What is Haramaya University doing to create a drought-resilient community in Eastern Ethiopia?

Drip irrigation is one of the strategies draught-resilient societies apply to resist draught. Taking this into account, Haramaya University supported model farmers with drip irrigation technologies in four rural kebeles.

According to Ato Dine Reshid, Technical Coordinator of Integrated Haramaya Lake Watershed Development Project (IHLWDP), the Integrated Lake Haramaya Watershed Development (ILHWD) Office has been coordinating various climate-smart soil and water conservation activities in Lake Haramaya watershed, including terracing, building gabion structures and sediment retaining walls at upstream, middle, and downstream respectively, as well as supporting with the planting of various forest seedlings in hilly upstream areas to restore the watershed’s degraded natural resources.

In addition to the aforementioned measures to conserve natural resources, the Office helped smallholder farmers in the watershed adopt a variety of climate smart agriculture technologies, merging conservation practices with activities aimed at enhancing smallholders’ quality of life.

Based on its annual planned activities, the ILHWD Office provided equipment for drip irrigation technologies (rottos and drip irrigation kits) worth about two hundred thousand (200,000) Birr to five clusters farmers (five farmers per cluster, a total of 25 model farmers) from four rural kebeles, namely Damota, Tinike, Kurro, and Tuji Gebisa .

Ato Dine said that this location has the potential to be used for mining subsurface water and irrigating khat and horticulture growing in eastern Ethiopia, so this support was given with the goal of promoting and supporting the use of such technologies in the Lake Haramaya Watershed, he added.

It was indicated that using this technology in the Lake Haramaya Watershed has two benefits: on one hand, it preserves subsurface water. On the other hand, it helps Lake Haramaya remain sustainable Compared to traditional irrigation techniques; this technology lessens the detachment and removal of top soil from agricultural uplands. As a result, it reduces soil erosion from upstream areas and sediment deposition along lake coasts by flooding, both of which help to maintain the lake’s sustainability.

Mr. Dine Rashid, representative of Haramaya University, stated that the University is doing several similar activities that can solve the problems of the community.

Noting that Haramaya University has become deeply involved in the community in recent years, working to solve community problems, Mr. Jemal Mohammed, team leader of Haramaya Woreda Irrigation Agronomy Department, stated that the support provided to these model farmers by HU’s ILHWD Office was quite significant. He explained that the globe is currently affected by climate change, and Ethiopia is one of the countries severely affected by drought. Thus, it is conceivable to use this technology to lessen the negative effects of climate change on smallholder farmers’ lives. He added that more than a hectare of land may be irrigated with just one drip irrigation system, reducing water waste.

The model farmers, in their turn, appreciated what Haramaya University is doing for the community. For instance, Ato Remedan Musa, one of the model farmers who received support, said that he had been trained in drip irrigation technology and rainwater harvesting by the Integrated Lake Haramaya Watershed Development Office and that he had been encouraged to harvest rainwater during the rainy season and use it for irrigating horticulture and homestead agroforestry to conserve precious underground water.

“I’ve been working hard since I got this drip irrigation equipment to collect rainwater during the rainy season and use it for irrigation,” Ato Remedan added.

By:- Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographer:- Tewodros Lishan

PUBLIC & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS DIRECTORATE

Incubator Startup Graduation and Exhibition event for Students and Local Youth Groups held at Haramaya University

Haramaya University (HU) held its first-ever incubator start-up graduation ceremony and facilitated showcase spaces for university graduates and members of local youth groups from September 13-14, 2022 at the Agricultural and Rural Incubation (ARIHUB) facility. The project was run with financial and technical support secured from The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the MASTERCARD foundation and Haramaya University.

The program was an integral component of the “Agri-business Incubation Development and Mentorship Program” organized by the Agricultural and Rural Innovation Incubation Hub of Haramaya University. The event is a crucial component of a two-year project named “Strengthening Entrepreneurial Capacity through Agricultural and Rural Innovation Incubation Hub (ARIHUB)” at

Haramaya University, which was supported by the MASTERCARD foundation under RUFORUM’s Agricultural Enterprises Challenge Program (RECAP). The Incubation Challenge Grant Award and Pre-Incubation Launching Workshop were held for graduates and members of local youth groups 6 months ago.

Today’s event has been arranged to mark successful graduation and create an exhibition space for the first cohort of incubatees constituting graduates and members of the local youth group. The cohort was constituted of over 50 members and included 9 enterprises. Over 50% of the graduates are female candidates. The candidates passed through a-9-week intensive mentorship program in which senior and highly experienced business and technical mentors participated. The mentorship program was arranged in a way that allows the incubatees to grasp the theoretical and practical essence of agripreneurship. The program generally attempted to provide the incubatees with in-depth insights on entrepreneurial mindset; problem validation; value creation; value delivery; business management; business canvas and development of product flowchart; development and validation of minimum value products. Overall, the incubatees had taken a total of 46 contact hours (21 for theory and 25 for practice/lab work and fieldwork).

