Due to the urgent need for immediate action to address wastewater management and Urban WASH in Ethiopia, the Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM), Addis Ababa University, MOWE, UNICEF, USAID and Ethiopian Urban Water Federation along with many other collaborative institutions have jointly organized a one-day national workshop on “Improving wastewater management and Urban WASH in Ethiopia” Thursday, 6th of October, 2022 at the Capital Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Health issues related to urban sanitation and wastewater management affect everybody, whether one is seeking to achieve the goal of basic sanitation for all in order to lessen the number of people suffering from diarrhea diseases, or whether one is interested in the reuse of treated wastewater and its impact on hygiene.

The Workshop has created platform for prominent scholars, researchers, policy makers and major stakeholders to share crucial knowledge and information and bring about sound approaches for urban water and wastewater management and governance system to ensure water security for the rapidly growing urban setting of the country.

In her welcoming speech, Dr. Mitike Molla Vice president for Research and Technology Transfer of Addis Ababa University has outlined the importance of having sound municipal and industrial wastewater management and urban Sanitation in Ethiopia. Such type of knowledge sharing event will bring together various knowledge on urban WASH issues in major cities of Ethiopia, pin point out existing and emerging challenges related to water scarcity and governance, highlight progresses made, draw attention to research and development gaps, and provide important recommendations for future research directions.

Dr. Mitike Molla, Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer, Addis Ababa University delivering a Welcoming Remark

Mr. Kitka Goyol, Chief of WASH, in his Keynote Speech has emphasized the current alarming challenge of surface and ground water resources which are polluted due to lack of proper wastewater management and sanitation. He also outlined that this workshop is timely to look at viable solutions to improve the WASH in Ethiopia and UNICEF is working with the Government of Ethiopia to alleviate the challenges and continuously support the country in its effort to achieve the SDGs.

Mr. John Hansen, Director, Economic Growth & Transformation Office, USAID Ethiopia in his Keynote speech raised the importance of utilizing water appropriately in which USAID has a comprehensive program working with Government of Ethiopia. He mentioned that through USAID Transform: WASH project, USAID is promoting the development and the marketing of WASH products in areas where residents have irregular access to water and sanitary goods and services. The activity takes an innovative, market-led approach to creating effective, consumer-centric products and services which are suitable for the conditions in which they live.

From Right to Left (His excellency Amb. Dr. Asfaw Dingamo, State Minister of FDRE Ministry of Water and Energy: Mr. John Hansen, Director, Economic Growth & Transformation Office, USAID Ethiopia: Mr. Kitka Goyol, Chief of WASH, UNICEF)

His excellency Amb. Dr. Asfaw Dingamo, State Minister of FDRE Ministry of Water and Energy, in his opening speech has emphasized that wastewater management is crucial in this era of water scarcity requiring multisectoral engagement to properly collect, treat and reuse. Lack of proper wastewater management and urban sanitation poses serious health issues and climate related hazards exacerbated by aging water infrastructures, population growth and urbanization. Government of Ethiopia recognizes water as a key driver for all sustainable development goals and its complex management can be handled if there is commitment not only from government but also Academia and donor organizations. The involvement of Higher education overlooked in the past can now play significant role in bringing about change in the water, wastewater management and sanitation.

Since Establishment in 2016, Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management of Addis Ababa University have been working actively in wastewater management and sanitation as noted by Prof. Felek Zewge, Director. The center with its internationally accredited PhD and MSc program aimed to Strengthen teaching and research capacity in water science and technology to train critical mass of human capacity required to address national and regional development needs. Moreover, it elevates the capacity of faculty and students to conduct state-of-the-art research and scholarly activities in order to help solve regional problems in water management and climate change issues as well as provide trained research scientists and engineers to support national and regional development goals.

In the workshop, the following themes were presented and discussed among the participated stakeholders:

• Situation of Urban Wastewater Management, Sanitation and Current efforts by the Ministry of Water and Energy by Mr. Nuredin Mohammed, Ministry of Water and Energy
• Private Sector Engagement and Market Based Sanitation by Michael Negash, Deputy Chief of Party for USAID, Transform WASH
• Opportunities and Challenges of Private Sector Engagement in Urban WASH by MS4G Ethiopia, Mr. Getaw Cherinet – Tulip Addis Water filter, Mr. Biniam Zerihun – Dinknesh Sewerage Association, Mr. Fasika Afewrok – Water life plc.
• Overall review process of the Integrated Urban Sanitation & Hygiene Strategy & Action Plan was presented by Senior Consultant Kebede Faris, WSUP Advisory
• Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technologies: non-linear problem-solving approaches by Esayas Alemayehu, Adjunct professor at ACEWM
• Wastewater and Faecal Sludge Collection and Management: Reuse, Resources Recovery and Pollution Prevention Strategies by Prof. Feleke Zewge, Director of ACEWM

The workshop was concluded by forming working group composed of professionals from the MoWE, Academia, UNICEF, Ethiopian Urban Water Federation Water Federation, to develop policy brief on wastewater management and Urban WASH for government policymakers and others who are interested in formulating or influencing policy.