Approach
Rivers are among the most important and the most endangered aquatic ecosystems affected by variety of anthropogenic activities in Ethiopian Highlands. Management of surface running waters quality is a key to societal issue, which requires proactive measures designed to resolve specific regional problems. Proper monitoring of flowing waters will increase water use efficiency and planning a range of appropriate utilisation and restoration activities. Given the high variability of ecological zones, degradation gradients, and subsequent impacts on highland rivers, there is a need for research and development interventions that take into account the sustainable utilisation of the resources for the benefit of the society. This calls for multidisciplinary and multi-stakeholder partnerships that help understanding diversified water resource problems to attain the broader goals of sustainable water resource use, food security and improve rural health.
LARIMA approaches:
- Apply research findings in to practical use through adaptation, i.e. making sure that new and existing technologies/knowledge find their way into field application by environmental agencies, higher institutions, development agents, district administrators and communities.
- Two ways (North-South-North and South-South) exchange of knowledge for better future development, i.e. knowledge and experience sharing between Ethiopian and Austrian, and between Southern partners.
- Regional solutions for regional problems i.e. establishing strong linkage between universities and research institutes for mutual benefit and design tools which address community problems and priorities in the region adequately.
- Enhancing awareness of ecosystem services and combine local knowledge on sustainable resource utilisation with modern techniques, i.e. addressing the traditional knowledge and simplifying the transfer of scientific findings to non-academic stakeholders (e.g. farmers, women, community leaders etc.).
- Enabling the community to make gender based participatory approach to solve water related problems.