The graduation and showcasing event was begun with an opening speech by Professor Jeylan Woliye, the Vice-president for Administration and Student Affairs of Haramaya University. In his speech, Professor Jeylan warmly welcomed the participants and congratulated the graduates for their achievements and for reaching the eventful day of graduation. In addition, he addressed the audience that the purpose of today’s gathering was not only to celebrate the graduation of 9 successful incubators, but also for setting an ideal condition for incubatees to showcase their products, facilitating an interactive and collaborative space for sharing knowledge and vision, and providing the incubatees the opportunities to practice and explore ways of selling entrepreneurial ideas and building business networks. He also underscored the vital role of the incubation-based learning model in promoting youth innovativeness, cultivating empowerment, addressing unemployment, and tackling poverty. Last but not least, Professor Jeylan highlighted the fact that agripreneurship does not occur in a vacuum. In connection to this, he accentuated that responsible government and non-government organizations must support these agripreneurs in the making by providing them access to spaces, unlocking finance for them and establishing for them reliable market linkages and support networks.

Dr. Getachew Shambel, the PI of the project and incubation lead, also offered useful background information about the project and the unique features of the event. According to him, the event was considered unique due to the following reasons. First and foremost, the incubation model of the agripreneurship and mentorship program is the first of its kind in the history of Haramaya University. Secondly, the ARIHUB is a strategic departure from the conventional entrepreneurship training model since it attempts to integrate entrepreneurship training with innovation incubation and Multi-Stakeholder Innovation Platforms (MSIPs). Thirdly, university graduates and members of the local youth group were given an experimental loan to develop a marketable prototype or Minimum Value Product (MVP) and the opportunity to test and validate their products by taking into consideration local contexts that affect the marketability and acceptability of their products and, by implication, the sustainability of agripreneurship as an entrepreneurial venture.

The graduation and exhibition events were organized for two consecutive days. The first day was dedicated to the formal graduation ceremony and exhibition of showcase products whereas the second day was devoted to evaluating the entire program and for offering the way forward. The occasion created a suitable environment for the graduates to demonstrate their products to the public. The showcased products include Ethio-Yummi pasta production and marketing; Casimiroa juice production and marketing; sweet potato jam production and marketing (sweet Jam); Homemade incubator development and day-old chick production; Poultry production and Marketing (Layers chicken); Honey bee farm production and marketing; Weme chicken; Rearing poultry (Broiler birds); and Rabbit farming and marketing.

The event was concluded with a closing remark by the University’s Vice-president for Research Affairs, Dr. Tesfaye Lemma. Like Professor Jeylan, Dr. Tesfaye also congratulated the graduates and strongly advised them to pursue their dreams with patience, resolute determination and a greater sense of accomplishment. He also expressed his hope that today’s incubatees may become owners of multi-million companies and future potential sources of income for Haramaya University which create an ideal training environment to cultivate their entrepreneurial mindset and imagination and to help unlock their untapped entrepreneurial talents. Before he finalized his speech, Dr. Tesfaye strongly stressed the importance of incubation-based training for promoting youth self-employment in the country and stated his office’s firm commitment to supporting the incubation hub and mentorship programs.

Development Projects of Prospective Graduates Inaugurated

Various development projects, developed by Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Sciences graduate students of 2014, were inaugurated in Harari Regional State in collaboration with the community and institutions.

The projects are estimated to cost more than 4 million birr.

The beneficiaries of the projects stated that the development projects carried out by coordinating the society and the stakeholders have provided solutions to the problems that are observed in the society.

Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Sciences Chief Executive Director, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed, said that this year’s graduating students of the College have built development projects in cooperation with the government and the community to enhance the development activities of the Region.

The graduate students conducted research on the problems faced by the communities in the 7 districts of the Region and completed 14 projects that include public latrines, maternal waiting area, Autism center, septic tank and a maternity care center at the health center as well as the drilling of well water for agriculture, it was announced.

For the implementation of the budget of the projects, the graduate students expressed that they mobilized the community, government institutions and other stakeholders.

Dr. Ahmed added that the students of the College are increasing the benefits of the residents of the Region through the development work they do every year to enhance the benefit of the community.

At the inauguration ceremony of the projects held in different places, head of Harari Region Health Bureau, Mr. Yasin Abdullahina, his deputy, and the Director of the Directorate of Community Development and Participation of Haramaya University, Dr. Admasu Bogale, the medical doctor of the Hiwot Fana Specialized Hospital, Dr. Abdi Amin, the heads of the College of Health and Medical Sciences and officials of the respective districts were present.

Officials reiterated that the students are benefiting the institutions and the community through the development work they are doing.

The residents and institutions of the regional government have expressed their appreciation and they explained that they were very happy with the work of the students.

By፦ Shemsedin Mohammed

Photo፦ Tewodros Lishan

Haramaya University Public & Internatioal Relation

Haramaya University’s effort to enhance the Capacity of Government Employees in East Hararghe

Haramaya University’s Community Engagement and Enterprise Development Vice President’s Office, in collaboration with the College of Computation and Informatics, provided capacity-building training to East Hararghe revenue Office employees from December 16-18, 2022.

