The @WatDev1 (Climate Smart WATer Management and Sustainable DEVelopment for Food and Agriculture in East Africa) initiative is funded by the @EU_Commission under the DeSIRA Programme and implemented by AICS, with @CIHEAMBari as the scientific lead partner.

The #WATDEVInternationalConference2026 is officially underway in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together experts, policymakers, researchers, farmers, and development partners to advance climate-smart water and soil management across Africa.

Today, we commence the Local Feedback Meetings under the @WatDev1 Project, scheduled to run from 5 to 6 December 2025 in Addis Ababa. This two-day participatory engagement brings together farmers, youth, women’s groups, extension officers, and local community representatives to validate the feasibility results of Best Management Practices (BMPs) tailored for Ethiopia. Supported by @ASARECA and WLRC, and informed by feasibility studies and modelling activities, these meetings give local actors a platform to: 🔹 Review and validate BMP feasibility at the community and basin level 🔹 Assess barriers, enablers, and sustainability conditions 🔹 Co-develop practical implementation protocols for farmers 🔹 Contribute to upcoming training modules 🔹 Share perceptions on local water management policies through field questionnaires With fewer than 10 participants per group, the discussions remain interactive, inclusive, and rooted in local knowledge, ensuring that the final implementation guidelines reflect real-world needs and farmer-led insights. @EU_Commission, @g_ladisa, @MOSESODEKE, @BenIlakut, @blaiseamony.

#WATDEV Regional Workshop kicks off in Addis Ababa! The workshop brings together regional planners, basin authorities, modelling experts, and partner institutions to validate and prioritize Best Management Practice (BMP) scenarios for Ethiopia. Using a fully participatory approach, stakeholders are reviewing basin-level intervention scenarios developed under the WATDEV modelling framework—ensuring they reflect local realities, water management priorities, and long-term climate resilience goals. The workshop is jointly convened by @InstituteEiar, @ASARECA, @CIHEAMBari, and partners under the WATDEV Project, with support from @aics_it. 🔑 Key Focus Areas 🔹 Presentation and discussion of BMP intervention scenarios 🔹 Stakeholder validation using structured, participatory tools 🔹 Identification of enabling conditions for basin-wide scaling 🔹 Prioritization of scenarios to guide future planning and decision-making This event marks a significant step toward transitioning from localized assessments to strategic, basin-level water and land management solutions, supporting more sustainable, climate-smart agriculture across Ethiopia.

Speaking at the roadshow, the Director General Water Land Resources Centre @UICWLRC , Dr. Gete Zeleke, said @UICWLRC is deeply committed to ensuring sustainable and effective utilization of #landandwaterresources for the benefit of all. WLRC has established learning watersheds where sustainable land and water management practices are systematically implemented via participation of local communities. These practices are designed to: ***Rehabilitate degraded land ***Reduce soil erosion ***Enhance land and water productivity ******Thereby improving ecosystem services and livelihoods. “We are passing on these skills to farmers under the WATDEV Project & we have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of these efforts, seeing the restoration of barren hillsides and ecosystem services, enhanced farmland productivity & improved livelihoods. This success is a direct result of our collaborative work with farmers, extension agents, local authorities, innovators, the Government, local, regional and global partners. The road show focuses on learning about the best practices from research partners and explore promising technologies presented by our entrepreneurs.

@ASARECA , the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies-Institute of Bari (@CIHEAMBari) @CIHEAM the Italian Agency for Development Corporation (@AICS ) have joined Ethiopian partners, Water and Land Resource Centre @UICWLRC , Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia in a show of support to the Best Management Practices (BMPs) and Innovation Roadshow in Gebrezeit, Ethiopia. The roadshow is hosted by Bishofto Agricultural Research Centre (BARC) and is aimed at disseminating knowledge and skills about #BMPs and innovations acquired in various training sessions and undertake participatory identification and selection of suitable scenarios for scaling the BMPs and innovations in Ethiopia. This activity under the Climate Smart WATer Management and Sustainable Development for Food and Agriculture in East Africa @WatDev1 Project is funded by the European Commission @EU_Commission and the Italian Government through IACS, under the DESIRA Thematic Area on Water, Food and Energy nexus.

#Ongoing: Farmers, agripreneurs, and stakeholders actively engage with cutting-edge agricultural technologies, innovative solutions, and sustainable Best Management Practices (BMPs) in the #WATDEV Project Roadshow and Exhibition at the Hola Irrigation Farmers Cooperative Society Ground in Tana River County Kenya. Theme: "Soil, Agroforestry, and Water Development for Improved Farm Productivity". This roadshow is more than just an event it is a transformative platform for: ✅ Knowledge Transfer: Farmers gain hands-on training in climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and water management to boost resilience. ✅ Innovation and Collaboration: Startups and agribusinesses showcase groundbreaking solutions that drive productivity and sustainability. ✅ Access to Quality Inputs: Farmers connect with suppliers to adopt high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural inputs for improved yields. ✅ Stakeholder Engagement: Experts, policymakers, and researchers develop strategies to scale BMP adoption across Kenya. Through the collaborative efforts of @ASARECA, @kalromkulima, and @CIHEAMBari under the #WATDEV Project, farmers in Tana River are gaining the #knowledge, skills, and resources needed to drive climate resilience and agricultural transformation. Learn more about ASARECA WATDEV Project here: asareca.org/watdev-project/ @ISRICorg, @AicsGroup, @WatDev1, @g_ladisa, @EU_Commission, @BenIlakut, @BenIlakut, @akssebwana #WATDEV #ClimateSmartAg #Innovation4Ag #SustainableAgriculture #AgriTech #Farmers