Muhajir Mussa has successfully defended his PhD dissertation
Muhajir Mussa who is a PhD Candidate at ACEWM in the field of Water Science and Technology, has successfully defended his PhD dissertation entitled “Optimization of Cadmium Adsorption in Soil Water Amended with Bamboo Sandust and Rice Husk Biochar” on March 28, 2023.
The general objective of this research is to study the optimization of cadmium adsorption in soil-water matrix amended with locally available bamboo saw dust and rice husk co-char. Muhajir has published 5 research articles in highly reputable peer reviewed journals.
His thesis was supervised by Dr. Yonas Chebude and Dr. Beteley Tekola, Deputy Director-ACEWM of Addis Ababa University.
The examiners were Prof. Francisco Medina Cabello from Universitat Rovira, Virglli of Spain, and Prof. Feleke Zewge, Director-ACEWM of Addis Ababa University. The session was chaired by Dr. Adey Feleke from Addis Ababa University. Mr. Muhajir is an instructor at Dodoma University of Tanzania.
The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) Team Held a Four Days Visit at ACEWM
The Norwegian Program for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development (NORHEDII) Project Advisor and Coordinators have visited the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) from October 31st, 2022 to November 3, 2023. The purpose of the visit was to oversee and evaluate the progress of NORHEDII project implementation activities.
The Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) and The Arctic University of Norway (UiT) have signed a project Partnership Agreement titled the Urban- Suburban Nexus Towards One Health Approach Program on October 01, 2021 which is financed by NORAD under the NORHEDII. The objective of NORHEDII is to support higher education teaching and research.
The project will be financially supported by NORAD for the period of 2021-2026. The visiting team consists of Mr. Haakon Fottland, Senior Advisor for International Cooperation Section at UiT, Dr Fasil Ejigu, The Project Coordinator at UiT, and Mr. Helge Lagard, Program Coordinator at UiT.
The project brings together a multi-disciplinary consortium from partner institutions to address the gaps in the training of One Health professionals at AAU and Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) as South partners and the UiT and other Norwegian Institutions as North Partners. The project involves the development of evidence-based One Health curricula at MSc. and PhD levels at AAU and MUST. The One Health research will be implemented in the urban and suburban area of Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and Blantyre (Malawi) – to realize One Health approach through urban-suburban governance system in a rapidly urbanized Sub-Saharan-African countries. Scholarships will be available for students, staffs and students mobility between partner’s institutes will offer learning in an environment other than their own institute to broaden their vision. The novel training program will serve as a model for adaptation and up scaling to other countries in the region.
During their visit NORHEADII project team discussed with ACEWM’s Director, academic and management staff about implementations of technical, financial and procurement progresses of the project. Particularly, NORHEDII project team had conducted fruitful discussion with Director for Graduate Program of AAU, Prof. Hagos Ashenafi on the progress of Joint One Health Curriculum approval by the AAU. Moreover, the team had visited ACEWM’S water research and teaching laboratories, microbiological laboratory, High-Tec Smart lecture rooms, seminar auditoriums and computer laboratories.
The team had also the opportunity to travel to agricultural farms employing polluted rivers in Addis Ababa City and visited the College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture of Addis Ababa University based in Bishoftu.
Prof. Feleke Zewege, Director of Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management, prized with full professorship award by Addis Ababa University on Oct 26, 2022.
Addis Ababa University Approved and Awarded Seven Full Professorship Honors, this occurred when, Addis Ababa University governing body on its meeting held at October 26, 2022, approved the promotion of seven scholars to the rank of full professor. The promotion cases have been thoroughly evaluated by internal and external evaluators, endorsed by academics and approved by the university senate.
Prof. Feleke Zewege who is currently the Director of Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management is one of the recipients of the full professorship award entitlement.
Prof. Feleke is an Environmental Chemist and Technologist of international repute. He obtained his BSc. Degree in Chemistry at Addis Ababa University and then completed his MSc. and PhD in Environmental Engineering form Gunma University of Technology in Japan. He joined the Department as Assistant Professor in 2002 and promoted to the rank of Associate Professor in 2007. Since then, he has been actively involved in research, teaching, community services and capacity building activities.
