Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a diverse climate ranging from temperate highlands to arid lowlands, with significant rainfall variability across regions. Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopia’s economy, employing the majority of the population. The country’s dependence on rain-fed agriculture makes it particularly vulnerable to shifts in rainfall patterns and droughts, which exacerbate food insecurity and livelihood challenges.

IWMI in Ethiopia

Based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, IWMI researchers are focused on enhancing agricultural resilience and promoting sustainable natural resource management through innovative approaches to land, water, and irrigation. A key focal area is improving irrigation infrastructure and water management systems, with projects such as the development of an Irrigation Infrastructure Quality Management System toolkit. This toolkit, applicable across Sub-Saharan Africa, is helping to enhance the quality and effectiveness of irrigation systems in Ethiopia, as well as in neighboring Kenya and Uganda.

Additionally, IWMI is implementing climate-smart agricultural practices to improve livelihoods and build resilience among smallholder farmers, particularly through improved water and nutrient management. Our work in landscape rehabilitation, such as in Halaba, emphasizes the restoration of degraded land, supporting ecosystem services and sustainable agricultural practices. IWMI is also addressing water management challenges in regions like the Awash River Basin, working with communities to prioritize climate-smart water management practices that enhance both water availability and productivity. In the Bale Ecoregion, researchers are examining the impact of land use and land cover changes on ecosystem services, which informs strategies for maintaining the health and productivity of these landscapes. These initiatives, alongside efforts to promote financial inclusion and sustainable resource management, are collectively contributing to Ethiopia’s path toward a more resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart agricultural future.

Country representative

Abdulkarim Seid

Abdulkarim Seid

Country Representative – Ethiopia, Regional Representative – East Africa (Rotational CR)

Projects in Ethiopia

Latest Ethiopia news

IWMI supports climate-smart agriculture in Ethiopia

Solar-powered irrigation is contributing to improved food security and incomes for farmers in the Oromia and Central Ethiopia regions …

“I shall ‘sew’ the land together before I die.”

The story of one family’s successful gully restoration in Halaba, Ethiopia …

Research, partnerships, and community action build resilience in Ethiopia

IWMI and partners strengthen investment in anticipatory action and disaster preparedness following 2023 floods …

Landscape rehabilitation outreach in Halaba, Ethiopia

IWMI and partners demonstrate the power of community-driven land restoration in fostering awareness and encouraging initiative …

Latest Ethiopia publications

Displaying 4 publications
Impacts of climate-smart agricultural practices on farm households’ climate resilience and vulnerability in Bale-Eco Region, Ethiopia (10/31/2023)
Impacts of climate-smart agricultural practices on farm households’ climate resilience and vulnerability in Bale-Eco Region, Ethiopia
Environment, Development and Sustainability, 2025
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Integrated water storage assessment in the Tana-Beles Sub-basin, Ethiopia (03/17/2025)
Integrated water storage assessment in the Tana-Beles Sub-basin, Ethiopia
Sustainable Water Resources Management, 2025
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (4.32 MB)
Designing a monitoring plan for microbial water quality and waterborne antimicrobial resistance in the Akaki Catchment, Ethiopia (03/07/2025)
Designing a monitoring plan for microbial water quality and waterborne antimicrobial resistance in the Akaki Catchment, Ethiopia
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2025
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Performance of four wastewater treatment plants serving Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa (03/03/2025)
Performance of four wastewater treatment plants serving Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa
Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2025
More... [DOI] | Fulltext (646 KB)