AFD commits €1mln for climate change, groundwater research project in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, September 9, 2023 (FBC) – The Ministry of Water and Energy – Ethiopia (MoWE) and the French Development Agency (AFD – Agence Française de Développement) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a new €1 million climate change and groundwater research project in Ethiopia on Friday.

It is learned that Minister of Water and Energy, Habtamu Itefa and the Ambassador of France to Ethiopia, Rémi Maréchaux signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to launch the project.

Funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), the project will be implemented by the French public research institute BRGM in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy over the next two years.

It will map suitability for Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) and assess feasibility of MAR to mitigate drought and water scarcity exacerbated by climate change, according to a press release issued by French Embassy in Addis Ababa.

MAR intentionally recharges excess water like floods and treated wastewater into appropriate aquifers for storage and later use.

Improving aquifer management is critical, as groundwater accounts for up to 80 percent of water use in Ethiopia.

The project aligns with France’s priority support for climate change adaptation and resilient water access in Ethiopia.

Ambassador of France to Ethiopia, Rémi Maréchaux highlighted France’s commitment to supporting climate-resilient water access in Ethiopia, both through this project and ongoing collaboration with other partners like Denmark, as mentioned by ENA.

The Embassy hopes this AFD-funded project will pave the way for larger investments in MAR infrastructure as part of integrated climate change adaptation in Ethiopia’s water sector.