Water for Life

Goal and project governance

Our common goal

Our aim is to jointly develop and establish a representative and sustainably anchored multi-stakeholder-partnership (MSP) structure, which ensures continued access to clean water and ecosystem resilience at Lake Tana Watershed, balancing development needs with conservation.

The project’s intervention logic

The partnership, involving all relevant actors and stakeholders in the area, is facilitating exchange and cooperation across sectors in order to reduce root causes for poverty and migration by
a)    developing an integrated strategy to maintain, and where required to restore, the physical and biological integrity of the watershed,
b)    supporting policy change and law development and reinforcement,
c)    piloting cross-sectorial programs targeting key threats,
d)    increasing awareness and changing behaviour and
e)    strengthening of civil society for the purpose of enhanced nature conservation.

Governance of the project

NABU's role is to facilitate and steer processes for the multi-stakeholder-partnership. In the first phase of the project, governance structures have been developed and adopted with key actors. The project works as follows:

The Initiation Committee has been jointly set up for starting the project’s processes. Through the first stakeholder conference, the Water for Life Board was elected by key stakeholders. The board is supported by the Water for Life Secretariat. Amongst the many stakeholders, jointly six Working Groups on relevant work topics have been set up. Results and achievements of the working groups are being reported regularly on board meetings and annual stakeholder conferences. You can check details about the involved institutions by clicking on the graph below.

Partners and actors

The multi-stakeholder-partnership (MSP) is an opportunity to connect the multiple actors at Lake Tana watershed by working towards jointly set goals. The project is targeting 29 districts of the Lake Tana watershed including the area of the Lake Tana biosphere reserve.

Key actors for the partnership—with diverse and sometimes conflicting interests—consist of the regional government as well as the municipal and district administrations, civil society organisations, local population, the commercial sector and science representatives. They will be involved in participatory decision-making and transparent information sharing. Based on decisions taken in agreement with the stakeholders, the project will support practical actions on the ground.

Key Actors

...are Amhara Regional Government (Environment, Forest and Wildlife Protection and Development Authority (EFWPDA), Lake Tana and other Water Bodies Protection and Development Agency (LToWBPDA), Bureau of Agriculture (BoA), Bureau of Finance and Economic Cooperation (BoFEC) and Bureau of Culture and Tourism (BoCT) with their line departments and offices at zonal Woreda and Kebele level.

Private sector (large-scale farms (flower, rice, vegetables), factories (textile/leather), cooperatives (honey/coffee/other), tourism companies and business associations (fishery, tourism, boat owners, hotels, tour guides). Further actors include Community-based organisations and associations (e.g. cooperatives, user associations) as well as Local communities (e.g. farmers, water users).

Second level actors

...are universities and research institutions (Bahir Dar University, Gondar, Debre Tabor and Enjibara, Amhara Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI), Federal Forest and Environment Research Institute, Abay Basin Authority), civil society organisations (e.g. Amhara Development Association (ADA), Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), Bees for Development (Biological Society of Ethiopia), as well as religious organisations.

On a federal government level actors include the Ministry of Water Irrigation and Electricity (MoWIE), Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MoCT), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Environment, Forest and Climate Change Commission (EFCCC) as well as International development aid organisations (e.g. GIZ, JICA, DANIDA).

About Lake Tana Watershed

The Lake Tana Watershed, in the North-west of the country, stretches over 15,000 km2 covering Lake Tana, its tributary rivers, seasonally flooded plains and extensive wetlands. It is located in the heart of the Amhara National Regional State in North-western Ethiopia, about 560 kilometres from Addis Ababa. The lake itself, which counts for one third of the watershed, is Ethiopia’s largest lake and provides together with its numerous tributaries about 50% of Ethiopia’s fresh water resources. It serves as natural flood control, collecting waters from the upper catchment while allowing a controlled outlet by forming the foundation of the Blue Nile River. The water of the lake and its 60 tributaries (major rivers: Gilgel Abay, Rib, Gumara, Megech, Dirma, Geldaw and Arno Garno) is the base for diverse services to local communities, cities and industries such as water for drinking and agriculture, food supply (e.g. fish), means of transport, fertile grounds for agriculture, electricity generation, and all sorts of income related to national and international tourism, targeting the numerous churches and monasteries of the area. The diverse habitats in the watershed host a diverse water life with threatened birds, endemic forest islands and endemic fish species. The area is home to almost four million people, 80% of whom are living of subsistence agriculture depending on natural resources. The watershed covers four administrative zones, 29 districts (Woredas) and 429 Kebeles (smallest administrative unit). The watershed hosts the cities of Gondar, Debre Tabor and Bahir Dar, the latter being the regional capital.

