved where. 

Water Allocation, Use and Management Technical Committee

Members:

• Oromia Region Water and Energy Bureau 
• Central Ethiopia (CE) Region Water, Mining and Energy Bureau  
• Oromia Region Environmental Protection Authority 
• CE Region Environment and Climate Change Bureau  
• Oromia Region Plan Commission  
• CE Region Plan and Development Bureau  
• Oromia Region Irrigation Bureau 
• CE Region Irrigation Bureau 
• SOS Sahel  
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI) 
• Meki-Batu Veg & Fruit Growers Union 
• Ziway Roses PLC 

Water Quality, Pollution Control, Wetland and Lake Management Technical Committee

Members:

• Oromia Region Water and Energy Bureau 
• Central Ethiopia (CE) Region Water, Mining and Energy Bureau 
• Oromia Region Environmental Protection Authority 
• CE Region Environment and Climate Change Bureau  
• Oromia Region Plan Commission  
• CE Region Plan and Development Bureau  
• Oromia Region Irrigation Bureau 
• CE Region Irrigation Bureau 
• Wetlands International Ethiopia 
• Tamra for Social Development 
• Adami Tulu Pesticide Processing Share Company  
• Ziway Roses PLC 

Integrated Watershed Development and Management Technical Committee

Members:

• CE Region Agricultural Bureau  
• Oromia Region Agricultural Bureau  
• Oromia Region Water and Energy Bureau 
• CE Region Water, Mining and Energy Bureau  
• Oromia Region Environmental Protection Authority 
• CE Region Environment and Climate Change Bureau  
• Oromia Region Plan Commission  
• CE Region Plan and Development Bureau  
• PHE-Ethiopia 
• SOS Sahel 
• Batu Caustic Soda Factory  
• Abijata Shalla Soda Ash Factory