While the training focused on Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and networking; it was believed that it could enhance the capacity of the employees.

Reminding that the university has recently bought and distributed modern computers in collaboration with a partner organization to support the teaching and learning process of high schools in East Hararghe zone, Dr. Yisihak Yousuf, Vice President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, says, “Community service work is one of the objectives of our university, so providing such training is expected from our university, and we consider it as our own work.” “Our university also works closely with partners, makes technological knowledge available to the community, and enables operations to be effective and modern,” added Dr. Yisihak.

Hoping that the support Haramaya University renders will continue, Mr. Jamal Ahmed, the head of the audit team of the East Hararghe Zone Revenue Bureau, said, “Haramaya University is now providing the second round of training for our employees.”

At the end of the training, Hirut Kebede, Abdurezak Abubeker, and Muna Tefera, some of the participants, say that the training helps them remember what they forgot, build their capacity, and do their work in an efficient and time-saving manner. They also thanked Haramaya University and the trainers for the training, hoping that similar training would be prepared and given to them in the future.

Haramaya University being voice for the voiceless

Haramaya University’s College of Law, in collaboration with the Community Engagement and Enterprise Development Vice President’s Office, is providing free legal aid services to economically and physically vulnerable groups of the community to ensure and realize access to justice as a right of these vulnerable and disadvantaged groups of the community.

According to Dr. Richard Wentzell, dean of the College of Law at Haramaya University, the free legal services provided by the College of Law are meant to serve the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable members of the surrounding community who cannot afford to hire a lawyer, stressing that the majority of their clients are women, children, the elderly, the disabled, and other similar sections of the community.

Explaining that many of the surrounding community members do not have access to the laws and even cannot read the law even if they have access, Dr. Richard says that the main purpose of this free legal service is, therefore, to fill this gap in all woreda courts and prisons in both the East and West Hararghe Zones of the Oromia Regional State, as well as all woreda courts and prisons in the Harari Regional State. “We represent clients from the First Instance, High Court up to the Supreme Courts of the Oromia and Harari Regional States, as well as up to the Cassation Bench of the Federal Supreme Court,” added Dr. Richard. In the same way, the college places its students in Haramaya, Adele, Awaday, Bate, the East Hararghe High Court, and all of the Harari Courts, as well as in the Oromia and Harari Prison Administrations. This allows students in the college to gain practical legal knowledge while providing free legal services to the community—a two-fold benefit.

Just in this past quarter alone, the university provided free legal services to nearly sixty thousand members of the community (oral advice: 17,600; preparation of pleadings: 7,040; court representation: 1,232; and community awareness: 33,616), which saved the impoverished community members more than fourteen million Birr in legal and other fees. This was done by working with various international partner universities over the years, such as the University of Washington School of Law in Seattle, WA, USA, and the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago, IL, USA, on staff and student exchanges as well as trainings, conferences, and publications, which gave the university the opportunity to expand their clinical legal education programs through their partnership with the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern University, according to Dr. Richard.

The college is also raising the legal awareness of the community through its HU FM 91.5 Law and Community program as well as daily legal awareness programs in court and prison compound offices. These community awareness programs allow a broader base of the community to understand the legal system through call-in programs, radio dramas, and special experts who speak on the leading legal issues of the day. The listenership for the HU FM 91.5 Law and Community Radio Program reaches more than four hundred thousand community members in the East and West Hararghe Zones of the Oromia Regional State.

Based on the success of this great performance, the college received very generous support from the Democracy and Governance Office of USAID and vastly expanded its outreach to every woreda in both the East and West Hararghe Zones and the Harari Regional State. Upon the phase-out of USAID support, the European Union (EU) Mission to Ethiopia quickly stepped in to provide further funding that allowed the college to continue for two additional years, and the college is currently incredibly fortunate to have the support of the Office of the Vice-President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development and the Community Development Works Directorate, supporting forty-six (46) free legal service centers covering the widest area in our history. Therefore, the college opened an additional office in Bate Kebele to serve the community surrounding the university, as well as two circuit courts in Kulubi (Meta Woreda) and Furda (Badano Woreda), which will allow it to provide free legal services to all segments of our society. “We are now the largest free legal service provider in the entire country,” added Dr. Richard, thanking Haramaya University management, especially the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice-President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, and the Community Development Works Directorate, for their unreserved support in their free legal aid program.

In his turn, Dr. Yisak Yusuf, Vice President of Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, stated that serving the community is one of Haramaya University’s pillars for providing quality services, such as the free legal service provided by the College of Law, and that by further strengthening this service, the university is working to enable the community to access the service by expanding the service delivered in new sites such as kulubi, and furda. He also said the university is working cooperatively in partnership with zone high courts, zone general attorney offices, all woreda courts, all woreda general attorney offices, police departments, prison administrations, zone and woreda women and children affairs, and Harari Regional State justice organs including the Harari Regional State Supreme Court and the Harari Regional State Attorney and Security Office, which serve more than 200 thousand vulnerable members of society and save an estimated 30 million Birr annually from the expense of the clients.

