[Bonga, 22 January 2026 ]— The Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE), organised and supported the official establishment of the Southwest Ethiopia Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Stakeholders’ Platform. The launching workshop was formally opened by Ing. Beyene Belachew, Head of the Southwest Ethiopia Bureau of Water, Mines and Energy, who emphasised the need for inclusive institutional collaboration to address increasing water, land, and environmental challenges. In the opening session, Dr. Amare Bantider of WLRC introduced the Centre, the BRIGHT Project, and the objectives of the workshop, followed by a keynote presentation by Dr. Bizuneh Asfaw (WLRC and MoWE/NIWRMP PCU) about “Integrated Water Resources Management: Stakeholders’ Platform in the South-West Ethiopia Region.” A complementary presentation by Mr. Seyoum Tefera from the South-West Ethiopia Bureau of Water, Mines and Energy provided insights into the region’s water resource potential and pressing challenges, including land degradation, wetland encroachment, weak inter-sectoral coordination, limited public awareness, and financial constraints. The workshop convened representatives from regional and zonal government institutions, sector offices, private companies, non-governmental organizations, and academic institutions, creating a platform for dialogue on shared challenges and collaborative solutions. The event concluded with the establishment of a Multi-Stakeholder Multi-Sectoral Steering Committee to guide the operationalization of the IWRM Stakeholders’ Platform. The Committee will be chaired by the Regional President’s Office, with the Bureau of Water, Mines and Energy serving as secretary and deputy chair. The committee was tasked with developing a roadmap to advance coordinated, holistic, and adaptive water resources management in South-West Ethiopia.