[WLRC, May 2025] Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC), in partnership with Wageningen University and The Broker, organised an international stakeholders’ workshop on “Restoring Land, Restoring Livelihoods: Governing Synergies and Trade-Offs in Ethiopia’s Lake Tana Sub-Basin”, held at Haile Grand Hotel in Addis Ababa on 13th of May 2025. The workshop aimed to examine the connections between land restoration, local livelihoods, and governance challenges in the Lake Tana sub-region. It focused on sharing recent research findings, gathering stakeholder feedback, aligning diverse initiatives, and generating practical, collaborative strategies.
The event is part of the Governing SDG Interactions in East Africa project, funded by the Dutch Research Council and implemented by Wageningen University, WLRC, and The Broker. The research results presented were expected to inform policy by identifying synergies between land restoration and livelihoods, assessing land use trade-offs, evaluating socio-economic impacts, and offering scalable strategies for sustainable restoration.
The Deputy Director of WLRC Dr. Tena Alamirew in his opening remarks underscored the importance of addressing the complex environmental and governance challenges facing the Lake Tana sub-basin. He said, the collaboration among WLRC, Wageningen University and The Broker through the “Aligned Minds” methodology enables stakeholders to co-create solutions rooted in Ethiopia’s knowledge systems.
His Excellency Ato Kebede Yimam, Director General of the Ethiopian Forest Development (EFD), highlighted the urgency of integrated and inclusive restoration efforts. “We are at a critical moment,” he noted. “Restoration must be institutionalized and aligned with both local realities and global ambitions. This workshop is a key step towards translating frameworks like the Bonn Challenge, UNCCD, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration into meaningful impact.”
Three keynote speeches were delivered by officials from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development in Amhara (ORDA), and the Ministry of Agriculture. Professor Art Dewulf from Wageningen University introduced the research project, followed by paper presentations from WLRC researchers. Interactive sessions invited participants to engage in scenario-building exercises and co-develop actionable pathways for restoration.
Organizers expressed hope that the event would strengthen cross-sectoral partnerships and accelerate efforts to address the intertwined challenges of ecosystem degradation and livelihood vulnerability in the Lake Tana sub-basin. The workshop brought together over 50 participants, including representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, federal institutions, regional bureaus, research centers, and other organizations.