He served as Associate Dean for Research and Technology Transfer of College of Natural and Computational Sciences and he is Founding Head of the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) which was awarded through a highly competitive process. The ACEWM has become in internationally accredited regional Center of Excellence with substantial potential for transforming the water management challenges in Eastern and Southern Africa.
His research work focuses on “Sustainable Water and Wastewater Treatment and Environmental Pollution” which encompass the development of appropriate technologies for the removal of water contaminants, removal of toxic substances from industrial wastewater, monitoring of hazardous substance in air, water, soil, food and biological systems. Innovative technologies and approaches for drinking water and waste water systems which include technologies that combine pollution prevention and resource recovery are major focus areas.
Due to his innovative research and development ideas, he has been awarded prestigious and highly competitive research grants from World Bank (ACEII Project), NORAD (NOREHDII and NORPART Projects), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council of UK (WISER Project), National Science Foundation-USAID (PEER Science Project), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF Project), International Foundation for Science (IFS Project) in Sweden, and the AAU thematic research and adaptive problem-solving projects. Most of these projects nest PhD and MSc students and have led to practical community impact.
In addition to research and development, he has been involved in a number of projects of national development interest which include industrial, agricultural, mining and mineral processing, geothermal energy development and technologies, hydropower development, municipal wastewater treatment technologies, solid and hazardous waste management, and water supply and sanitation projects. He is a Certified Environmental Management Consultant since 2007.
In recognition of his research leadership potential and capacity and effective community engagement, he received Meritorious National Achievement Award from the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2013, Diploma of Laureate for Outstanding Achievement in Lifetime Water Treatment Processes and Technology from Abyssinia Award in 2019, and he becomes Ethiopian Academy of Science Fellow 2021.
After his last promotion in 2007, he has been teaching several undergraduate and graduate courses and supervised 50 MSc and 10 PhD graduate student researches within the Department of Chemistry and other academic units in the College of Natural and Computational Sciences. He has developed new multidisciplinary MSc. and PhD programs and the associated curriculum within the University. Examples include graduate programs at the Centre for Environmental Sciences, Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management, and Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, among others.
He has published over 70 papers in reputable journals and publishers. He reviews for several Journals of international repute while serving as editor and associate editor for the Bulletin of Chemical Society of Ethiopia and as reviewer for various national and international journals. He has also supervised several PhD and MSc students to successful completion. He has also served or serving in various academic and professional associations.
His notable pioneering achievements include leading successful international accreditation of 5 MSc. and 3 PhD programs which is the first in AAU and Nationally and establishment of the National Fluorosis Mitigation Program under the Ministry of Water and Energy.
ACEWM’s academic staff and management would like to express their warm spirits on this astonishing full professorship award of Professor Feleke Zewege.
Congratulation
ACEWM conducted National Workshop with the theme of “Improving wastewater management and urban WASH in Ethiopia”
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.
As part of its capacity development initiatives, ACEWM facilitated short term regional exchange visit for academic staff and researchers at academic and research units of Addis Ababa University and ACEWM partnering institutions working in water science and related fields.
Dr.Negash Getachew, Chair of the Department of Chemistry at Addis Ababa University visited University of Botswana for one month starting from the 24th of July 2022. During his visit, Dr.Negash took training on Powder X-Ray Diffraction and other related research instruments along with faculty members of the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI).
The training covered the theoretical principles of powder x-ray diffraction instruments, powder XRD instrumentation and their corresponding applications, data generation and Interpretation of data or data analysis using the PDXL software and other key areas of Powder X-ray Diffraction.
In addition to the training, Dr.Negash visited different laboratory facilities both at the University of Botswana (UB) and at the Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation (BITRI).
The exchange program is meant to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer with different regional and international academic and research institutions. Furthermore, such visits are crucial to create a collaboration between institutions similar to the Department of Chemistry at the University of Botswana and Department of Chemistry, AAU.
