The Future of Water Cycle Management in Ethiopia Looks BRIGHT (PR)

World Waternet
Press Release

Amsterdam 12 November 2025, Addis Ababa, 2 Hidar 2018

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) and
World Waternet officially signed a new project proposal under the BRIGHT
programme. This collaboration aims to strengthen hydrological data
monitoring systems across five major river basins, laying the foundation for
more effective and climate-resilient water management. BRIGHT, short for
Basin Management Support for Resilient, Inclusive Growth and Harmonized
Transformation, supports the national rollout of Ethiopia’s Integrated Water
Resources Management Plan (IWRMP).

BRIGHT

BRIGHT is a five-year initiative of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
(EKN) and the European Union (EU). The main goal is to strengthen the capacity
of the Ministry of Water and Energy (MoWE), Basin Administration Offices, and
relevant regional bureaus in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
The programme is managed by the Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) and
focuses on improving water governance, planning, and data management across
Ethiopia’s major river basins.

“You can’t manage what you don’t measure, and that’s especially true for water.
Across Ethiopia’s rivers and reservoirs, too much remains unknown: how much
water there is, where it flows, and what its quality is. This limited hydrological
data currently poses a major barrier to evidence-based decision-making across
Ethiopia’s water sector. Collecting accurate information on rainfall, groundwater,
river levels, combined with the water quality of these waterbodies will lay the
foundation for more efficient operations and sustainable management practices.
World Waternet is proud to be part of this ambitious initative! ” says Maarten
Wensing, Partnership Director World Waternet for East Africa.

Hard work pays off

The project aims to strengthen the operational and technical capacity of
Ethiopia’s water institutions.

“It took long until we got to the point of signing this proposal, but now the
foundation to work together is strong. This collaboration builds on years of trust
and technical exchange. With this start, we aim to lay the foundations for long-
term resilience in Ethiopia’s water sector.” – Dr. Gete Zeleke, Director, WLRC

The goal

This initiative marks an important step towards advancing integrated water
resource management, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring reliable water
access for millions of people. The BRIGHT project covers five key basins (Abbay,
Upper Awash, Omo-Gibe, Rift Valley, and Tekezie), representing 70 percent of
Ethiopia’s landmass and 73.5 percent of its water potential. The impact will reach
nearly 80 million people across 512 districts. Our contribution will be the
backbone of achieving these goals.

Peer-to-peer learning

The BRIGHT project is implemented by WLRC in close partnership with MoWE and
its regional offices. World Waternet brings in its international expertise in peer-
to-peer learning and technical solutions.

Key activities include:

• Targeted training and on-the-job coaching for MoWE staff.
• Procurement and integration of hydrometric equipment compatible with
  the national Basin Information System (BIS).
• Development of user-friendly manuals, dashboards, and data workflows
  tailored to national and regional needs.
• A robust exit strategy to ensure local ownership and long-term
  sustainability.

*The Water and Land Resource Centre (WLRC) is an Ethiopian research and
knowledge centre that works on water, land, and environmental management. It
supports the government and local communities with data, training, and practical
solutions to manage natural resources better.
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