Ecosystems under pressure
Water quality and quantity of Lake Tana are declining due to degradation of the natural forests and vegetation cover which causes erosion, deposition of sediments and eutrophication, unrestricted waste and waste water management causing pollution and intense rice and flower farming with irrigation and chemical input. In addition, the clearing and conversion of wetlands, canalization of major rivers for agriculture investments, construction of buildings on lake shores and diversion of water for hydropower are taking its toll. Impacts of climate change such as droughts or heavy rains as well as invasive species such as the water hyacinth challenge the sensitive ecosystems even more and endanger food security and livelihoods of the local communities. The population density and growth rate around Lake Tana is very high. To meet the communities’ demands, large areas of forest, grassland, and wetland were transformed into cropland, and more livestock was raised on grassland. Deforestation and overgrazing have resulted in the destruction of great amounts of natural vegetation, a decline in biodiversity and desertification and soil erosion. If this trend continues, the watershed with its numerous services for millions of people is at stake and may eventually lead to a total collapse of the aquatic ecosystems and thus to reinforced poverty and migration.

Implementing MAP structure: official meetings

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and the Tigray region's political situation, the Water for Life (WfL) assembly couldn't be held in 2020. However, the project was extended until June 30, 2023, allowing for an additional stakeholder meeting in March 2023 with 140 participants, including Mr. Getachew Jember, the deputy president of the Amhara regional state, who delivered the opening speech and answered public questions.

Also, challenges posed by measures against the coronavirus, the elections, and political instability, conducting regular meetings as scheduled has been difficult. Nevertheless, the MAP exchange process continues, and a more robust governance structure is being prepared for early 2024.

Capacity building

Various Water for Life project trainings and workshops were held during the project cycle. Most were cited within working groups, but some specifically targeted stakeholder groups with particular themes. The order of these events is as follows (latest to oldest):

• A training for the newly employed staff of the Lake Tana and other Water Bodies Protection and Development Agency (LToWBPDA), has been organized to introduce their roles, especially in the following areas: Concept of Biosphere Reserve and Lake Tana Management Plan; Wetland Protection and Management; Control of Invasive Species at the Watershed; Integrated Watershed Management Concept and Practices; and Responsibilities on Biosphere Reserve (BR) and Wetland Management. About 50 participants attended the training.
• Two rounds of Training of Trainers (ToT) for development agents and natural resource experts at woreda and zonal levels* were conducted. In the first round, 564 participants (30% women) covered topics like watershed management, natural resource conservation, ecosystem restoration, plantation, and agroforestry. They subsequently trained their communities. To assess the first round's impact, a second round was held with 409 participants (around 20% women), including feedback discussions on topics encountered in the local communities.
• Development agents trained in ToT conducted community training on natural resources conservation and behavioral change. Over 40,000 individuals attended these sessions, and a representative system for the local population was established in May 2021.
• A ToT for development agents, woreda focal persons, woreda natural resource conservation, and zonal office natural resource experts was organized with a total of 564 people participants. (May 2021)
• NABU supported the Society for Ecotourism and Biodiversity Conservation (SETBDC) by hosting a one-day workshop in January 2021. The workshop focused on evaluating the results of removing the invasive species lantana camara and biodiversity conservation in Lake Tana Watershed (LTW). It had 34 participants, including NGOs, CSOs, government officials, and university professors.
• A waste management training in collaboration with the Environment, Forest, and Wildlife Development and Protection Authority (EFWDPA) took place in December 2020, in Bahir Dar. A total of 76 participants attended, comprising 55 from environmental school clubs, 15 from CSOs, and six from EFWDPA staff.
• NABU in collaboration with the Lake Tana and other Water Bodies Protection Agency (LToWBPDA), conducted a workshop in November 2020 for 49 stakeholders, focusing on the introduction of BR reserve regulation No.125/2014 and Land Administration and Use Proclamation No. 252/2017 to law enforcement institutions.
• A training on project planning (including project proposal development), management, budgeting, impact evaluation, and fundraising took place in Bahir Dar City. It targeted NGOs, CSOs, scientific institutions, and the private sector, with 22 participants in attendance: five from NGOs, seven from CSOs, two from CBOs, four from scientific institutions, and four from the private sector. (September 2020)
• 20 members of the initiation committee received training from the Collective Leadership Institute (CLI) on stakeholder dialogues, the dialogic change model, road maps for initial stakeholder dialogues, and more. Additionally, a strategy workshop was held with 12 initiation committee members to establish a strategic plan, working modalities, objectives, and milestones. (December 2019)

