Coordination & Management of R&D in the Water Sector in Ethiopia

Etafa Emama Ligdi [1]

 R&D Coordinator,
(Hydrology,Hydro meteorology,Water Resources,and Watershed Management)
    R&D Coordination Department, MoWR

E-mail: etafa_emama@yahoo.com

 

1. Introduction

Ethiopia has not yet sufficiently developed its ample water resources to enhance its socio-economic development. Experiences of sustainable and socially acceptable water resource development, in other countries with success stories, proclaims that water resources development unaccompanied by the appropriate Research & Development (R&D) capacity can not be sustainable both from the environmental as well as the socio -economic perspective.

The solutions to Ethiopia's sustainable water resources management challenges are, therefore, dependent on our capability to generate new knowledge and/or application of existing knowledge through research.

Examination of the R&D efforts by various institutions in the water sector, however reveals that it is very much limited when viewed from the magnitude of the problems related to its management.

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2.  Rationale and recent developments

2.1       Rationale

The first attempt to initiate R&D activities within the water sector was made in 1978 when the Pumping Technology Research Group, later renamed as Research and Development Services, was established under the then Water Works Construction Authority. The activities of these Services were limited to the very narrow area of R&D on water lifting systems -mainly on hand and wind pumps. Although this unit made at the time significant advances towards developing indigenous hand pumps, it was later phased out due to the lack of awareness by the water resources community of water related research needs.

Nonetheless, Water research could provide understanding, insights and advice in relation to priority needs in Ethiopia, to support economic growth and social development through generation of useable information for a range of stakeholders, including non-academic bodies.

Yet, to-date research carried out by various institutions in the water sector in Ethiopia, as well as being limited, has been largely uncoordinated. Water research, is currently carried out at individual institutions of higher learning and related research institutions such as Arba Minich University-AMU, Addis Ababa University-AAU, Haromaya University, HU,Mekele University, MU, the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Organisation-EARO, etc…with few linkages.

At present, the limited nature of research activities on water in Ethiopia is explained by: absence of an institutional body mandated to coordinate such activities; inadequate linkages between technical research and policy; absence of mechanisms to manage information so as to make it more usable and relevant to practitioners and policy-makers; past failure to demonstrate the usefulness of water research in enhancing economic and social development; a lack of a fund-raising strategy, and lack of funding.

As a result of long history of neglect, therefore, the water sector R&D still lags behind other sectors in Ethiopia such as the agricultural and Health sectors which have been built up over several decades in terms of research capacity - particularly capacity for coordination - a significant gap, in a sector which is of strategic importance to the country’s economic growth and social development.

Furthermore, water resources management is by nature inter-disciplinary, and the capacity to bring together and process information from different sources, across a range of disciplines, is essential.         

As improved coordination of research can avoid duplication of efforts, increase the impact of research and strengthen the research sector, a strong national knowledge and experience base, supported through research and information management, is an essential element in water and related development

As a result, many studies argue and conclude that, the need for a comprehensive and integrated management of R&D is critical, as the existing fragmented capability is, with a few exceptions, negligible and with little impact on development. This is particularly obvious in view of the requirements and the level of development achieved by other countries.

2.2       Recent Developments  

In recognition of the above bottlenecks, & in an effort to improve the situation in the recent past, Ethiopia has recognized R&D as one of the most important items of the water Policy of the country. As a consequence it forms part of both the formulated comprehensive Water Resources Management Policy and the water sector strategy, which is already put in place.

In complement, a comprehensive & detailed study into R& D activities in the water sector was commissioned recently which brought about the emergence of the R&D Coordination Department in the Ministry and shade some limelight into a national R&D coordination and Management in the water sector.

As a consequence, the recently established Research & Development, (R&D) Coordination Department of the Ministry of Water Resources, MoWR along with the national water resources research advisory council, is striving to support & improve the overall development, use & management of water resources with problem oriented, demand driven and multi- sectoral research activities.

The Department was established subsequent but against to a consultant study by the Ministry & the Ethiopian Science and Technology Commission, ESTC on R&D activities in the water sector and formulation of institutional framework in October 2002.

The study's inevitable conclusion was that a national R&D Institute, for the water sector, be established as a matter of urgency and of critical strategic importance.

Nonetheless, the study was later proclaimed "broad", and the major proposals were not made practical due to" lack of capacity" and led to the establishment of the R&D Coordination Department, as a nucleus, with 3 coordinators and a head in the Ministry. This was done in the process of restructuring the ministry and with a thought of a unit to deal with/undertake specific tasks towards capacity building & Coordination of sectoral R&D activities at the national level.

