Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia
Co-designing research-for-development interventions with humanitarian organizations, government agencies, communities, experts, and policymakers promotes a participatory approach that tailors disaster resilience solutions to local needs, builds trust and evidence, and empowers refugees and host comm...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Informe técnico |
| Language: | Inglés |
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International Water Management Institute
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178018 |
| _version_ | 1855514844483026944 |
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| author | Mekuria, Wolde Haile, Alemseged Tamiru Ebrahim, Girma Yimer Dessalegn, Mengistu Taye, Meron Teferi Ruckstuhl, Sandra |
| author_browse | Dessalegn, Mengistu Ebrahim, Girma Yimer Haile, Alemseged Tamiru Mekuria, Wolde Ruckstuhl, Sandra Taye, Meron Teferi |
| author_facet | Mekuria, Wolde Haile, Alemseged Tamiru Ebrahim, Girma Yimer Dessalegn, Mengistu Taye, Meron Teferi Ruckstuhl, Sandra |
| author_sort | Mekuria, Wolde |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Co-designing research-for-development interventions with humanitarian organizations, government agencies, communities, experts, and policymakers promotes a participatory approach that tailors disaster resilience solutions to local needs, builds trust and evidence, and empowers refugees and host communities. With this in mind, we co-developed research-for-development interventions in refugee host community settings in Ethiopia. The co-design exercise was conducted using a workshop that combined presentations, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion. It gathered 27 participants and focused on four themes: nature-based solutions for addressing natural disasters and land productivity, flood hazard mapping, water access and availability for multiple uses, and evolving livelihood shifts and governance to improve resilience. The participants included (i) policy and decision-makers, such as government representatives (local, regional, national); (ii) humanitarian organizations, such as WFP and UNHCR, along with collaborating NGOs; and (iii) researchers and academics.
The knowledge sharing component of the co-design workshop highlighted collaborative research approaches and results, while breakout sessions concentrated on co-developing future interventions. The panel discussion, involving WFP, UNHCR, NGOs, and government offices, examined steps and challenges in designing resilience programs in refugee-hosting settings, considerations for equitable and sustainable livelihoods, and the role of collaborative research in creating socially acceptable and sustainable solutions.
Recurring issues identified during the co-design workshop included environmental degradation, salinity, poor water infrastructure, weak extension services, and aid dependency. The findings indicated that the challenges in addressing these problems stem from limited technical capacity, fragmented governance, lack of reliable data, and insufficient funding. Social barriers such as gender inequality and low community engagement and weak institutional collaboration further complicate intervention efforts.
Participants collaboratively developed a suite of interventions and research priorities in various thematic areas to address the challenges and problems in the study areas. The key thematic areas included: (i) NbS for land restoration and flood mitigation, (ii) Tailored flood forecasting models integrating community data, (iii) Smart irrigation and salinity management technologies, (iv) Strengthening cooperatives and irrigation water user associations (IWUAs), and (v) Gender-sensitive livelihood programs and market access strategies. Furthermore, detailed action plans for interventions identified for each thematic area, outlining objectives, activities, timelines, resources, and expected outcomes were developed.
The key recommendations came out from the co-design workshop emphasized shifting from humanitarian aid to development-oriented assistance, promoting inclusive governance, expanding infrastructure, and enhancing stakeholder coordination. It was also suggested the importance of community participation in designing interventions, ensuring local authority support, and developing practical solutions tailored to environmental and socio-economic challenges. |
| format | Informe técnico |
| id | CGSpace178018 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | International Water Management Institute |
| publisherStr | International Water Management Institute |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1780182025-11-20T02:01:07Z Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia Mekuria, Wolde Haile, Alemseged Tamiru Ebrahim, Girma Yimer Dessalegn, Mengistu Taye, Meron Teferi Ruckstuhl, Sandra disaster risk reduction resilience knowledge sharing research for development humanitarian organizations participatory approaches refugees nature-based solutions Co-designing research-for-development interventions with humanitarian organizations, government agencies, communities, experts, and policymakers promotes a participatory approach that tailors disaster resilience solutions to local needs, builds trust and evidence, and empowers refugees and host communities. With this in mind, we co-developed research-for-development interventions in refugee host community settings in Ethiopia. The co-design exercise was conducted using a workshop that combined presentations, breakout sessions, and a panel discussion. It gathered 27 participants and focused on four themes: nature-based solutions for addressing natural disasters and land productivity, flood hazard mapping, water access and availability for multiple uses, and evolving livelihood shifts and governance to improve resilience. The participants included (i) policy and decision-makers, such as government representatives (local, regional, national); (ii) humanitarian organizations, such as WFP and UNHCR, along with collaborating NGOs; and (iii) researchers and academics. The knowledge sharing component of the co-design workshop highlighted collaborative research approaches and results, while breakout sessions concentrated on co-developing future interventions. The panel discussion, involving WFP, UNHCR, NGOs, and government offices, examined steps and challenges in designing resilience programs in refugee-hosting settings, considerations for equitable and sustainable livelihoods, and the role of collaborative research in creating socially acceptable and sustainable solutions. Recurring issues identified during the co-design workshop included environmental degradation, salinity, poor water infrastructure, weak extension services, and aid dependency. The findings indicated that the challenges in addressing these problems stem from limited technical capacity, fragmented governance, lack of reliable data, and insufficient funding. Social barriers such as gender inequality and low community engagement and weak institutional collaboration further complicate intervention efforts. Participants collaboratively developed a suite of interventions and research priorities in various thematic areas to address the challenges and problems in the study areas. The key thematic areas included: (i) NbS for land restoration and flood mitigation, (ii) Tailored flood forecasting models integrating community data, (iii) Smart irrigation and salinity management technologies, (iv) Strengthening cooperatives and irrigation water user associations (IWUAs), and (v) Gender-sensitive livelihood programs and market access strategies. Furthermore, detailed action plans for interventions identified for each thematic area, outlining objectives, activities, timelines, resources, and expected outcomes were developed. The key recommendations came out from the co-design workshop emphasized shifting from humanitarian aid to development-oriented assistance, promoting inclusive governance, expanding infrastructure, and enhancing stakeholder coordination. It was also suggested the importance of community participation in designing interventions, ensuring local authority support, and developing practical solutions tailored to environmental and socio-economic challenges. 2025-11-01 2025-11-19T08:38:35Z 2025-11-19T08:38:35Z Report https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178018 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security Program Mekuria, W.; Haile, A. T.; Ebrahim, G. Y.; Dessalegn, M.; Taye, M. T.; Ruckstuhl, S. 2025. Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Food Frontiers and Security Program. 28p. |
| spellingShingle | disaster risk reduction resilience knowledge sharing research for development humanitarian organizations participatory approaches refugees nature-based solutions Mekuria, Wolde Haile, Alemseged Tamiru Ebrahim, Girma Yimer Dessalegn, Mengistu Taye, Meron Teferi Ruckstuhl, Sandra Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| title | Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| title_full | Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| title_short | Strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co-designing interventions in the Dolo Ado and Bokolmayo districts, Somali Region, Ethiopia |
| title_sort | strengthening resilience through knowledge sharing and co designing interventions in the dolo ado and bokolmayo districts somali region ethiopia |
| topic | disaster risk reduction resilience knowledge sharing research for development humanitarian organizations participatory approaches refugees nature-based solutions |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178018 |
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