Community based watershed management in rural Ethiopia: A case of rapid transition on a troublesome path

The water and soil management activities of Abrha-We-Atsebeha, a rural village in Tigray, Ethiopia, have led to it receiving the 2012 Equator prize in dryland management presented by the United Nations Development Programme. This paper examines the initial qualitative stages of a case study examining this case to understand how a community based participatory watershed approach can significantly improve the security and sustainability of its population. Over the last decade, tree planting supported by water storage and irrigation management (small dams, catchment ponds and wells) has significantly improved soil stability, agricultural output, food security and income levels. Agriculture has moved beyond subsistence rainfed cropping (maize and tef) to income generation via fruit, vegetables and apiculture. This success has been driven by a community based participatory watershed approach where multiple layers of government supported the local community in the project’s design, funding and management. Beyond partnership, consultation and community leadership, two additional main success factors were found. Firstly, significant amounts of the project’s labour were provided as part of a World Bank sponsored food security programme. Second, a project champion (a village leader called father of fire”) was vital in fulfilling management and organisational tasks and in establishing cultural norms required to change agricultural and household practices.