A two-day stakeholders workshop held in Jimma town, May 15-16, 2026, reviewed the technical audit report, IWRM-related resource mapping, and governance of the Omo-Gibe Basin. The workshop brought together 41 stakeholders from four regional bureaus (seven per region), universities, research institutes, the Jimma town administration (mayor), NGOs, and a union.
H.E. Ato Mottuma Mekasa, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Water and Energy (MoWE), with a rank of State Minister of Water and Energy, highlighted the basin’s immense potential, as it covers approximately 79,000 square kilometres, and emphasised the need to manage the resources collectively. He stressed that effective basin planning is key to equitable water use and conflict reduction, and called on all stakeholders to participate in and own IWRM interventions by the BRIGHT project and other similar initiatives.
A technical audit presented during the first day found major shortcomings in the current basin plan, including outdated methods, weak data use, and insufficient integration of available hydrological and climate information. Stakeholders also raised concerns about limited community consultation, lack of indigenous knowledge inclusion, and weak mechanisms to address issues such as flooding, drought, and cross-border resource conflicts.
On the second day, discussions focused on resource mapping and governance structures. Participants highlighted the need for stronger institutional arrangements, improved data access at local levels, and better integration of financial mechanisms such as climate and carbon financing.
At the conclusion of the event, Mr. Debebe Deferso reiterated that the Omo-Gibe Basin draft plan requires major revision, integrating all audit findings and comments at the sub-basin level into a single document. He emphasized that shared responsibility among stakeholders will ensure practical implementation, not shelf-bound planning, for sustainable resource management.