In the Blue Deal Awash Partnership Program DWA works together with the Ethiopian government to improve water management in the basin of the Awash river. This program includes three projects:
- Implementing a river basin management plan
- Improving data and information management of the water system
- Developing a system of licensing, maintenance and charges for discharging water
Project 1
Implementing a river basin management plan
The Basin Development Authority (BDA) and the Awash BAsin Development Office ( AwBDO) in Ethiopia are responsible for the water management in the Awash river basin. In the past, DWA supported these institutes by writing a strategic river basin management plan and various action programs. Now, these have to be implemented. Many Ethiopian partners are involved. The implementation is a large and complex project which requires a lot of cooperation. To implement a plan on this scale is new for BDA and AwBDO. Within the Blue Deal DWA will support them on the following issues: how to organize the implementation of the plan? How to involve other government agencies and stakeholders? How to monitor progress and make adjustments? What competences do the experts need in order to reach a good implementation and how can they develop on this?
Project 2
Improving data and information management of the water system (basin information management)
Data and information management presents many challenges. There is little good data. The available data are not kept in a central location, sometimes get lost and are not exchanged. In the Blue Deal DWA supports the local partners to get data management and data sharing in order, and to better meet the information needs of stakeholders.
Project 3
Developing a system of licensing, maintenance and charges for discharging water (Industrial Waste Water Discharge Regulation)
Industrial development, intensification of (farming) land use and the fast population growth result in heavy pollution of the surface water. Health of people and animals is endangered. There is no good regulation on these polluting activities. In the Blue Deal DWA is going to support the involved Ethiopian government agencies on how to set up licensing, inspection and maintenance. We also include the element of taxation on pollution.
The Blue Deal Awash Partnership program is financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water. DWA is the implementing partner of the program.