The IRM4WASH project strengthens water security and climate resilience in Ethiopia
The Integrated Water Resources Management for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWRM4WASH) project in Ethiopia has successfully concluded, demonstrating how integrated water management can improve water security, strengthen climate resilience and accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
Implemented by VEI in partnership with the Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA), the Oromia Water and Energy Resource Development Bureau (OWERDB), local authorities, water utilities and communities, the project was funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ethiopia. Between 2020 and 2024, the partners worked to protect the catchments supplying Addis Ababa while improving water and sanitation services in Akaki, Burayu, Gelan, Sululta and Sendafa.
An integrated approach to water security
The project combined integrated water resources management (IWRM), watershed restoration, improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services and sustainable livelihood development. By linking environmental protection with institutional strengthening and community engagement, it addressed both the quality and availability of water while improving the resilience of local communities.
A key element in the programme was strengthening cooperation between water utilities, regional authorities and national institutions. Through trans-regional dialogue and coordinated water management, the partners collaborated to improve the long-term sustainability of the Legedadi and Dire reservoirs, which are vital sources of drinking water for Addis Ababa.
Delivering lasting results
The end-term evaluation, presented at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Addis Ababa, confirmed that the project delivered significant environmental, social and institutional benefits. By protecting the catchments and reservoirs that supply the capital, IWRM4WASH is helping to secure a more climate-resilient drinking water supply for approximately six million people in Addis Ababa.
The evaluation highlighted a range of tangible achievements, including:
- Rehabilitation of more than 1,100 hectares of degraded watershed land.
- Up to 32 percent reduction in sedimentation in targeted catchments.
- Climate-resilient livelihood support for 321 households.
- Training of more than 1,600 beneficiaries.
- Improved water and sanitation services for more than 200,750 people.
- Establishment of multi-stakeholder platforms that strengthened upstream-downstream cooperation.
In addition to improving WASH services, the project created alternative livelihood opportunities for communities living upstream of the reservoirs, helping to reduce pressure on natural resources while encouraging sustainable land and water management.
Contributing to SDG 6
The IWRM4WASH project demonstrates how integrated water resources management can support the achievement of SDG 6 by combining water resource protection, climate adaptation, institutional cooperation, and improved access to safe water and sanitation.
By bringing together utilities, government authorities, local communities, and international partners, the project has established a strong foundation for long-term water security. The lessons learned and partnerships built through IWRM4WASH offer a practical model for scaling up integrated water resources management in water supply catchments across Ethiopia.