*[Editor's note: administrative divisions in Ethiopia have three levels: woredas (= Ethiopian districts) are the smallest unit. A zone is comprised of many woredas. And a region, the largest division, consists of multiple zones.]

Working groups

A key MSP component is the execution of pilot measures from cross-sectoral working groups. MSP provides a framework for innovative cooperation in nature preservation, ensuring a holistic approach. To accomplish this, partners actively engage in working group decision-making processes.

Working Group 1: ecosystem restoration

NABU launched an initiative to restore ecosystems through pilot activities in 27 projects in woredas. A trilateral agreement involving NABU, the Woreda Office of Agriculture, and local communities in the designated areas facilitated these efforts. The primary aim is to provide exemplary models for kebeles to effectively manage and renature degraded soil.

Pilot activities covered 28 sites across 27 woredas, totaling 410 hectares of community land. Communities actively participated in soil and water conservation structures and extensive seedling plantings until December 2022, yielding positive grassroots-level results.

To expand ecosystem restoration and promote tree planting, valuable nursery inputs were distributed to 11 project regions in woredas. Field-based experience-sharing visits to four pilot sites involved 95 participants.

In a collaborative effort to share best practices, 40 kebele leaders, development agents, and community representatives engaged in a one-day experience-sharing visit focused on ecosystem restoration pilot sites in the Dera woreda. This approach aims to have a lasting impact on ecosystem restoration and sustainable land management in the region.

Working Group 2: Water quality and containment of invasive species management

To ensure long-lasting results in containing the water hyacinth (WH) infestation area in the Lake Tana Watershed (LTW), we have devised a comprehensive approach divided into three segments. These segments are:

1. Assessing the water quality of the LTW:
The Bahir Dar Fishery and other aquatic life research centre conducted annual water quality monitoring in Lake Tana and its watershed. Over a three-year period, key parameters like pH, TDS, conductivity, salinity, and temperature remained relatively stable, with minor declines in 2022. Nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate, sulphate, total hardness, alkalinity, iron, and BOD levels were within permissible limits for drinking water quality, although water in Dirma River, Megch River, and Rib River was classified as hard due to high total hardness. Turbidity exceeded guidelines at most sites, except Angerb River. Total suspended solids met guidelines at several locations. However, nitrite, ammonia-N, phosphate, sulphate, iron, BOD, turbidity, and TSS levels increased over the years, while nitrate and alkalinity remained stable.

These variations may be influenced by human activities and environmental conditions. It's recommended to closely monitor water quality seasonally, with a focus on potential pollutants like heavy metals and chemicals, to effectively preserve the aquatic ecosystem.

