Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach

Lake Beseka is a shallow, saline, endorheic lake in the East African Rift Valley of Ethiopia that has dramatically grown in size due to large-scale irrigation development in its catchment area. Recent artificial connections of the lake with the Awash River system to contain lake size have led to a s...

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Autores principales: Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework, Tensay, Teferi M., Yimam, Seid, Arega, Tiruwork, Beyene, Ephrem G., Zhang, Wei, Ringler, Claudia
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Food Policy Research Institute 2022
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140841
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author Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Tensay, Teferi M.
Yimam, Seid
Arega, Tiruwork
Beyene, Ephrem G.
Zhang, Wei
Ringler, Claudia
author_browse Arega, Tiruwork
Beyene, Ephrem G.
Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Ringler, Claudia
Tensay, Teferi M.
Yimam, Seid
Zhang, Wei
author_facet Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Tensay, Teferi M.
Yimam, Seid
Arega, Tiruwork
Beyene, Ephrem G.
Zhang, Wei
Ringler, Claudia
author_sort Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Lake Beseka is a shallow, saline, endorheic lake in the East African Rift Valley of Ethiopia that has dramatically grown in size due to large-scale irrigation development in its catchment area. Recent artificial connections of the lake with the Awash River system to contain lake size have led to a series of changes and impacts on different water users, but are not reflected in lake and Awash River governance and institutions. Understanding who are the key actors affecting Lake Beseka and strengthening their linkages can help identify solutions that sustainably contain or reduce the lake’s size, improve its water quality, and address costs to nearby and downstream populations as well as the environment. Thus, this study analyzed qualitative data collected from net-mapping – a network analysis that identifies actors or stakeholders as well as linkages and relative power positions among stakeholders. The resulting network reflects the complexity of the water governance system including upstream actors who affect the size and quality of the lake as well as downstream actors who suffer from adverse consequences. The Awash Basin Development Authority, Metehara Sugar Factory, regional bureaus, and federal ministries were identified as the most influential actors affecting how Lake Beseka is used and managed. Actors most affected by the lake expansion and quality problems such as downstream communities currently have no role in the governance of the lake. Metehara Municipality, woreda offices, research institutes, and farmers were considered to have moderate influence. Stakeholders who participated in the net-mapping workshops identified flooding, salinity, water-related conflict, and health effects as the four main challenges of the lake. The study suggests that developing multi-stakeholder partnerships or platforms across most influential and most affected actors could support a more comprehensive understanding of the multiple challenges Lake Beseka is posing. It could also foster the development of more integrated solutions that support the different stakeholders in the lake catchment area and the Awash River Basin.
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spelling CGSpace1408412025-12-08T10:06:44Z Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework Tensay, Teferi M. Yimam, Seid Arega, Tiruwork Beyene, Ephrem G. Zhang, Wei Ringler, Claudia water awash basin water quality awash river water governance lake beseka governance Lake Beseka is a shallow, saline, endorheic lake in the East African Rift Valley of Ethiopia that has dramatically grown in size due to large-scale irrigation development in its catchment area. Recent artificial connections of the lake with the Awash River system to contain lake size have led to a series of changes and impacts on different water users, but are not reflected in lake and Awash River governance and institutions. Understanding who are the key actors affecting Lake Beseka and strengthening their linkages can help identify solutions that sustainably contain or reduce the lake’s size, improve its water quality, and address costs to nearby and downstream populations as well as the environment. Thus, this study analyzed qualitative data collected from net-mapping – a network analysis that identifies actors or stakeholders as well as linkages and relative power positions among stakeholders. The resulting network reflects the complexity of the water governance system including upstream actors who affect the size and quality of the lake as well as downstream actors who suffer from adverse consequences. The Awash Basin Development Authority, Metehara Sugar Factory, regional bureaus, and federal ministries were identified as the most influential actors affecting how Lake Beseka is used and managed. Actors most affected by the lake expansion and quality problems such as downstream communities currently have no role in the governance of the lake. Metehara Municipality, woreda offices, research institutes, and farmers were considered to have moderate influence. Stakeholders who participated in the net-mapping workshops identified flooding, salinity, water-related conflict, and health effects as the four main challenges of the lake. The study suggests that developing multi-stakeholder partnerships or platforms across most influential and most affected actors could support a more comprehensive understanding of the multiple challenges Lake Beseka is posing. It could also foster the development of more integrated solutions that support the different stakeholders in the lake catchment area and the Awash River Basin. 2022-09-06 2024-04-12T13:36:44Z 2024-04-12T13:36:44Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140841 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework; Tensay, Teferi M.; Yimam, Seid; Arega, Tiruwork; Beyene, Eprem G.; Zhang, Wei and Ringler, Claudia. 2022. Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2135. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/p15738coll2.136359.
spellingShingle water
awash basin
water quality
awash river
water governance
lake beseka
governance
Mekonnen, Dawit Kelemework
Tensay, Teferi M.
Yimam, Seid
Arega, Tiruwork
Beyene, Ephrem G.
Zhang, Wei
Ringler, Claudia
Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach
title Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach
title_full Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach
title_fullStr Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach
title_full_unstemmed Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach
title_short Key stakeholders and actions to address Lake Beseka’s challenges in Ethiopia: A social network approach
title_sort key stakeholders and actions to address lake beseka s challenges in ethiopia a social network approach
topic water
awash basin
water quality
awash river
water governance
lake beseka
governance
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/140841
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