Nevertheless, a phased implementation strategy & programmes for institutional development commencing from the nucleus assumed in the Ministry and gradually developing and ultimately leading to the recommendation of the study was lacking.

On the other hand, pertinent to the expected duties and responsibilities and in view of the existing water sector development problems, it is however, understandable that new sets of practical and implement able roles, approaches, means and methods for the status quos & the subsequent phases are compulsory.

As a consequence, a Review Paper recently presented to EWRAC 2^nd Annual meeting on " Institutional arrangements for Water Resources Research & Development" concluded that the department in its present role as a mere national coordinating entity cannot base on recent experiences, respond to national water R&D needs & change the state of R&D in Ethiopia unless it is transformed to a stage where it can actively manage its own research programs.

At this juncture, as an outcome, the diagnostic analysis of the existing status of the R&D Coordination Department reveals that there is an urgent need for a purposeful and continued water research & development, and this requires a persistent support and commitment from all concerned bodies.

Furthermore, it augments that, all attempts to raise the local R&D capacity necessitate a well articulated and targeted effort in this defined institutional setting for water research to continuously support the above endeavors.

To this effect, the process of commissioning a detailed strategy study into the phased implementation plan for the establishment of the recommended independent & autonomous Ethiopian Water Research Institute, EWRI started in early 2005 with preparation of a project Proposal Plan (including financial plan) and A TOR for consultancy. This was followed by an approach to IPTRID/FAO for financial support. which was unfortunately not fruitful as initially thought of  and intended.

Nonetheless, with signing up of MoU with ODI/IRC and RiPPLE financing for the processes of the study was secured from DFID and the study on “Institutional Strengthening of R&D in the water sector in Ethiopia” commenced in 2006.

With a series of Consultative and Working meetings an outline strategy (the first stage, in outline, making the case for water research) is already complete and presented to the full WRAC in 2007 and  by WRAC to the Minister for Comments,  together with recommendations for further steps in the medium term.

In follow-up of the above & as a medium term activity, authorization and commissioning of the detailed strategy study into the “Institutional Strengthening of R&D in the water sector in Ethiopia” in collaboration with ODI/IRC/DFID is currently in progress.

This summary paper therefore, reviews the status and past achievements, in addition to the highlights on the current activities of the department and proposals for the way forward.

3. Current Status

3.1 General

Establishment

The R&D Coordination Department was set up in April 2003, to undertake specific tasks towards on meeting the needs for capacity building in water related research and coordination at national level. As a consequence, it has made a review of its existing role in national water R&D; and defined its mission, mandates, goals, etc...

Departmental mission

 Provide leadership for research and development through the support of knowledge creation, transfer, and application by engaging Stakeholders & Partners in solving water related problems which are critical to Ethiopia's sustainable development and economic growth, and thus in turn Promote better Quality of life for all.

Mandate

Promote the co-ordination, co-operation, and communication of water sector institutions; Promote/uphold dissemination and technology transfer of research results. 

Figure :1    Organogram of the R&D Coordination Department

Goal 

Provision of effective service with respect to coordinating water R&D related activities in Ethiopia.

Objective

Improve the quality of service delivery with respect to coordinating the research effort so that Water R&D activities in Ethiopia are result oriented.

3.2   Expected duties of the R&D Coordination Department

The expected duties of the department can be categorized into the following.

Water R&D Institutionalization,Coordination & Capacity building

n  Institutionalize R&D in the Water sector in Ethiopia

n  Coordinate R&D on water resources related activities

n  Develop short, medium and long term strategy

n  Training personnel involved in specialized skills

n  Strengthening the existing R&D executing institutions

Knowledge Management

n  conduct Inventory of research undertakings to date

n  Operate as depository and documentation centre

n  Disseminating research findings

Collaboration & Cooperation

n  strengthening R&D cooperation with international organizations and foreign   governments

n  Promote efficient interaction and consultative meetings

n  Serve as secretariat to the EWRAC council

3.3       The Ethiopian Water resources Research Advisory Council, EWRAC

3.3.1    General

One of the major achievements of the R&D Coordination Department is the Formation of the Ethiopian Water research Advisory Council, EWRAC in Dec., 2004. The Identified duties & selection criterioa for the council members is shown in boxes 1 and 2.

