Towards a National Watershed and Agroforestry Multi-Stakeholder Platform in Ethiopia

Agriculture is the mainstay of Ethiopia’s economy, contributing 41% of the country’s gross domestic product, 84% of the total exports and 80% of employment opportunities. Just like in many other developing countries, its economy is characterized by traditional farming practices, low adoption of improved farm technologies and poor infrastructural facilities.

In response to this, integrated natural resource management efforts have been ongoing in various parts of Ethiopia for nearly half a century. Some of the key interventions include implementation of community-based participatory watershed development, agroforestry and promotion of climate-smart agricultural technologies. This is a watershed-centered approach of multi-sectoral and multi-donor development initiative in which various intervention measures such as soil and water conservation, reforestation, improved crop and livestock production are carried out.