Haramaya University’s free legal consulting service lawyers confirm that the community support service that the university is providing to community members who need support has not only confirmed their right to justice but also prevented them from spending money to find justice and truth, thanking the university and requesting to continue the service in a similar manner.

Mr. Zubeiri Abdulahina, President of East Hararghe Kombolcha District Court, witnessed that Haramaya University is providing the surrounding community with a very important and significant community service that cannot be given by other government organs. Thanking the college in particular and the university in general, Mr. Zubeiri says, “Haramaya University is an institution established by the people for the people.”

In the same way, Mr. Fasika Dereje, President of West Hararghe Zone, Chiro District Court, said that free legal support services offered by Haramaya University do not only save the expenses of community members seeking support but also prove that all are equal before the law. The benefits of this service will be huge, as “this free legal aid service is an issue of life and death for our community,” added Mr. Fasika.

The beneficiaries, in their turn, said that they are grateful to Haramaya University for the support it has given them to fight on their behalf. For example, among the beneficiaries who have been supported, a woman in Zakaria Kebele, in Qune City, West Hararghe Zone, is unforgettable. She is a 70-year-old poor woman, a mother of four, and an elderly and disabled woman whose land was taken from her without legal ground, and she and her children have been subjected to great hardship and cannot even go to court to seek justice. With the help of the local community and Haramaya University’s independent legal support center in Gemchis district, which fought to confirm her property rights up to the federal supreme court, she could get her land back. The woman is now overjoyed, and she thanks Haramaya University for providing this vital free legal aid service, which enabled her to obtain a fair and legal judgment to reclaim the land that had been taken from her.

By: Shemsedin Mohammed

Photo: Fuad Ahmed

Public & International Relation Directorate

Training Conducted on Fish Production

Haramaya University’s Integrated Haramaya Lake Watershed Development Project Office (IHLWDP) conducted training on fish farming and integrated agriculture to 40 model farmers and youth living in the watershed on December 27 and 28, 2022 at the University’s Resource Center.

According to Mr. Dine Reshid, Technical Coordinator of Integrated Haramaya Lake Watershed Development Project, a project run by the Community Engagement and Enterprise Development Vice president Office, has been working on the rehabilitation of the watershed’s deteriorated natural resources and has seen a fruitful progress to accomplish the goals of Integrated Watershed Management, the project engaged in various farmers’ livelihood diversification initiatives in addition to natural resource rehabilitation efforts.

The project has provided model farmers and youth living in the watershed with training on fish production. Mr. Dine said that Ethiopia is known as a land of water tower with a lot of lakes and rivers crossing the boundary and flowing to neighboring countries eroding plenty of fertile soil.

Even though Ethiopia is endowed with plenty of water resource, it has not been utilized for the production of the expected outputs especially for fish production and irrigation. In order to reverse the situation, Haramaya University through ILHWDP Office has been working on the expansion of fish production in Lake Haramaya Watershed and beyond after sharing experiences with Batu Fish and Aquatic Life Research Center and establishing Fish Production and Fish Farm Research Center at HU Main Campus, it was noted.

Farmers dwelling around Lake Haramaya Watershed (LHW) have a long time experience in excavating underground water for irrigating vegetables and khat production. Hence, by considering the reality on the ground, ILHWDP has been engaged in expansion and integration of fish production in the watershed through training farmers and youth and supporting them with fish seeds to help them adopt fish farm.

Mr. Dine added that IHLWDP office is one of those offices under HU’s CEEDVP Office with the objective of rehabilitating the degraded Haramaya Lake Watershed. Beside soil and water conservation works on the hilly upper stream areas of the watershed, the project has been engaged in the dissemination of different Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and practices to help farmers dwelling in the watershed increase their productivity, enhance resilience to climate change impact and achieve food security, he underlined.

Dr. Yisahak Yusuf, Vice President of Community Services and Enterprise Development of Haramaya University, said that his office has been working deeply with the community in various sectors such as agriculture, education, health, environment, entrepreneurship and so many other community development works in recent times.

Most of the farmers in Haramaya Lake basin are producing various vegetables by drawing water from well.

Dr. Yisahak explained that the main objective of the training is to enable the farmers in the basin to work together with integrated agriculture and fish farming to enable them to easily use the water collected from their backyards for fish farming.

The farmers can easily carry out modern fish farming with the water in their gardens and grow various vegetables in the water, he added.

Dr. Yisahak said when the farmers can use integrated agriculture; they can easily use the water they have stored in their backyards for fish farming. It is said that integrated agriculture not only provides nutritious food from the garden, but also creates a source of income.

At this two days training, 40 (forty) model farmers trainees took part from 10 surrounding rural kebeles.

The participants of the training from different regions of the Haramaya Lake basin said that although they have water to grow various vegetables, they do not have the best fish farming training and species. As a result, they have not been using integrated agriculture with fish farming.