 Box 1: Duties of the Advisory Council

•Develop long term capacity building strategy

•Identification of the water sector R&D priority areas

•Develop procedure for research topic identification

•Develop an appropriate mechanism for research output dissemination

•Evaluate research proposals and solicit funding

•Develop procedures for research review, evaluation and prioritisation

•Evaluate the financial and economic viability of research output

•Undertake other related matters

Box-2: Council Members Selection Criteria

   Qualification

Minimum MSc degree in water related fields and 5 yrs of experience

or PhD plus 3yrs of experience

  Profession

       Engineers, Hydro geologist Natural Science & agriculturalists

      Economists, Environmentalists, Sociologists, Political scientists,

      Water   lawyers, Environmental Health scientists, , etc

    Institutional representation

       Government, NGO, Academic institutions, Private sector,

       Professional Associations, Free lancer

   Regional

       Climatic zone representation

   Gender

      Women representation

 

3.3.2        The Advisory council’s strategic approach in water

      resource research

The Advisory council has instigated thematic research areas as one of   strategic   approaches   for the water research

Thematic research areas

The water resource research strategic focus area is divided into five major thematic research areas and into about 18 Sub-themes grouped under Standing committees & Working groups respectively. (See box-3)

Box-3:  Draft Thematic & Sub-theme Areas of Ethiopian WR Research Focus Water resources & watershed management  (Surface hydrology, meteorology, River engineering and morphology, Groundwater & Hydrogeology, Integrated Watershed Management & Soil and water conservation, Water Resources Management) Water supply and Sanitation (Water Supply, Water Quality & Treatment, Sanitation & Environmental Health) 3.   Irrigation and drainage   (Irrigation, Drainage, Water harvesting) 4. Hydraulic Structures and Hydropower     (Hydraulic Structures and Hydropower) 5. Institution and Policy (Institutional setup in WRD, socio-economics, Environment, Trans  boundary Governance & Water law, Water Policy & Legislation)

The 5 major thematic research areas and the respective standing committees were formed during the inaugural meeting of the Ethiopian water research advisory council, EWRAC in Dec., 2004.The Chairpersons of the Committee were elected directly  by the council & entrusted to act as a standing committee of the council.

Each sub-theme is led and coordinated by chairpersons nominated by & reporting to the chairperson of the respective major research themes.

The chairperson of each sub-theme forms a working group consisting of three to five (or above) members as conditions permit. The chairperson organizes working groups by choosing well-known and professionally trusted individuals either from the council members or from outside the advisory council.

These prominent professionals of the highest calibre in their areas of expertise making up the working team also act as peer reviewers.

The Organization and the overall activities of EWRAC are summarized in a proposed schematic presentation in Figure 2..

Figure 2:  Proposed   schematic Presentation of EWRAC Organization and

                 its   major  R&D Activities

4. Past Achievements & accomplished tasks

The following are the major works initiated & embarked on/accomplished since its inception..

·         A review of its existing role in national water R&D;

o   Defined its mission, mandates, goals, etc...[Section 3.1 above]

·         Establishment of the National Water Resource Research Advisory Council,

       EWRAC (see section  3.3)

·         60 research proposals peer reviewed (at/east by 3 professionals/paper)

·         Three annual meetings/ workshops Undertaken

·         Commented on 3 annual reports

·         Leadership in coordination & management of water R&D Provided

(Call for research Proposals, review & selection)

·         -1" cycle Call in 2004 with good response (with 60 proposals)

·         -The Water Research Grant Scheme, WRGS was initiated in 2007/8 and 7 study projects were awarded  Water  R&D grant

·         Identification of national water related research priority areas                    

o   Compiled & classified under Key Strategic Areas,KSA 's

o   Presented to the 2^nd EWRAC annual meeting

·         National Water related R&D capacity assessment

- First round assessment of the major institutions compiled &presented to

    the   EWRAC annual meeting

 -Second round Assessment of 3 additional universities&(5) Institutions In progress

·         Preparation of Guidelines

1.   Water Research Advisory Council, WRAC  Rules of     Procedure

2.   Guideline on research  proposal review & selection process

      3. Guideline on research proposal Solicitation. Review & Awards

      4. Guideline on Water Research Grant Scheme,   WRGS Contractual agreement

5. Guidelines on R&D Implementation M&E

·         Preparation of Formats

1   Generic proposal for collaboration in water related R&D [brochure] j

      2.  MoU for collaboration with Institutes of Higher Learning (&other stakeholders)

            on water  related R&D activities

3.   R&D research proposal review & Selection Formats

4.   R&D implementation Reporting Formats

             

