LARIMA

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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.).
  5. Enabling the community to make gender based participatory approach to solve water related problems.