Call for Application: National, Faculty Exchange Program
Academic staff of Addis Ababa University who are involved in teaching, MSc/PhD students’ supervision and research at the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM)are cordially invited to apply for a fully funded staff exchange program to any higher learning institutions, research institutions, or industry in Ethiopia other than AAU for the 2022/23 academic year.
Exchange Period: The exchange period is for a minimum of two and a maximum of three weeks which will take place at any time from 01 September 2022 – 31 December 2022.
Financial Support: ACEWM will cover direct route, economy class round trip travel expenses, daily allowance of not exceeding 1000.00 ETB and an honorarium fee of 30,000ETB.
Application Procedure: Interested eligible AAU academic staff is required to submit the following application documents to the Office of ACEWM Director, Fourth Floor of Digital Library Building (Building No 28).
- Updated Curriculum Vitae indicating track record in teaching postgraduate programs
- A motivation letter indicating interest and justification for participation and the subject areas for delivery of modular course to graduate students
- A clear (research, teaching, etc)plan/proposal for the task to be undertaken during the exchange period
- An invitation letter or letter of acceptance from a host university’s department or unit
- When offered a travel fellowship, a recommendation/release letter from your academic unit leader for the exchange period will be required.
N.B.: The applicant must not be a beneficiary in any previous exchange programs at the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management.
For further details, please refer to the guideline here or contact Dr. Beteley Tekola, +251924433798: e-mail:acewm.dhead@aau.edu.et.
Application Deadline: 30 August 2022
Call for Application: National Mobility Program for PhD Candidates
PhD candidates at the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) who fulfill one or more of the criteria listed below are cordially invited to apply for the fully funded National Mobility Program for PhD Candidates exchange program.
The purpose of this National Mobility Program for PhD Candidates is to enhance ACEWM PhD candidates’ research capability. It is intended to encourage PhD candidates to work on publications related to their PhD research and to haste the write-up process of the dissertation in a new environment at closer contact with their advisors/co-advisors and other academicians in the study area in which the candidates are working on. This exchange program will also provide PhD candidates with the opportunity to conduct research at universities or industries/sectors.
Eligibility: Ethiopian PhD candidates at ACEWM who fulfill one of the following criteria are eligible:
- Third-year PhD candidates who have completed the course work including PhD seminars as well as who have defended and submitted their research proposal and intend to use instruments/infrastructure at visiting University or conduct research.
- Fourth-year PhD candidates who have prepared at least one publishable manuscript, preferably who have published at least one article on a reputable journal.
- Fifth-year PhD candidates who have published at least one/two original article(s) on reputable journals and prepared one publishable manuscript.
N.B.: PhD Candidates’ year (third, fourth, fifth) is for the 2022/23 academic year.
Exchange Period: The exchange period is for a maximum of one month which will take place at any time from 01 September 2022 – 31 December 2022.
Financial Support and Funding Modalities: The ACEWM covers direct route round trip travel expenses and allowance for daily subsistence and accommodation.
Application Procedure: Eligible interested PhD candidates are required to submit the following printed application documents to the Student Affairs Officer of ACEWM. The application documents have also to be emailed to netsanet.assefa@aau.edu.et and acewm.dhead@aau.edu.et
- A motivation letter explicitly statingyour interest and justification for participation in the exchange
- A vivid activity plan/proposal for the tasks to be undertaken during the exchange periodapproved by the supervisor/co-supervisor
- Invitation letter from the host institution
- Proof of publication or any other relevant information
Application Deadline: 30 August 2022
MSc students of ACEWM attended the All4WasH summer school program held from July 1 to 31, 2022 in Ghana.
The summer school program was hosted by the Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre, Kumasi (RWESCK) of the College of Engineering of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
The one-monthsummer school programwhich is part of theAll4WasH project was held under the theme “Environmental Engineering Design Project”. The program brought three Centers of Excellencetogether namely the Africa Center of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) from Ethiopia, Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Center Kumasi (RWESCK KNUST)in Ghana, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) from Tanzania and other partner universitiesin Mali, Uganda, South Africa.