2. Determining the coverage area of the WH in lake Tana’s surface:
Until now, there is no reliable study on the precise coverage area of the water hyacinth (WH) on the Lake Tana. Therefore, a study conducted by Debre Tabor University aimed to determine the precise coverage area of WH on Lake Tana. The study used field observation, interviews, remote sensing, and GPS measurements as primary sources. The findings revealed that WH covered approximately 18.6 km2 of the lake surface, with variations in recent years: 30 km2 in 2020, 31.03 km2 in 2021, and 18.6 km2 in 2022. The larger areas in 2020 and 2021 were attributed to unstructured eradication efforts, political instability, and increased rainfall compared to 2022. The weed was predominantly concentrated in the eastern, northeastern, and northern regions of Lake Tana and extended to flooded farmland in the east and southeast.

3. Implementing innovative sustainable uses for the WH biomass: for this approach, we engaged with Gondar University in research and practical fieldwork to utilize water hyacinth biomass for organic fertilizer production in the Yeshea Gomenge kebele and Gondar Zuria woreda, in the northeastern Lake Tana region. This effort was divided into two separate trials:

• Production of compost: Five key activities were successfully carried out, including assessing community perception, making compost from water hyacinth (WH), characterizing compost composition, evaluating its yield-enhancing potential, and determining the optimal application rate. Four WH drying treatments were tested, and physico-chemical and nutrient analyses, along with heavy metal assessments, were conducted. Field trials on sorghum and teff crops were executed. The results indicated no significant differences among drying time treatments, and all composts met acceptable criteria for key parameters. Notably, a combination of 75% compost and 25% chemical fertilizer resulted in higher crop biomass and grain production.

This implies that combining WH compost with chemical fertilizers can greatly increase yields. Scaling up this water hyacinth compost technology is recommended to benefit the community and Lake Tana biodiversity conservation.

• Production of biochar, biogully, and biogas: the study reveals WH biomass effectiveness in biogas and biochar production, yielding promising outcomes like electricity generation and enhanced soil fertility. Physico-chemical measurements confirm the suitability of WH-derived products for boosting agricultural productivity. These products meet permissible heavy metal limits, making them suitable for Lake Tana communities. Scaling up these technologies is advisable for local benefits.

Working Group 3: Generate income from waste.

The group aims to bridge the gap between waste collection and utilisation, improving material management and generating income for locals. They plan to test and potentially implement innovative waste management strategies in multiple communities. These three initiatives include composting and recycling, serving both environmental stewardship and economic empowerment.

1. Paper recycling center in Gondar city

The establishment of the paper recycling center in Gondar is a commendable initiative led by Sintayehu, Zewdie, and their associates in the Paper Recycling Share Company. With support from NABU and the Gondar city administration, the project has made significant progress. Currently, the center employs 10 men and 10 women, trained in paper recycling, who have collected an impressive 10,000 kilograms of wastepaper from various institutions.

Their recycling efforts have yielded noteworthy results, including the production of 1,200 file cabinets and 2,000 kilograms of cake trays that were sold. Despite the substantial potential for wastepaper recycling in Gondar, local conflicts and transportation challenges have impeded the center from operating at full capacity.

2. Production of compost from organic waste and selection of waste at its source in Gondar city

Under the agreement signed by the Bayih, Asimeche, and Friends Waste Collection Association, Gondar City Administration Environmental Protection Sanitation Beautification and Green Development Office, and NABU, a targeted effort has engaged 300 households in responsible dry waste sorting. Equipped with project-provided dust bins, 280 households are actively participating in waste sorting.

The initiative has produced 10,000 kilograms of compost, with 5,000 kilograms sold, generating approximately 7,500 Ethiopian Birrs in revenue. This achievement highlights the dedication of waste collectors in converting organic waste into valuable compost.

3. Plastic bottle collection in Bahir Dar city

Meron and Ayechew's Plastic Bottle Collection and Crushing Association is dedicated to collecting plastic bottles from various sources, including streets, crushing them, and efficiently transporting them to Addis Ababa for recycling. NABU's support has been crucial, providing eight hand carts for collection and helping establish a youth collector's association.

