Planning the development of watersheds for Ethiopia started in the 1980’s. Since then, rural development efforts by the government (as well as most non-government organisations) have been based on the ‘watershed-logic.’ While this approach is particularly relevant to Ethiopia given its hydro-geology, it applies equally well in several regions across the world.

Participatory Watershed Development is now placed firmly at the centre of Ethiopian development policy. In 2005, the federal government published a set of national guidelines. The document consolidates various regional-level data, scientific methodologies and socio-economic analysis. It serves to coordinate watershed development activities being carried out at various levels by a variety of actors (regional government/ communities/ NGOs etc.)

Lakew Desta, Capacity Building and Networking Advisor at TBIWRDP (TanaBeles Integrated Water Resources Development Project ,Ethiopia), was one of the contributors to the Guidelines. In a four-part presentation, he shares Ethiopia’s experiences with Community-based Participatory Watershed Development, with case studies from around the country.

In this third part, he takes us through the guidelines, introducing the document and explaining some important parts.

Watch Part 1: What is a Watershed? Why Watershed-based Development?
Watch Part 2: Watershed Management: Good Examples and Bad Practices from Ethiopia

Download a copy of the guidelines (Part 1)

More Info: www.eap.gov.et
Produced by: TheWaterChannel
Language: English
Year: 2011

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