Anchoring the NRAF in Learning Institutions: Exchange and lessons learned

During a half-day online regional exchange on stewardship and the multi-stakeholder partnership process, 25 participants from learning institutions in Ethiopia, South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania came together to explore the integration of the Natural Resources Risk & Action Framework (NRAF) into academic curricula.

Developed by the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme, the NRAF serves as a practical tool for setting up and supporting stewardship multi-stakeholder partnerships. During the exchange, Dr. Adey Mersha from the Ethiopian Institute of Water Resource Module at Addis Ababa University, explained how she and her team have successfully integrated the NRAF into their curriculum.

NRAF: A Tool for building stewardship multi-stakeholder partnerships

The Natural Resources Risk & Action Framework (NRAF) is a structured, five-step tool designed to help diverse stakeholders collaboratively identify, assess, and address risks related to natural resource management. Developed by the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme (NatuReS), the NRAF guides multi-stakeholder partnerships through a systematic process of preparing, assessing, committing, acting, and scaling sustainable solutions jointly, thus promoting collaboration across sectors. NRAF provides over 25 practical tools that can be used during the partnership journey. So far, the NRAF has been applied in over 45 stewardship partnerships globally and NRAF trainings for partners from all sectors have been carried out in over 12 countries worldwide. To further disseminate the NRAF, the Natural Resources Stewardship Programme together with its partners aims to anchor the NRAF within education institutions such as the Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources at Addis Ababa University.

Integrating NRAF within Water Resources Management Modules at EIWR

The Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources (EIWR) is a higher education and research institute under Addis Ababa University. Founded in 2011 under the Africa-U.S. Higher Education initiative which later was fully integrated under Addis Ababa University’s programs, EIWR’s mission is to provide outstanding higher education programs, conduct internationally recognized research, and perform high-impact community outreach to address all aspects of sustainable development and the management of water resources in Ethiopia.

During the event, Dr. Abey Mersha highlighted the synergy between the NRAF and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Given that sustainable water management requires coordination across sectors with contrasting goals, the partnership-oriented approach of NRAF fosters exactly this cross-sectoral and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The application of NRAF allows for a more holistic, systems-thinking approach, overcoming siloed methodologies and harmonizing diverse interests using the stewardship approach. These principles can be applied to natural resources management in general and are not only relevant for water management.

Advancing Collaborative Water Management Through NRAF

The partnership and collaboration aspects of the NRAF framework, which were previously absent, are now embedded in the coursework of two modules (Water Governance & Hydrodiplomacy (PhD level)); Water Resources Systems Planning and Management (M.Sc. level). Instead of being an additional module, the NRAF has been integrated as a core unit within these modules. As an example, whereas water resources risk management was already established within research thematic materials, now it also includes water resources action strategies, providing the foundation for the application in the real world.

In addition to integrating the NRAF into the curriculum, learners attended an awareness-raising and knowledge-sharing workshop to better understand the framework, its implications, and its applications.

Despite these advancements, incorporating a new concept into an existing curriculum remains a challenge. Formal academic processes often require extensive approval procedures. However, ongoing curriculum revisions provided a valuable entry point in the case of EIWR, allowing to integrate NRAF without disrupting existing structures.

A tool proven to work in different contexts

The exchange also shed light on the practical benefits of NRAF for practitioners in other contexts. NRAF has been applied in over 45 stewardships partnerships globally with different thematic foci. Good practice examples from the application of NRAF tool such as the stakeholder analysis or the risk and opportunity assessments were given from the Partnership for Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa.

Recognizing the NRAF´s practical approach and relevance for development activities, Hawassa University has taken steps to mainstream NRAF within community outreach programs. By applying the framework to real-world projects, institutions hope to enhance sustainability and impact.

Mr. Mulugeta Dadi Belete, Professor at Hawassa University and former NatuReS colleague Dr. Natahalie Richards, have jointly published a research paper on the topic of environmental stewardship using the example of the Protecting Lake Hawassa Partnership in Ethiopia, further highlighting its significance.   

Future Prospects: Training and Wider Adoption

The regional exchange and learning event provided a valuable platform for sharing experiences, fostering connections, and gaining insights from one another. As learning institutions continue to integrate the NRAF into their curricula, they can draw on key lessons from the Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources (EIWR) to enhance their approaches. The exchange reaffirmed the vital role of collaboration and knowledge sharing in advancing sustainable natural resource management. The NRAF has proven to be a powerful tool for partners, practitioners, and learners alike, strengthening stewardship multi-stakeholder partnerships and driving collective action toward a more sustainable future. As more institutions take on the opportunity to adopt the NRAF, it has the potential to shape the next generation of professionals equipped to tackle natural resource challenges through collaborative and practical approaches.

If you are interested to learn more about the NRAF and its application, please reach out!