Project Showcase

The project was identified and prepared under the Eastern Nile Watershed Management Project in 2007, and implemented nationally. The project objective was to support the development of a Lake Nasser/Nubia Management (LNNM) Framework that would guide the long-term sustainable and integrated management and development of the lake and ensure the protection of its ecosystem. Due to the growing population of the two countries, there is pressure from key stakeholders in Egypt and Sudan to develop and intensify economic activities around the Lake Nasser/Nubia in order to support economic growth and the poverty alleviation. The main issues identified in the Lake basin include water quality degradation, sedimentation caused by bank erosion and up-stream activities, wind-born erosion and drifting sand-dunes, low fertility of land on the Egyptian side, aridity, water scarcity, over fishing, loss of biodiversity, high ground water table, population increase and near shore economic development including increase in agricultural, industrial, mining and tourism activities. These pressures make it imperative to put in place measures to ensure the integrated and sustainable management and development of the lake and protection of its ecosystem.  The Lake Nasser/Nubia Watershed Management Project’s main input was to design a Regional LNNM Monitoring Program to support the sustainable management of the lake and its ecosystem. The building blocks of the monitoring system were the development of survey and measurement procedures and techniques for water quality and sedimentation; development of mathematical modelling tools and procedures; development of a database; and sand encroachment analyses and identification of mitigation measures. The project also identified measures to improve weaknesses in the policy and institutional setting in the two countries such as poor coordination, overlapping responsibilities, sectoral approaches to natural resource management and development, and inadequate enforcement of laws. Finally, a number of priority intervention measures were implemented to demonstrate immediate local benefits to key stakeholders, raise awareness about lake issues, and build confidence for future measures on lake management. The measures included the following: training of farmers on efficient irrigation and improved agricultural practices that increase agricultural productivity; promoting fruit gardens; promoting integration of livestock in faming systems; training farmers in fish farming; creating shelterbelts to reduce sand encroachment on the lake and settlements; promoting non-farm income generating activities; promoting use of renewable energy sources; establishing micro-finance institutions to improve access to credit; and improving water supply and sanitation systems.

Zamra-Araqua Watershed Project was one of 13 potential first-round investment projects identified in 2007 under the Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) of Watershed Management in the Eastern Nile Basin. The 13 projects identified under the CRA focused on watered degradation ‘hot spots’ characterized by increasing population pressure on a degrading natural resource base. The Zamra and Arequa Watersheds are located in the upper part of the Tekeze-Atbara Sub-basin in Ethiopia and have a combined area of 5,021 km2. Administratively, the two watershed cover parts of five Woredas in Tigray Region: Alaje, Enderta, Hintalo-Wajirat, Seharti-Samre and Tanqua-Abergele. The two watersheds receive high amounts of rainfall and are well endowed with natural resources and biodiversity that is still only partially exploited. However, the watersheds have the challenge of rising population, widespread poverty and use of poor agricultural practices. The challenges are leading to increasing pressure on the natural resource and driving deforestation, land degradation, soil erosion and sediment transport, wetland loss, and biodiversity decline, among others. The objective of the Zamra-Araqua Watershed Project is to promote the sustainable management of the natural resources of the two watershed and facilitate their wise and sustainable utilization in support of poverty reduction and social-economic development in the area. Proposed project interventions include training woreda and kebele staff in sustainable watershed management approaches; promoting improved farming practices including use of manure and compost, improved tillage; construction of grass strips, stone bunds and earth bunds; on-farm water harvesting; establishment of on-farm forage lots; agroforestry; improvement of degraded communal land through construction of cut-off drains, check dams, and tree plantation to stabilize gullies; supporting small-scale irrigation; stocking fish in reservoirs; supporting community member to switch to alternative livelihood activities like beekeeping, processing of agricultural produce; promoting energy-efficient stoves; improving market access for farm produce; and establishing revolving funds to improve access to credit for local enterprises.  The prefeasibility study for the project was carried out in the period 2010-2012 under the Watershed Delineation and Prioritization Project

Feseabilty study; Assessment of extent and potential of the Aquifer.

Test

Feasibbility studies in Merti Basin

Feasibility studies in Kenya/Ethiopia Border

Capacity development

Livelihood resilience strengthening

Feasibility studies in Shabelle Basin