So far, the Association has achieved remarkable milestones, collecting and transporting more than 800 tons of plastic bottles to Addis Ababa. This not only contributes to environmental conservation but also creates jobs for 16 young individuals, demonstrating its positive community impact.

Working Group 4: Educating companies about sustainability

This working group emphasizes private sector responsibility and sustainability enhancement. It guides companies on environmentally friendly actions and supports their successful implementation through three planned activities: training for companies (activity #1), mid-scale interventions in small businesses and institutions (activity #2), and a larger intervention to enhance sustainability in three industries within the project area (activity #3).

Activity #1

A comprehensive assessment of current ecological sustainability practices and educational initiatives in Lake Tana has led to the development of seven training manuals for companies and institutions in various sectors. These manuals cover agriculture, hotel and tourism, healthcare, garage and carwash establishments, residential and office spaces, industries, manufacturing, and the education sector. The initiative has trained 118 participants from these sectors, with a particular emphasis on the hotel and tourism industry.

During the training sessions, hotels were identified as potential sources of pollution, primarily through wastewater discharge. As a response, hotel trainees actively worked on developing a green development plan as part of their training, demonstrating their commitment to addressing environmental challenges in the region.

Activity #2

In the second activity of this working group, medium-scale interventions are underway in three schools, one farmer's training center (FTC), one clinic, six retail shops, and seven hotels.

For the schools, FTC and clinic, structural plans for rooftop rainwater catchment systems are being developed to promote responsible water usage. These plans include the creation of gardens in schools where fruits and vegetables will be grown and irrigated with rainwater. Additionally, an environmental awareness program will be introduced to students with the support of teachers. Three out of the five planned rainwater tanks have already been installed, and the rest will be operational in the next rainy season.

For retail shops, the initiative aims to replace disposable plastic bags with reusable cloth bags. These cloth bags are already available for customers in shops located in the woredas Dangila, Farta, Ebenat, Lay Armachiho, Guna Begemidir, and South Mecha. The markets are actively participating in this effort.

1. Gondar: Arada sub city consumer’s cooperative shop. Kebele 09.

2. Kola Diba: Nega Addis small retail shop. Kebele 02.

3. Addis Zemen: Yizez Gebere small retail shop. Kebele 04.

4. Woreta: kalkidane Ashegere small retail shop. Kebele 02.

5. Debre Tabor: Abdrhamn Ali small retail shop. Kebele 03.

6. Dangila: Mohammed Hamid small retail shop. Kebele 05.

Activity #3

In 2020, professional consultants conducted a study at the Bahir Dar tannery, Bahir Dar textile factory, and the Amhara pipe factory wastewater treatment plants. Goal was to identify system gaps and propose measures for environmental protection in the region.

The textile factory was chosen to address sludge disposal challenges, including chemical sludge collection and characterisation, heavy metal analysis, and laboratory testing of 26 parameters. The study led to a promising solution - the production of clay-sludge bricks. Testing with varying proportions of sludge, clay soil, red ash soil, cement, and water resulted in high-quality bricks suitable for construction. These bricks will be tested for non-residential construction, and collaborations with other NGOs for income generation through brick sales are being explored.

Additionally, hotel businesses were selected to improve wastewater treatment using constructed wetlands, a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution. Three hotels have committed to establishing constructed wetlands and engaging in organic waste composting. NABU covers the construction costs, while the hotels oversee wetland operation and compost production. The compost will enhance hotel gardens, creating attractive green spaces for customer satisfaction.

A collaborative effort involving three hotels has entered into contractual agreements to establish wetlands and engage in compost production. The constructed wetland site has been selected, and necessary materials are being procured. Comprehensive training on compost-making and constructed wetlands was conducted for hotel staff, owners, and various stakeholders, including representatives from Bahir Dar City's Culture and Tourism Department, the Environmental Protection and Beautification Office, and the Regional Environment and Forest Protection Authority. This innovative partnership showcases a pioneering approach that can serve as a model for similar establishments in Bahir Dar and beyond.

