Kunzila – ILMWA

Kunzila Integrated Landscape Management and WASH (ILMWA)

Background of the project
Kunzila Integrated Landscape Management and WASH (KILMWA) is a five year (2020-2024) multi-sectoral project designed with the aim of contributing to a more prosperous and healthy population in Kunzila Watershed. The project cost of about 16 million Euro is fully funded by The Royal Netherlands Embassy in Ethiopia.

Project Area
The primary target area of the project is Kunzila watershed which is located in North Achefer Woreda, West Gojam zone of Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia. The watershed covers six rural kebeles (namely, Sankra, Forhe, Womberia Eyesus, Wonberia Berkenta, Estumit and Kunzila Zuria) and Kunzila town. Kunzila watershed comprises 12 micro-watersheds that cover an area of 11,257 hectare of land. The project targets 36,752 people living within the watershed. Of those target beneficiaries, 27,071 persons live in the six rural kebeles and 9,529 in Kunzila town.

Project Rationale
Kunzila watershed presents a typical example of the causal connection and interaction among land degradation, climate change, poverty, and flimsy basic services. While agriculture is the main source of livelihood of the rural population in the watershed, the sector is characterised by very low production and productivity owing to complex interrelated problems. On the other hand, the area holds good potential for improvement through integrated development undertakings. For example, five horticultural companies are investing in the area, offering new employment and market opportunities for the surrounding communities. However, to improve the welfare of both the communities and the horticultural companies, there is apparent need to build the communities’ capacity to capture and harness the new opportunities acrring from those investments. It was in view of this that KILMWA was initiated by WLRC and SNV with the funding of the EKN.

Objective of the project
The overall objective of the project is to contribute to improving the wealth & health of the population in Kunzila Watershed. It aims at ensuring sustainable NRM, enhanced livelihoods & improved WASH- related health outcomes. More specifically, the objectives of the project are to:
• increase income for at least 75% of the population;
• increase access to water supply and sanitation services for all the rural population in the watershed;
• improve institutional capacity to managed and deliver safe water and sanitation in Kunzila town;
• enhance the population’s access to basic infrastructural and institutional services;
• create employment opportunities for youth (males and females);
• build communities’ institutional capacity to manage and use their landscapes in sustainable way; and
• generate scientific evidence on the processes, outputs and impacts of the ILM and WASH intervention for upscaling.

Project Components
The project constitutes two broad parts: Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH). While SNV is responsible for the WASH aspects, WLRC-AAU is responsible for the ILM aspects and overall management of the project. These two broad parts of the project have eight specific components:
1. Strengthening of community watershed management in the 12 micro-watersheds of Kunzila (PIWM)
2. Strengthening of agricultural productivity of smallholders in the Kunzila watershed (PIWM)
3. Strengthening of capacities of institutions, community organisations and groups for sustainable natural resource management (PIWM)
4. Strengthening of rural water supply, sanitation access and safe hygiene behavior in the watershed (WASH)
5. Strengthening local communities’ management capacity of safe water supply and sanitation in Kunzila town (WASH)
6. Establish multi-stakeholder platform for WASH under the woreda leadership (WASH)
7. Establish an inbuilt scientific monitoring system – with simple scientific monitoring protocol (PIWM)
8. Develop and apply robust project management system and MEL (PIWM and WASH led by the former)

Implementation and monitoring
The project will be implemented by a consortium of Water & Land Resource Center of Addis Ababa University (WLRC-AAU) and SNV Ethiopia in collaboration with the duty-bearers (concerned government organs at the level of Kunzila watershed, North Achefer Wereda, West Gojjam Zone and Amhara Region), the target beneficiary communities in Kunzila Watershed and Kunzila town, and partners and stakeholder organisations, groups and individuals.

Approaches
Proven and standard Integrated Watershed Management approach developed by WLRC and WASH approach developed by SNV.
Core principles of the project
• Participatory and inclusive of the communities, partners and other stakeholders. Special attention will be given to ensure the inclusion of female, the youth and minority groups in the communities.
• Integrated – Natural resource management interventions are fully integrated with livelihood interventions
• Scientific monitoring embedded in the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system
• Regular and periodic performance and sustainability assessment feedback
• Inbuilt exist strategy