·         Production of technical documents

1. Issue paper on Water Resource R&D: current status, existing Problems

      and   suggested Remedies-2005

2. TOR for Water Research Strategy Development 

      - Financial plan

      - Phased Implementation Plan

3. Project proposal on Water R&D Knowledge management

     & dissemination

4.  Proposal for Upgrading of the Kaliti Groundwater training centre to ground water research centre.

• -Presented to the 2^nd EWRAC annual meeting ; -Recommended by EWRAC to merge with the Department created to act as  a nucleus for coordinating  water R&D activities.
• Proposal is prepared and submitted to the Ministry.

       5. Status Reports

• Establish Bilateral & International Contacts

MoU signed & Agreement with the following institutions concluded

§  International water  management institute, IWMI

§  Civil Engineering Department, Technology Faculty, AAU

§  MAWARI project-French Embassy (informal! understandings)

§  Arbaminch University and Haromaya University

§   Mekele University (not finalized?)

§  Collaboration with IPTRIDIFAOand ODI/IRC/RiPPLE

(Study on “Institutional strengthening of water Research in Ethiopia")

§  Draft Memorandum of understanding MoU sent to Jimma, Bahir dar, and Gonder universities and other 5 R&D Organizations

5.   The Way Forward: Proposed Future directions

Pertinent & in view of the above arguments, the Ministry as a parent institution, and the other stakeholders are expected to exhibit their commitment by exerting all possible means at hand and endeavor towards the realization of the national level coordination of purposeful and continued water related applied R&D activities aimed at development impact.

This necessitates commitment, and stringent measures to acknowledge, persistently support, and steadily enhance the kick-off for this institutional set-up of strategic importance for the country's overall sustainable socio-economic development.

The Generalized proposals suggested for the current major concerns facing R&D Coordination at the national level are summarized in Table5.

Table   5:       Summary of the way forward

Existing Major concerns

Summary of Proposed  Recommendations[2]

1. Institutional

·         Full support for the strategy paper   –MoWR/ ODA/ lRC  initiative ·         *Awareness creation for policy makers and the Management of the Ministry and other relevant bodies ·         Exert every effort for the kick-off

2. Budget & Support 2.1 WRG Scheme	·         Strengthen the initiated  WRGS Scheme ·         Steady Regular annual Budget (Public):- however small it is as a sign of commitment ·         Continue search for other Sources
2.2 Capacity Building       & Running Costs 2.3 Incentives	·         Result & Problem Oriented non stop glance and Up scaling

3. EWRAC roles, mandates     and recommendations

·         include roles & mandates in the Ministry’s ·         Discuss, analyze and respond to past recommendations ·         Acknowledge & Persistently support   EWRAC /with determination!

4.  Inability to coordinate            water R&D activities       within the Ministry.

·         Consider the earlier recommendation ·         Acknowledge, support and enhance  integration & coordination of internal  R&D    activities

Furthermore, the envisaged way forward as stipulated in the ongoing outline strategy paper which makes part of the MoWR/ ODI/IRC /RiPPLE/ DFID initiated project study on the “institutional strengthening of research in the water sector in Ethiopia” also calls for & complements  the need for  strengthened  body responsible for   R&D coordination and knowledge management in the water sector.

The study envisions an institutional process involving a stage wise development of R&D Coordination & management culminating in the establishment of an independent & autonomous research institute for the sector. He steps and timing of this process are summarized in Figure 3.The details are included as annex-I.

 

Figure 3:     Steps and Timing proposed for the Institutional strengthening process

                 

6.  Conclusions

The first and fore most requisite positive affirmative action to strengthen the R&D Department
and EWRAC is the confirmation and ensurance from the decision makers/government to
continue to consistently provide a research grant budget, however small it is, as a
sign of commitment and a trigger for initiating other potential donors to follow suit.

This substantiates the provision of a steady constant regular annual budget for the
Water R&D Grant Scheme, and result- oriented logistical support and follow-up.

The second step of equal or even greater significance is up scaling of the water R&D
Coordination nucleus through Institutional Strengthening & Capacity building which
also requires the support of all R&D stakeholders and development partners.

It seems as though the above are, among others, the immediate safe guard to sustain  the
nucleus institution, and its noble idea of coordination and management of water related
R&D at a national level.

