Ethiopia has established a strong policy foundation for Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) over the past two decades, with comprehensive national policies, basin-level institutions, and a wealth of innovative pilot projects. However, implementation remains fragmented, underfunded, and uneven across regions and basins, causing critical sustainability challenges that require urgent attention. This policy paper highlights priority recommendations emerging from a recent national assessment, including lessons drawn from experiences in the Upper Awash Basin and Upper Abbay Basin, with the aim of identifying practical pathways to strengthen implementation and scale up successful approaches.
| Title | From pilots to systems: scaling integrated water resources management in Ethiopia |
| Publication Type | Briefing Note |
| Year of Publication | 2026 |
| Authors | Ethiopia, IRCWASH |
| Pagination | 11 pgs |
| Date Published | 06/2026 |
| Publisher | IRC WASH Ethiopia |
| Place Published | Ethiopia |
| Type of Work | Policy paper |
| Publication Language | English |
| Abstract | This policy paper is based on the "Assessment of National Integrated Water Resource Management Implementation in Ethiopia: Policies, Practices, Sustainability and Opportunities for Scaling-Up" (March 2026), conducted by IRC WASH in collaboration with the Water Resources Management Sub-Working Group of the Water and Energy Sector Working Group , with financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands (DGIS). The assessment is based on an extensive desk review, key informant interviews, and in-depth case studies of the Upper Awash and Upper Abbay basins. |
| Citation Key | 92262 |