The All4WasH project aims to strengthen inclusive education and research in sustainable water supply and sanitation in NTNU and the partner Universities through co-curriculum development, student and academic staff exchange, joint research projects, and co-supervision.The project will develop a relevant curriculum incorporating eLearning & blended learning to equip students with the transversal skills needed to be active participants in the knowledge economy of water and sanitation considering the SDGs.It will also establish research hubs to increase the quality of research and advance knowledge in the areas of circular economy, digitalization, governance, equity & inclusion, resource recovery, health, and climate change.
ACEWM being part of the All4WasH project, two of its MSc students SerkalemNigussie, MScstudent in Water and Wastewater Technology and SeworegnKibru, MSc student in Water Quality Managementtook part in this intensive summer school program.Both Serkalem and Seworegn are working at Addis Ababa Water and Sewerage Authority (AAWSA) and the training will help them acquire technical skills for their professionalroles at AAWSA in addition totheir academic endeavours and research projects. Prof Dr.-Ing Esayas Alemayehu, adjunct professor at ACEWM also attended the program as a facilitator.
Dr.Yemane Gebreselassie and Dr. Alemu Gizaw, both specializing in Water Science and Technology, successfully defending their Ph.D. dissertation on June 5, 2022.
In his experimental study, Yemane investigates the removal of pollutants from textile industry effluents by using a hybrid solar-powered electrocoagulation and electrooxidation system to overcome some of the fundamental limitations associated with availability of technologies.
His study titled Hybrid Solar Powered Electrocoagulation and Electrooxidation System for Textile Wastewater Treatment is intended to provide a healthy and cost-effective alternative technology for treating textile industry effluents in Ethiopia and beyond, and outcomes of his experiment showed promising results that can eliminate pollutants from textile industry effluents up to the level of the discharge limit.
If applied effectively, Yeman’s study will bring a significant solution to industries with power infrastructure issues.
The objective of Alemu’s research ‘Nitrate and Phosphate Removal and Recovery from Municipal Wastewater Using Silicate Materia’s is to develop nitrate and phosphate removal and recovery methods by using a Calcium Silicate Hydrate adsorbent synthesized from the solid waste residue of Alum Factory. The results indicated that developing low-cost technology from locally available materials such as solid waste residue is advisable for countries with limitation of resources.
Alemu’s study can be a practical example to demonstrate the importance of resource recovery from wastewater by employing an industrial waste residue, which is in turn hazardous to the environment.
An International Conference on Water, Food and Energy Security held in Addis Ababa
ACEWM co-hosted the International Conference on Water, Food, and Energy Security held from July 4- 5, 2022 at Sapphire Addis Hotel, Addis Ababa.
The conference is organized by Florida International University (FU) in collaboration with Africa Center of Excellence (ACEWM) and other academic intuitions and organizations working in the sector.
This year’s conference was held with the theme ‘The Role of Science and Communities in Post War Reconstruction’ and is intended to create a platform for international and national expertise to highlight and share local and global experiences on natural resource management, water management, irrigation, flood control, drought management, energy, and food production. In a changing climate and water, food, and energy demands are increasing with the growing population.
Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Itefa stated that the government is working to address the water, energy, and food scarcity following the rapid population growth and urbanization, and he called water experts to play their part in the efforts to defend the water security of the country.
In his keynote speech, Professor Assefa Melesse, organizer and chair of the conference from Florida International University pointed out that water plays a critical role in major economic activities including energy, agriculture, environment and other sectors in Ethiopia.He urged experts in the water sector to contribute their share for the effective use of cross-boundary, surface, and groundwater resources.He also noted that the conference is a great opportunity to create awareness on the agenda and help to close the gaps in a scientific way.
ACEWM Director, Dr. Feleke Zewge made a brief presentation on ‘Strengthening Partnership and Collaborations to Address the Water-Food-Energy Nexus Challenge in Ethiopia’ highlighting ACEWM’s Perspectives and experiences.
During the two-day conference, a number of research papers with a specific focus on food and energy nexus and use in the continent were presented and discussed.
The conference also highlighted ways to resolve conflicts related to the use of the Nile water.
© 2025 ACEWM. All rights reserved.