[22 Nov, 2025, Bishoftu, Ethiopia] – The Wedecha Catchment Baseline Situation Assessment Findings and Catchment Management Plan Validation Workshop was conducted at Menanda Hotel, Bishoftu, from 22–24 December 2025. Key findings of biophysical and socioeconomic assessments that were carried out in the Wedecha hotspot catchment of the Mojo Sub-basin, of Awash Basin were presented and validated by stakeholders by also integrating additional inputs and recommendations from stakeholders. Dr. Gete Zeleke, Director General of the Water and Land Resource Center (WLRC), welcomed the participants and acknowledged the contributions of all institutions and experts involved in the work. In his opening address, Ato Debebe Deferso, IWRM Lead Executive Officer at the Ministry of Water and Energy, emphasized the national importance of the Awash Basin and noted that the Catchment baseline findings and Catchment Management Plan validation process will inform the revision of the Awash Basin plan to guide interventions over the next 15 years. He also reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to continued collaboration with WLRC under the BRIGHT Project. The workshop brought together more than 80 participants from the Ministry of Water and Energy, Awash Basin Administration Office, Oromia Regional Bureaus of water, agriculture, environment, irrigation, and lowlands, as well as zonal and woreda line offices and kebele representatives.