Haramaya University is working in enabling to benefit them by giving such kind of training on appropriate time and they thanked the University and its Management.

One of the trainees, Ahmed Adem from Haramaya Woreda Kuro Farmers Association, appreciated the effort that the University is undertaking to solve problems of the community and said he has received a new knowledge on fish farming which will help him to gain additional income.

Another farmer , Feture Mohammed, from Haramaya Woreda Tinike Farmers Association, said that the training provided to the farmers is very encouraging and will help them to enhance their farm land productivity, improve their livelihood and on fish farming to gaining additional income.

By: Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographs: Tewdiros Lishan

PIRD

Haramaya University exerting its efforts to solve health problems by creating linkages with regional health bureaus

Haramaya University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Dire Dawa, Harari, and Somali Regional Health Bureaus, the Data Use Partnership, and Digital Health Activity, conducted a Capacity Building and Mentorship Program (CBMP) Regional Review Meeting and Research Dissemination Implementation Workshop in Dire Dawa on January 4, 2023.

Mr. Admas Abera, CBMP Project Director, presented the project’s achievements over the last three years, highlighting significant improvements in providing technical support for the health information system in the Harari, Somali, and Dire Dawa regions. He also explained that the project is conducting HIS-specific research implementation, which is expected to inform policy. Providing HIS-specific pre- and in-service trainings, onsite mentoring, and supporting Master’s and PhD research grants were among the major activities accomplished so far.

According to Mr. Admas, the project aims to break the barrier between academia (the university) and the health sector by creating a collaborative partnership between local universities and regional health bureaus. He added that Haramaya University has supported the Harari, Dire Dawa, and Somali regions since its establishment. As part of the community service, the university has, through this project, been providing technical support on the health information system to around 54 health facilities and woredas in the Harari, Dire Dawa, and Somali regions since 2018.

Pre-service education on health informatics at the bachelor’s level provided a master’s research grant to 15 HrU MSc and MPH students (7 defended their theses, 3 published their research in reputable journals, and the others are conducting research) as part of capacity building for the health workforce (about 1350 trainees have been trained on 14 different types of training). Moreover, regular onsite mentorship (coaching) of facilities on health information systems and two research studies implementation were discussed in collaboration with regional health bureaus and the Ministry of Health. These two scientific research works were selected because they indicate the actual conditions. In addition, the results of building a center of excellence in electronic medical evidence management were announced and discussed.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ahmed, the Chief Executive Director of the College of Health and Medical Sciences, emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership between Haramaya University and the regions created through the CBMP Project platform, and he said that Haramaya University is carrying out the work of building capacity through the CBMP Project to ensure the quality of health information at three regional sector institutions.

Dr. Ahmed said that by modernizing health information management, ensuring information-based services, and using information for decision-making, efforts are being exerted to increase access to model health facilities because enabling the quality of health information to be supported by technology has a key role in modernizing service delivery and increasing accessibility in the health sector.

Mr. Naod Wohrad, Director of the Policy Plan Control and Evaluation Directorate of the Ministry of Health, said to continue using the results achieved in health information, the university, regional health offices, and partners should work together. In this case, universities should consider this a big social service, while regions should help the community by working together on the implementation and benefiting from the results.

Mr. Naod added that the Minister of Health is working to ensure the continuity of the project by coordinating partners who can support it and will continue to strengthen it.

By: – Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographer: – Behailu Girma

Public & International Relations Directorate

The Africa Center of Excellence for Climate Smart Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation (ACE Climate SABC) at Haramaya University in Ethiopia has some PhD positions for interested applicants. The Center has been training students coming from different African Countries in its trans-disciplinary PhD study program conducted by a truly global faculty with sub-specializations since October 2017. The sub-specializations are in: 1) Crops, 2) Livestock, 3) Soil and Water, 4) Biodiversity, and 5) Policy, Institutions and Innovation.

The Center is also hosting PhD candidates who won PASET – RSIF scholarship since last year. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis by vetting their academic credentials. The Center has finalized its preparation to enroll the next cohort of PhD candidates that won the PASET – RSIF and MERIT – NORHED II scholarships to start their coursework as of mid-March, 2023. Thus, the Center has remaining PhD positions to be filled by qualified applicants that can find sponsors to cover their tuition fees, research costs and living expenses. The Center will provide accommodation on the main Campus of Haramaya University for a reasonable rent fee.

Who can apply? Any interested candidate that has MSc degree or its equivalent in agriculture (plant sciences, animal sciences, agricultural economics, rural development and agricultural extension) and natural resource management (natural resource economics, agroforestry and forest management, biodiversity conservation and management, rangeland management, soil and water conservation, land resource management and administration, climatology/agro-meteorology, climate change, disaster risk management, and other related disciplines can apply.

Tuition Fee – Non-Ethiopian PhD students are required to pay a tuition fee amounting to 5000 USD per annum. However, Ethiopian nationals will have to pay in accordance with Haramaya University’s post graduate tuition fee policy.

