The Impact of Climate

Change Adaptation

Efforts on Water

Resources in Ethiopia

University of Oklahoma,

International WaTER Conference,

Norman, USA

Sep 23-25, 2013

Abraham Asmare – World Vision International/ East Africa Region WASH

Outline• Overview of Climate Change in Ethiopia

• Climate Change Impacts on the access to drinking water supply

• Impact of Climate Change Adaptation Efforts by World Vision

Ethiopia on Water Resources

• Conclusion and Recommendation

Overview of Climate Change

in Ethiopia

• Extreme weather inconsistency with erratic rainfall pattern

• Overall trend of temperature increase as part of the global

warming

• Drought, flooding, rainstorm, strong wind, etc.

• Dying or seasonal fluctuation of lakes, rivers & springs

• Land degradation and decline in productivity

Overview of Climate Change

in Ethiopia

• Climate change is not a future possibility for Ethiopia, it is a

present reality and treat

• Low adaptive capacity of the people also entail high

vulnerability to the impacts of climate change

• Historical, social and economic climate impacts of all of these

hazards are not well documented

Overview of Climate Change …

• Dire Dawa

o More than 250 people died,

o About 250 people were unaccounted for

o More than 10000 people became

homeless,

o Property that worth more than USD10

mill lost

• South Omo

o More than 364 people died,

o More than 6,000 people were displaced

o 2700 heads of cattle were washed away

As per the Ethiopian NMA, in 2006 alone

• West Shewa

o More than 16,000 people were

displaced

• Similar situations also occurred

over Afar, Gambella and the low

lying areas of Lake Tana.

• Drinking water supply systems and Irrigation Schemes are often

vulnerable to extreme situations (drought and flooding);

• Agriculture, which accounted almost 47% of Ethiopian GDP is highly

sensitive to seasonal variations in rainfall;

• Increased poverty, water scarcity, and food insecurity;

• The power supply failure and fluctuation – Increased bio fuel demand

which leads to deforestation, impact on industries, house

consumption and overall economy;

• Roads, the backbone of the country’s transport system, which are

often hit by extreme floods, causing serious infrastructure damage

and disruptions to supply chains.

Overview of Climate Change

in Ethiopia

Cases: Drying Lakes

• One of the lakes in the eastern part of Ethiopia, Lake Haromaya

completely dried up - wetland degradation,

o Extreme weather conditions caused by climate change

o Cultivation on steep slopes as a result of population pressure which

intensified severe soil erosion coupled with high intensity rainfall – siltation

o Deforestation and overgrazing

o High evaporation caused by high temperature

o Over abstraction of the water for irrigation and other uses

o This can be serious threat and alert for other lakes in the country.

Overview of Climate Change …

Cases: Drying Lakes

Lake Haromaya in the year 1989 Lake Haromaya in the year 2005

Overview of Climate Change …

Cases: Drying Lakes

• Shocking recent regression of Lake Abijata

• Ever increasing water demand as a result of population pressure

• Over grazing

• Declining vegetation and forest coverage in the catchment area

Shocking recent regression of

Lake Abijata

Abijata Lake annual water level

4,37

5,05

5,7

5,39

4,32

44,13

5,19

3,91

2,78

2,20

1,20

0,52

0,78

1,75

1,41

1,72

2,44

1,86

0,64

0,82

1,46 1,56

0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

3,5

4,0

4,5

5,0

5,5

6,0

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

Year

Wate

r le

vel, m

Overview of Climate Change …

Climate Change Impacts on the access

to drinking water supply

Cause:

• Water quality and quantity

deteriorated

• Lakes dried/reduced in

water level

• Groundwater table declined

• Spring discharge reduced/

disappeared – idle system

• High flood which resulted

destruction on the water

supply system/infrastructure

Effect:

• Water shortage as a result of

deprived water quality and quantity

• Increased walking distance to fetch

water and less productive time

• Increased burden on women and

children

• Increased WASH related diseases

– poor health

• Increased morbidity and mortality

• Increased HH health expenses

Impact of Climate Change

Adaptation Efforts by World

Vision Ethiopia on Water

Resources

11

12

Observed Impacts at Hilom Catchment,

Atsbi, Tigray

1. Tigray FMNR Project

Observed Impacts at Felegesha

Catchment, Wukro, Tigray

13

Observed impacts at Guila Abena

Catchment, Tigray

• 4,000 ha area closure conducted at Guila Abena watershed

• Water infiltration and soil formation and accumulation in the

trench improved,

• The water table and discharge of springs at the down stream

considerably increased.

14

15

Observed Impacts at Guila Abena

Catchment, Tigray

Observed impacts at – Guila Abena

Catchment, Tigray

• Manual and motorized irrigation systems from hand dug wells

and springs introduced as a result of the GW recharge ,

• More than 1,200 hand dug wells excavated and functional in

Guila Abena sub district alone,

• Farmers cropping system changed,

• Cattle forage and apiculture development improved,

• Nutritional status of the community improved,

• In a nutshell, the income of the farmers diversified and their

economic status significantly increased

2. Sodo FMNR Project, Damota mountain

• Mount Damota is the peakiest place in the zone

(2950m.a.s.l)

• Has been serving as water bank for more than eight

rivers flowing to different directions including Lake

Abaya and Lekmise Water supply project constructed

by WV which benefits more than 70,000 people.

In Aug 2008In 2006

Springs coming back

9/22/2013 18

People back to fetch water (Nov 2010)

In 2005 In 2009

3. Humbo FMNR Project

Conclusion and Recommendation

1. The FMNR project launched at scale has brought magnificent

impact but the effort should continue at least for a decade to

rescue the water resource of the country.

2. Agricultural inputs that improves productivity in a small plot of

land should be introduced to minimize land encroachment.

3. Green Energy supply efforts should be intensified and availed

with affordable cost to minimize the biomass destruction.

4. Groundwater recharge should be improved

5. Water efficient technology solutions must be promoted

Thank You