Ethiopia has abundant water resources, and the country is the source of many transboundary rivers, including the Nile. Rivers flowing west of the country (Abay, Baro-Akobo, Omo-Gibe, and Tekeze) receive much rainfall unlike the northeast- (Awash) and east-flowing rivers (Wabisheshebele and Genale-Dawa) which receive normal to low rainfall. The country has about 124.4 billion cubic meter (BCM) river water, 70 BCM lake water, and 30 BCM groundwater resources. It has a potential to develop 3.8 million ha of irrigation and 45,000 MW hydropower production [1].
Despite this richness in water resources, key water stress metrics suggest Ethiopia is water stressed. Total annual renewable water resources per person are 1,162 m3, which is below the Falkenmark Water Stress Index
Ethiopia has one of Africa’s lowest rates of access to water supply, sanitation, and hygiene despite the country’s abundant surface and groundwater resources. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and local nongovernmental organizations, in 2005 just 22% of the population had access to safe water. The WHO estimated that only 13 percent of the population had access to sanitation [3].
Sedimentation has reduced storage capacity in many reservoirs in the Awash Basin. Severe levels of chromium pollution and high biological oxygen demand (BOD) have been attributed to tanneries and textile factories around Addis Ababa. Artisanal gold mining has also degraded watersheds throughout Ethiopia. Widespread eutrophication caused by agricultural runoff has threatened biodiversity in most reservoirs, lakes, and wetlands. Runoff and untreated effluent from urban areas also pose environmental and public health risks. Natural contamination from fluoride is present throughout the Great Rift Valley (Afar-Denakil, Awash, Omo-Gibe, and Rift Valley Basins) and poses the most significant health risk [4].
Climate change will increase the frequency and severity of flooding and drought risks. The Ogaden, WabiShebele, Awash, Afar-Denakil, Mereb, and Aysha basins are already vulnerable to drought, which has caused widespread loss of livestock and crops, increased poverty and malnutrition, and caused several major famines [4].
KEY POLICIES AND GOVERNANCE APPROACH
In terms of water governance in Ethiopia, there are three issues to note. Firstly, Ethiopia’s water sector policies, programs, and strategies are being revised and key sub-national basin management entities have recently been centralized. Secondly the lack of coordination among water sector actors with overlapping mandates have impeded and impedes effective water resources management in the country, and lack or low sectoral funding and finance for human resources and development of master plans. Third, water quality monitoring is overseen by the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in the Awash Basin, while water quality monitoring is broadly lacking in all other basins [4].
Ethiopia has developed its water resource management policy in 1999. The overall goal of the water resources policy (WRP) is to enhance and promote all national efforts towards the efficient, equitable and optimum utilization of the available water resources for significant socio-economic development on a sustainable basis [5]. The country is committed to Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
Other key policies related to water are the Environmental Policy (1997), Water Sector Strategy (2001), Water Resources Management Regulations (2005), River Basin Councils and Authorities Proclamation (2007) and the Power and Duties of the Executive Organs Proclamation (2018)[4] .
Ethiopia has recently set a water resource development plan as part of its ten year development plan (2021-2030) [6]. The main objectives of the plan are to (i) ensure equitable provision and accessibility of potable water, sanitation and hygiene services that meet quality standards, and (ii) to enhance the development and use of the river basin and irrigation resources of the country [6].
SUCCESSES AND REMAINING CHALLENGES
Despite its poor and largely rural population, and despite a historic legacy of low investment in infrastructure, Ethiopia has been making substantial progress in increasing water supply coverage. Progress is also being made in increasing sanitation coverage through promotion of behavior change and low-cost technology solutions. In 2000, only 18.09% of the total population had access to basic drinking water compared to 49.62% in 2020.
However, access to basic drinking water services in rural areas is much lower than the national average and the coverage in urban area (40.03 in rural versus 84.21 % in urban areas). Moreover, access to basic sanitation services remains as one of the lowest in the world. In 2020, only 8.17% of the population in the country had access to basic handwashing facilities including soap and water [7] .
INITIATIVES AND DEVELOPMENT PLANS
Ethiopia has been progressively pushing forward reforms in the water and sanitation sector. These interventions include[8]:
- Establishment of clear, decentralized institutional responsibilities for basic service delivery across all tiers of government
- Development of a strong policy and planning framework, including the ambitious government-led Universal Access Program, backed by increased resource mobilization from both government and donor sources.
- Progress made towards harmonization of fragmented donor finance and review processes under the emerging Sector wide Approach agenda, and its Annual Multi-Stakeholder Forum and Joint Technical Reviews.
- Attempt has been made to institutionalize cross-sector coordination under the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program.
- Deployment of over 30,000 Health Extension Workers nationally, whose mandate includes significant sanitation and hygiene promotion activities.
- Development of an M&E framework, and design of a national water supply, sanitation, and hygiene inventory process.
GOALS AND AMBITIONS
To achieve the objectives of the water resources development plan for the coming ten years (2020/21-2029/30), Ethiopia has set the following main targets in its ten years development plan [6]:
- expand water accessibility and supply coverage and provide multi-village water supply systems that are resilient to drought;
- build integrated basic sewerage systems for cities and ensure all rural villages to have access to toilets;
- provide potable water and sanitation services to all education and health facilities;
- increase the coverage of integrated river basin development and fully protect national interests with respect to boundary and trans-boundary rivers;
- increase the inventory of surface flows and ground water resources and raise the study and design of medium and large-scale irrigation networks, and increase the application of modern irrigation techniques;
- and to increase water use efficiency and create job opportunities.
- Ethiopia has been making substantial progress in increasing water supply coverage
- The country has been progressing in increasing sanitation coverage through promotion of behaviour change and low-cost technology solutions.
- Ethiopia has also set its Water Resource Development Plan as part of its 10 years development plan (2021-2030). The principal objectives of the water resources development plan are to ensure equitable provision and accessibility of potable water, sanitation and hygiene services that meet quality standards; and to enhance the development and utilization of the river basin and irrigation resources of the country. Achieving these principal objectives requires effective implementation of the following targets:
- expanding water accessibility and supply coverage;
- building integrated basic sewerage systems for cities;
- ensuring all rural villages to have access to toilets;
- providing potable water and sanitation services to all education and health facilities;
- increasing the coverage of integrated river basin development;
- increase the inventory of surface flows and ground water resources and raise the study and design of medium and large-scale irrigation networks, and increase the application of modern irrigation techniques;
- increase water use efficiency and create job opportunities.
[1] Kidanewold, B.B., Seleshi, Y., Melesse, A.M., (2014). Surface Water and Groundwater Resources of Ethiopia: Potentials and Challenges of Water Resources Development. In book: Nile River Basin: Ecohydrological Challenges, Climate Change and Hydropolitics. Chapter: 6Publisher: Springer Science Publisher. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-02720-3_6
[3] USAID. ETHIOPIA, water and sanitation profile.
[4] USAID and Sustainable Water Partnership (2021). Ethiopia Water Resources Profile Overview.
[5] FDRE (1999). Ethiopia Water Resources Management Policy.