How to Apply – Qualified candidates that can cover costs of their studies can apply by sending the concept note of their PhD research Proposal, scanned soft copies of authenticated degrees and transcripts, CVs, recommendation letters, sponsorship letters from employers or any third party (if any), publications, and valid identification cards to aclimatesabc@gmail.com until 20^th of February 2023 at 5:00pm (East Africa Time: UTC+3) All documents should be submitted in a single PDF format (i.e., not in separate documents). However, publications could be sent in a PDF format as separate document(s). Please, you should also make a CC to the following email addresses when you attach your documents for application.

Haramaya University and other universities in Awash and Wabi-Shebele Basins to solve lasting problems of the society.

The 2nd Annual National Workshop of Universities’ Awash and Wabi-Shebele Basins Forum, in which Haramaya University plays a role, was conducted on January 12, 2023, at the Capital Hotel in Addis Ababa.

The forum, established by eleven universities, including Haramaya University, to develop the Awash and Wabi Shebele Rivers, was opened by Dr. Birhanu Megersa Lenjiso, State Minister of Irrigation and Lowland Areas Development.

At the workshop, the forum’s bylaws and 10-year strategic plan, and three articles from the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland Area Development, GIZ, and Haramaya University were presented, and various resolutions were passed.

State Minister of Irrigation and Lowland Areas Development, Dr. Birhanu Megersa said that universities should help one another in research so that Ethiopia can use its water resources properly and have a lot of work ahead of them in solving the lasting problems of society and making proper use of the vast water resources of the country.

Dr. Birhanu added that the ministry is ready to work with the forum as it will strengthen the development works of the irrigation and lowland areas of the Awash and Wabi Shebele basins so that the citizens in the Awash and Wabi Shebele basins will not be affected by floods and benefit from irrigation development in the summer.

Dr. Jamal Yousuf, President of Haramaya University, stated in his turn that 11 universities located around the two basins established a forum last year and are carrying out various research activities.He also mentioned that the studies and research they do will not only solve the problems of the local society but also be a resource for policymakers.

The forum is believed to free our society from economic and ecological problems, so the eleven universities located in the Awash and Wabi Shebele basins have strengthened their cooperation and will expand the coordination and benefits beyond our country to the neighboring countries.This forum, supported by research results, is also expected to allow the development of our country’s natural resources, according to Dr. Jemal Yousuf.

University presidents, representatives, partner organizations, and other experts that participated in the forum pointed out that, through the research that the universities carry out on the two watersheds, they should focus on activities that ensure the benefit of the community.

Finally, it was stated that MedaWallabu University will organize the next round of the Awash andWabiShebele River Basin Forum.

By: Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographs: Tewdiros Lishan

PIRD

Haramaya University College of Law’s Borana Cross-Boundary Initiative for Peace Activity Project Contributing Immensely in Preventing Conflict, Ensuring Peace.

It was announced to the group of journalists that Haramaya University College of Law’s Borana Cross-Boundary Initiative for Peace Activity together with the zone’s administrative bodies, tribal leaders and Abba Gedas have done encouraging work on peace building and as a result, many problems and conflicts that used to occur between tribes have been reduced in the past three years.

Head of the Attorney General’s Office of Borena Zone, Mr. Muhammad Angabi, said that before Haramaya University College of Law Cross-Border Peace Building Project started in Borena and border zones, there were frequent conflicts and killings between the Borena, Guji, Konso, Gebrana and Geri tribes due to competition to have access to water, grazing and cattle.

Mr. Muhammad said that they were able to prevent robberies, thefts and other crimes in the area by allowing the tribes to come together and share their experiences.

By creating different platforms, the traditional law has been recognized by the judicial bodies and the judgments given by the traditional courts have been recognized by the judicial bodies, the head pointed out. He added that the conflict and criminal activities have decreased.

At the start of the project, in order to bring peace between the tribes, Abba Gedas, elders and elected people discussed with the tribes, in addition to their own traditional laws, to make common cultural laws with their neighboring communities and the tribes meet to exchange their experiences.

Mr. Wario Dima Gudina, Haramaya University College of Law Borena Border Crossing Peace Building Project Coordinator, stated that they have given various trainings to the residents and tribal leaders to have series of dialogues mainly to connect different ethnic groups and work to stop conflict through mediation.

He added that in order to stop conflict, they are working together with stakeholders in eighty-four kebeles. They have carried out peace conferences and exchange of cultural experiences with the community representatives and leaders as well as conducted studies to help implement the traditional conflict prevention and resolution system, it was indicated.

According to Dr. Richard Wentzell, dean of  College of Law at Haramaya University,  the objectives of the Borena Cross – Border Action for Peace project is in the Borena Zone and neighboring areas is to strengthen the capacity to resist conflicts, reconciliation between communities and cooperation for conflict reduction and peace building, improved mutual understanding and communication between communities, promoting cooperation in the use and management of the community’s common resources, as well as increasing awareness and motivation for fair and inclusive environmental management and decision-making.

