Ethiopia – A growing economy in transition

Partnerships in Ethiopia

• Protecting Lake Hawassa Partnership
• Partnership for Circular Value Chains in Addis Ababa
• Dembel-Shalla Sub-Basin Multi-Stakeholder Platform

Ethiopia is experiencing tremendous economic development: Average annual growth rates between 2008 and 2018 reached 9.8 percent according to World Bank figures. At the same time, Ethiopia is facing rapid population growth, with a doubling taking place roughly every 30 years. Current estimates assume a population of around 133 million people. This poses a huge challenge for the country: not only need basic services and infrastructure be extended, but also job opportunities must be provided for the increasing population.

While Ethiopia disposes of plentiful water and other natural resources, the variability of supply over space and time poses a severe risk to its economy and society. Furthermore, institutions for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) are facing challenges in coordination and funding for effective cooperation. In the absence of clear coordination, the private sector, local communities, NGO´s and mandated government agencies often act upon these challenge in a fragmented manner, with duplication of efforts and often not reaching scaling potential of pilot activities. 

NatuReS´ goal is to actively engage both national and international companies in Natural Resources Stewardship in Ethiopia, as well as supporting public institutions in policy development and implementation aimed at enhancing natural resources stewardship at national and regional levels.

Location: Lake Hawassa sub-catchment, Sidama and Oromia Region

Aim: Protecting Lake Hawassa, which is threatened by population growth, urban and industrial park development, land degradation and improper waste management.

Activities:

1.) Afforestation and Soil Erosion Control (ASEC)

• Establishment of tree nurseries and distribution of seedlings for the (re-) afforestation of degraded land
• Soil and water conservation through an ecohydrological approach
• Livelihood diversification (fruit trees, poultry and beekeeping)

2.) Solid and Liquid Waste Management (SLWM)

• Rehabilitation of Amora Gedel Constructed Wetland
• Provision of waste collection equipment (e.g. baling machine, trash bins)
• SLWM / recycling training for waste collectors

3.) Community and stakeholder engagement (CASE)

• Public awareness raising and behavioural change events in schools
• Production and broadcasting of radio shows on environmental protection 

4.) Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard (AWS)

• Assessment of Hawassa Industrial Park (HIP) for AWS gaps identification
• Development of an implementation plan for AWS within the HIP

NatuReS working areas: Circular Economies, Catchments, Economic Zones

Partners:

Public Sector: Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Hawassa University (HU), Ministry for Water & Energy – Rift Valley Basin Administration Office (RVBAO), Hawassa City Administration, Sidama Environment Protection and Forest Bureau (SEPFB), Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), Sidama Development Association, among others

Civil Society: CIFA Onlus, Affiliation of Friends of Lake Hawassa (AFLaH), Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Water Witness International (WWI), Tamra for Social Development (TSD)

Private Sector: PVH, Haile Resort, Coba Impact, Hotel Assoc., Waste Collection Assoc.,  Fruit Hawassa

Location: Addis Ababa

Aim: To promote collective action and implementation of circular value chains within the solid waste sector of Addis Ababa to mitigate environmental pollution and enhance resource use efficiency.

Activities: 

1.) Reduce pollution of natural resources through improved waste management  

• Provide training on natural resources management and integrated solid waste management for waste collectors and management committees.
• Provide equipment to improve collection and transportation of waste (Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), baling machines, collection carts, waste segregation bins)
• Introducing new technologies for the management and recycling of plastic – manual baling machines, pelletizing of used coffee grind as cooking fuel
• Facilitating market linkages between waste generators, collectors and recycling companies

2.) Behavior change

• Community awareness raising on proper waste disposal through communication materials 
• Piloting at-source (household/business level) waste segregation.

3.) Public sector support

• Capacity building of public partners on the stewardship approach.
• Support Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) on an extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy.

NatuReS working areas: Cities, Circular Economies

Partners:

Public Sector: Ethiopian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Addis Ababa Cleansing Management Agency, Addis Ababa University – Institute of Technology.

Civil Society: PETCO Recycling Community Organization, Tamra for Social Development, Centro Internazionale per la Famiglia (CIFA), UN-HABITAT, AICS Irish Aid, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), TecnoServe, JICA – Japan International Cooperation Agency, ACEN Foundation, C40 Cities.

Private Sector: Ethiopian Beverages Manufacturing Industries Association, KUBIK Inc., Coba Impact Recycling Company, Soil & More Ethiopia, EKT Trade and Investment PLC, Oryx International PLC, Clean Addis Recycling, NAKSHATRA Ventures, Addis & friends Plastic Recycling, Abaynesh & friends Waste Collection Cooperative, Biruk & Selam Compost Manufacturing.

Location: Dembel-Shalla sub-basin, Oromia and Central Ethiopia Regions 

Aim: To see natural resources in the sub-basin developed and managed in an efficient, equitable and sustainable manner by 2035 through collective action. 

Activities:  

1.) Water Allocation, Use and Management: 

• Promotion of a water use data monitoring system  
• Awareness raising on up-to-date legislation and guidelines  
• Capacity building of key water users on efficient water management 

2.) Water Quality, Pollution Control, Wetland and Lake Management:  

• Support of water quality and wetlands ecosystem monitoring  
• Capacity building and technical guidance on wastewater management 
• Awareness raising on water quality and pollution for water users   

3.) Integrated Watershed Development and Management:  

• Mapping of erosion hotspot areas in the sub-basin 
• Identification of good practices in watershed management  
• Targeted capacity development of stakeholders from the sub-basin 

NatuReS working areas: Catchments, Economic Zones 

Partners (among others):

Public Sector: Rift Valley Basin Administration Office, Oromia Regional State President Office, Oromia Region Water and Energy Bureau, Oromia Region Environmental Protection Authority, Oromia Region Agriculture Bureau, Oromia Region Plan Commission, Oromia Region Finance Bureau, Central Ethiopia (CE) Regional State President Office, CE Region Agriculture Bureau, CE Region Water, Mining and Energy Bureau, CE Region Finance Bureau, CE Region Plan and Development Bureau, CE Region Environment and Climate Change Bureau 

Civil Society: SOS Sahel Ethiopia, Wetlands International Ethiopia, PHE-Ethiopia. 

Private Sector:  Sher Ethiopia P.L.C., Castel Winery Ethiopia P.L.C., Meki-Batu Fruit and Vegetables Growers Cooperative’s Union  

We have listed here only the steering committee members, in total there are about 150 partnership members.