Exit Workshop for EU-Sponsored Research Projects at AA.

Hawassa University researchers present their findings and policy briefs on the exit workshop organized by Cordaid for their collaborative research projects conducted across five regions in Ethiopia supported by EU RESET Plus Innovation fund on November 14, 2023 at Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel.

Cordaid country director, Mr. Zarir Merat, said that the organization has been working on cross-cutting development issues for over a century across the globe focusing on Africa, and since 2006 in Ethiopia. These issues include health, education, livelihood and justice among others. He added that, breaking down challenges, exploring systemic problems and implementing innovative interventions to sustain resilience in tackling disaster has been its duty, and the exit workshop was for evaluation of 13 such social innovative projects implemented across 16 weredas in 5 regions, involving 30 institutions from NGOs, community based organizations, universities, and research institutions since 2020.

The two research themes from Hawassa University have been led by Dr. Mulye Girma and Dr. Melisew Dejene on the projects entitled, "Approachs to the Enhancement of Ownership of Community Assets to Reduce Inefficiencies in the Use of Assets", and "Women and Youth Empowerment Initiatives and Their Contributions to Resilience", respectively.

The research themes have presented their findings, recommendations for future endeavors and produced policy briefs, articles, brochures and fliers in different languages to disseminate their findings across relevant regions where the studies were conducted.

There were also question and answer sessions following the presentations and a panel discussion of stakeholders.

Other research themes from Addis Ababa, Wello and Wolaita Sodo Universities had each presneted their respective findings as Hawassa University won two out of five calls for the research grant that were implemented within three months.

Several stakeholders including the Minister Innovation, HU's President, Representatives of EU, ILRI, ministry of Agriculture, OIC, universities, and NGOs were present during the exit workshop.