Dr. Richard indicated that the project activities involve the Borena Zone and neighboring areas, including Gabra, Guji, Gari, Konso, Burji, Wayu, Hamar and Arbore, while other smaller groups are Dogodi and Merihan.

For the purpose of effective coordination and implementation, the entire project area is divided into four systems and twelve Dialogue and Reconciliation Centers.

The people of Gerina and Borena expressed their gratitude for Haramaya University’s help to bring peace and reduce conflicts in their area and called for the project to be strengthened.

The project covers a total of 17 districts from Borena Zone and neighboring zones/regions in Kenya.

The project is being Sponsored by USAID.

Reporter: Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographer: Fuad Ahmed Ali

Directorate of Public and International Relations of Haramaya University

Haramaya University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, the School of Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, conducted a national curriculum review workshop on MSc Program in Agro Ecology on February 24, 2023.

This workshop was attended by Professor Mengistu Urge, vice president for academic affairs, who closed the program, external reviewers from Ministry of Agriculture, Oromiya Agricultural Transformation Office, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, internal reviewers, the college staffs and invited guests.

Dr. Zelalem Bekako, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, said in his welcoming and opening remarks that, currently in Ethiopia, there is an urgent need to restore soil fertility for sustainable agricultural productivity, food security, and poverty alleviation. Therefore, Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) through integrated nutrient management is an agro ecological approach that could enhance agricultural productivity and sustain the environment for future generations. It also provides the knowledge and methodology necessary for the development of agriculture that is environmentally sound, highly productive, socially equitable, and economically viable through the promotion of synergism among key components of agro ecosystems for generating internal resources, according to Dr. Zelalem.

The Master of Science in Agro Ecology program, which is the first of its kind in Ethiopia and the East African region, emanates from the collaboration between Haramaya University and GIZ and the funds secured by our scientists.

Agro Ecology is vital to our country because it is the ecology of the food system and is viewed as a science, a set of practices, and a social movement that is simultaneously applied in ecological, health, social, and economic areas and consists of principles for the design and management of sustainable food and agricultural systems. Agro-ecological practices also aim to improve agricultural systems by optimizing ecological processes that create beneficial biological interactions and synergy among agro-ecosystem components, promote environmental and public health and well-being, and minimize social-ecological costs such as inequitable social structures and synthetic and toxic external inputs in the agriculture area, added Dr. Zelalem.

Mr. Arbo Feyisa, the head of the school, in his turn, explained that Agro Ecology approaches have recently gained prominence in scientific agricultural and political discourse as it suggests pathways to transform agriculture and food systems that address hunger and malnutrition, provide decent agricultural livelihoods, and minimize the environmental impact on agriculture. For instance, the ten-year development plan of Ethiopia has identified the agriculture sector as one of the priority areas that catalyze the country’s economic development and prosperity. Mr. Arbo added that the current curriculum they are developing is therefore an entry point for promoting and supporting the agricultural sector by promoting agro Ecological approaches, principles, and practices in realizing these aspirations.

Finally, it has been decided that the concerned bodies should forward the curriculum to the next step by incorporating the suggestions and comments from the reviewers and other participants for its official approval and implementation.

By: Aweke Ayalneh

Camera: Tewodros Lishan

Haramaya University Administrative Board promoted Dr Gelana Amente to the rank of full professor in Physics and Environmental physics on the 27^th of February 2023.

Short Biography of Professor Gelana Amente Raba

Professor Gelana Amente (PhD), a senior staff member and researcher in the College of Natural and Computational Sciences, was born in 1956 in a place called Tinfa, Western Wollega Zone of Oromia Regional State. He went to Gute Elementary School, where he pursued his primary education up to grade 6. Then, Gelana attended grades 7 to 11 at the then Haile Selassie First Secondary School in Nekemte, whereas he received his 12^th grade education at Prince Bede Mariam School. He obtained his BSc degree and MSc degree from Addis Ababa University in 1979 and 1988 respectively. In 1993, he won a Fulbright-Mac-Arthur scholarship and joined University   of Minnesota, from which he got his PhD in 1999.

After completing his first degree, Gelana served Addis Ababa University Relief and Rehabilitation Organization (UFRRO). In 1982, he became a faculty member of the then Alemaya College of Agriculture – now Haramaya University (HU), where has been actively involved in academic activities, research undertakings and community engagements over the last 39 years. For example, Dr. Gelana has offered more than 20 physics courses, most of which are at graduate level. He has also supervised more than 60 MSc and PhD students. Moreover, he developed a number of laboratory manuals, wrote three textbooks, compiled a book on research finding and technology development in his area of specialization, participated in several national workshops and took various training, like the training given by International Center for Theoretical   Physics (ICCTP). His research profile evinces that Dr. Gelana has published over 40 scientific articles reputable journals. In addition to his research engagements, this veteran academician is noted for his active participation in HU affairs and administrative roles. He served as a member of more than 30 different committees such BPR, HU Internal Academic Quality Audit, Needs Assessment (for both academic and research), Science   Complex Building Design, etc. and a dean of students, University registrar, and Estate and Facilities Directorate director in different times. Lastly, Dr. Gelana gave voluntary landscaping and campus beautification services to the University for over five years besides his devotion to providing community services as required.

