Hawassa University holds Kick Off Workshop for new Collaborative Project.

Hawassa University launched a five years international collaboration project entitled "Enhancing Groundwater Resource Management through Remote Sensing and Ecohydrological Nature-Based Solutions in Ethiopia" (Ethio-Nature Project), on May 1, 2025.

The project involves a consortium of universities and government organizations from Ethiopia and Denmark aiming to identity groundwater recharge sites in Ethiopia for sustainable water supply in the face of climate change.

Hawassa University leads the collaboration with Aarhus University, Denmark, and Addis Ababa University, Embassy of Denmark in Ethiopia, Danida Fellowship Centre, Ministry of Water & Energy, Sidama NRS Water, Mine & Energy Bureau, University of Punjab, and Hawassa City Water & Sewerage Services Enterprise are partnering towards shared goals in the project.

Dr. Chirotaw Ayele, President of HU, expressed a heartfelt gratitude to all stakeholders who brought the project and pledged strong institutional support and follow-up for its success.

Mr. Debebe Deferso, CEO at MoWE, also highlighted on the longstanding cooperation between Ethiopian and Danish governments in the area and confirmed the ministry's full support in the implementation of the project.

Dr. Mulugeta Dadi and Dr. Asif Rizwan (Project coordinators from HU and AU, respectively) presented the project's overview and plans for the coming five years.

The workshop included presentations on hydrology, geophysics, groundwater regimes in Hawassa Lake Basin and socioeconomic and gender perspectives of the project by project members from AAU and HU.

Besides, regional groundwater challenges across Sidama and expected benefits for Hawassa city were presented by respective officials from the two offices, SNRS WMEB & HCWSSE followed by plenary discussion.