8.   References

1.      ESTC/MoWR(2002). R&D activities in the water sector and formulation of Institutional Framework.MCE,Addis Ababa,Ethiopia.

2.      MoWR(2004). Minutes of the inaugural meeting of the EWRAC,R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

3.      MoWR(2006). Proceedings of the 2^nd Annual EWRAC workshop, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

4.      MoWR(2007). Proceedings of the 3^nd Annual EWRAC workshop, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

5.      MoWR/ODI/IRC/ (2007a). Institutional Strengthening of Water Research in Ethiopia: Outline Strategy, Working meeting held at Addis Ababa in April, 2007, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

6.      MoWR (2005). Issue paper on water R&D: Current status, Existing problems & Suggested Remedies, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

7.      Etafa Emama Ligdi (2005). Review paper on R&D Coordination & Management, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

8.      Etafa Emama Ligdi and Mulugeta H/sellase (2006). Institutional Arrangement for Water R&D. Paper presented to the 2^nd Annual EWRAC Workshop, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

9.      Etafa Emama Ligdi (2006). TOR for a detailed study on Phased implementation plan for the establishment of the Water Resources research Institute, WRRI. Paper presented to the 2^nd Annual EWRAC Workshop, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

10.  MoWR(2007b). Status Report, R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

11.  MoWR(2005). A detailed study on Phased implementation plan for the establishment of the Water resources Research Institute, WRRI: Financial proposal for IPTRID/FAO. R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, November, 2005.Addis Ababa , Ethiopia.

12.  MoWR(2007c). Annual Plan & Budgeting for 2000 (unpublished) , R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

13.  MoWR(2008). Programme Budgeting for 2001-2003(unpublished) , R&D Coordination Department, MoWR, Addis Ababa , Ethiopia

Annex-1 : Steps  proposed for the Institutional Strengthening process [ From September  2007 onwards]

Medium term (6 months - 2 years): Detailed Strategy The proposal could include:- -     Consultation with stakeholders - how do they want to be coordinated - how can they be engaged in the process, e.g. via a stakeholders’ workshop;  -     Need written ToRs for all institutions participating in water research;       -     Detail the mandates, functions, roles and responsibilities of participating               institutions; -     Review and refine the list of priority needs for water research -     Identify capacity needs and strengthen the R&D dep. e.g. money, people; -      Legal/formal process to have mandate spelled out (also WRAC),         proclamation + TORs (WRAC, institutions in WRAC, MoWR, R&D Department.)       Towards the long term  (2 - 4 years): Institutionalization Steps -    ‘Institutionalization’ steps which are required to transfer the functions carried        out by the R&D Department to an independent ‘Ethiopian Water Research        Institute’- EWRI: funding, staff etc at appropriate levels.

Long term (Year 5)       -     Establishment of an independent Ethiopian water research institute - of               appropriate size

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LIST OF ABRREVIATIONS

EWRAC         Ethiopian Water Resources Research Advisory Council

MoWR            Ministry of Water Resources

DFID                          Department for Foreign Development

ODI                 Overseas Development Institute

IRC                 International Water and Sanitation Center                            

MoU                Memorandum of Understanding

TOR                Terms of Reference

EWRI              Ethiopian Water Research Institute

WRRI             Water Resources Research Institute

R&D                           Research and Development

ESTA              Ethiopian Science & Technology Agency

ESTC               Ethiopian Science & Technology Commission

KSA                Key Strategic Areas

RiPPLE           Research -inspired Policy and Practice Learning in Ethiopia and the Nile Region

IPTRID           International Programme for Technology & Research in Irrigation & Drainage

FAO                Food and Agriculture Organization

IWMI              International Water Management Institute

AAU               Addis Ababa University

AMU               Arba Minch University

Mu                   Mekelle University

HU                  Haromaya University

BDU               Bahir Dar University

GU                  Gondar University

JU                    Jimma University

EIAR              Ethiopian Institute of  Agricultural Research

WRGS                        Water Research Grant Scheme

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[1] Etafa Emama Ligdi is a professional Engineer in integrated Watershed & agricultural water management. 

      He is currently R&D Coordinator in Hydro-meteorology, Water Resources, & Watershed Management in

      the R&D Coordination Department of the MoWR.. He was formerly a senior lecturer at Jimma University.    and General Manager of the Oromia Irrigation Development Authority in ORS.

[2] The details of the proposals are given in Ligdi, 2005;  MoWR, 2007b.