Working Group 5: behavioural change campaign

To promote positive changes in behaviour and attitudes within the Lake Tana Watershed region, The working group focuses on fostering awareness and engagement in sustainability practices and natural resource preservation through these two strategies:

a. communication campaign and strategy

• a communication campaign strategy has been developed.
• a training manual for the behavioural change campaign has been created in both English (100 copies) and Amharic (500 copies).
• three types of leaflets, three types of banners, and three types of posters have been created as communication campaign materials.

b. behavioural change campaign

Different methods were employed to implement the campaign for behavioural change to protect the resources of Lake Tana Watershed (LTW). Some of these methods include:

1. printed materials, including training manuals, posters, leaflets, banners, and essential resources, were distributed to 429 kebeles and key partners at both the woreda and regional levels in the LTW region. These materials will serve as essential tools for the behavioural change campaign aimed at protecting the resources of Lake Tana watershed. Each kebele received an Amharic version manual, along with 15 leaflets and six posters.
2. a Training of Trainers (ToT) program was conducted, involving 429 natural resource experts at the kebele level and 29 experts from various sectors in the woreda. These experts were trained to instruct local communities at the kebele level.
3. as a result of the Training of Trainers (ToT) program, 45,916 local community representatives from 403 kebeles were trained in the behavioural change campaign to protect the natural resources of Lake Tana watershed, including 37,294 males and 9,633 females.
4. a behavioural change campaign was conducted through the Amhara Mass Media Corporation using TV and Radio. The program aired on August 13th and 14th, 2022, for an hour on each media platform with the aim of raising awareness among the community and other stakeholders about the importance of conserving the natural resources of Lake Tana.
5. Telegram, Facebook, and project webpages are utilised as tools for promoting behavioural change, particularly in urban areas.

Transformation of national and regional legislative processes

Professional consultants conducted a comprehensive legal gap analysis to transform national and regional legislative processes for secure access to and protection of water resources. The assessment focused on Federal and regional laws related to natural resources development, including Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation No.299/2002 and others. A validation workshop was held in November 2020 to enrich the legal gap assessment report. Based on the findings, a guideline was developed to address identified gaps.

Additionally, efforts were made to establish a Lake Tana Biosphere Reserve, leading to the endorsement of a delineation and administration determination. To support the UNESCO biosphere reserve, a guideline was drafted, validated, and endorsed. The legal gap assessment also prompted the Amhara Regional State to request support for amending the Fisheries Development, Prevention, and Utilization Proclamation No.92/2003. The amendment process involved drafting, commenting, and organizing a validation workshop, resulting in the submission of the revised proclamation for approval.

Establishment of a local NGO

In 2021, a consultant has been commissioned in Addis Ababa to undertake the legal and procedural assessment and develop a road map for NABU Ethiopia to become a national NGO. Meanwhile, trainings with international quality standards are being planned for the teams in Head Office Addis, Bahir Dar and Bonga Project Offices. Those trainings addressed project management, fundraising, and proposal writing, among others, in order to further develop their capacities for managing an independent NGO in the future.

By January 2023, NABU Ethiopia was successfully registered as a national civil society organisation with its own constitution and bylaws. This was an important step towards professionalisation and ownership of the work done within NABU Ethiopia over the last decade.

Other news

Extraordinary Event (September 2020)

MyPlus Event and Entertainment, in partnership with Bahir Dar City Administration, hosted an acknowledgment event on September 20, 2020. The event recognized individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to the city's development. One of the categories considered was for those who have contributed to the greening, sanitation, and beautification of the city. NABU received a certificate of appreciation for its valuable contributions and deeply appreciated the recognition from the local authorities.

COVID-19 pandemic (May 2020)

To combat the spread of COVID-19 in the project region, NABU worked with the Amhara Regional State (COVID-19 Control Task Force) in 2020 and provided financial support for the purchase and distribution of the necessary sanitary materials.