After thoroughly reviewing the immense contributions of Dr. Gelana in the three areas, the University Senate and the Board of the University promoted him to the rank of full professor in Physics and Environmental physics on the 27^th of February 2023.

Haramaya University Administrative Board Confers the rank of full professor to Dr. Nega Assefa in Maternal and Child Health on 27 of February 2023.

Short Biography of Professor Nega Assefa
Professor Nega Assefa (PhD), a high-ranking faculty member and researcher in the College of Health and Medical Sciences, was born 14th of November 1974 in Assela Town, where he grew up and pursued his primary education and secondary education at Limat Behibret Primary School and Chilalao Terara Secondary School respectively. In September 1991, he joined the then Jimma Institute of Health Sciences (JIHS) – now Jimma University and took the nursing training course. Completing this course, he started his career as a clinical supervisor in Assela 1993, and in 1996, he was recruited by the then Alemaya University – the present Haramaya University – as a technical assistant in the then Faculty of Health Sciences. Setting forth his vision, Nega enrolled back in JIHS in 1998 for BSc Nursing Program, and graduated with the highest CGPA which made him the gold-medalist in 2001. After his graduation, he got back to his duty at the University (HU). Serving for five years, he studied Master of Public Health in Reproductive Health at Addis Ababa University from 2006 to 2007. He received his terminal degree education in Public Health (Maternal and Child Health) in the College of Health and Medical Sciences of Haramaya University, and he became the firstborn of the Collage’s PhD program in 2012. His dissertation was titled “Pregnancy rate and outcomes in rural eastern Ethiopia Fetal and Neonatal survival”. Dr. Nega has also obtained a certificate of Executive Program in Global Health Leadership from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom.

Professor Nega (PhD) has been serving with perceptible dedication at different capacities in CHMS of Haramaya University since 1993. Besides course offerings, he has been researching and co-researching several maternal health, child and adolescent health, family planning, neonatal and child health, and sexual and reproductive health issues, in partnership with fellows from several overseas universities and research institutions including Johns Hopkins and Harvard Schools of Public Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Emory University Global Health Institute, Karolinska Institute and Vienna University in Austria. Professor Nega is a committed instructor and determined researcher. For example, he has been unreservedly mentoring students at PhD and master’s levels. He has been supervising and co-supervising 19 PhD students from University of Durban, South Africa, Ghana, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Haramaya Universities. Similarly, he has been also supervising 215 master’s students as a lead advisor and a co-supervisor. In addition to his supervisory roles, Dr. Nega has participated in examining more than 235 Master students from Addis Ababa, Jimma, Gondor, Hawassa, Arba Minch, and Haramaya Universities. He authored and co-authored more than 157 research articles, and has book chapters, lecture notes, modules, and standards. Since 2016, he has been serving the College of Health and medical science, Haramaya University as an Associate Professor of Reproductive Health, Maternal and Child Health. He is also an Honorary Associate Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

His partnership skills have remained awe-inspiring and resulted in the presence of various collaborations across the university. Dr. Nega, collaborating with his colleagues, has been able to secure 11 grants contributing to advancing health sciences, and building human resource and infrastructures. Together with his colleagues, through the CHAMPS data to action grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other granting agencies, he created an opportunity for eight PhD scholarships at the LSHTM and through the CHAMPS pregnancy surveillance availed human power and equipment to health facilities in the CHAMPS catchment areas of Harar, Kersa and Haramaya districts. Professor Nega is a co-principal investigator for the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) – Ethiopia project, which started in 2017.

Moreover, Professor Nega noted for his leadership roles. He led the initiation and establishment of Kersa, Harar and Haramaya Health and Demographic Surveillance (HDSS) systems, one of the largest surveillance system in Africa. He was leading these facilities for more than 12 years at different sites in Kersa, Harar and Haramaya. Since 2018, he has led the inception and running of Hararghe Health Research (HHR) partnerships, a research collaborative effort between Haramaya University and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, which has led to the birth of a state-of-the-art research laboratory that conducts microbiology, molecular diagnostics and histopathology and provides diagnostic services for Hiwot Fana University Hospital. This HHR research laboratory was a pioneer to serve throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in Eastern Ethiopia. Dr. Nega served as Director of Research and Partnership for five years at which time played a central role in drafting and effecting of University’s research thematic and other documents; while serving as Executive Director for the Harar Campus, he strengthened partnership with Addis Continental Institute of Public Health in the start and running of College’s first PhD and Masters programs that he started before. He has also worked so much in the start and completion of the design of ten story and thousand bad the new Hiwot Fana University Hospital. Dr. Nega was the coordinator (Associate Dean) of the Graduate Study Program, the then Faculty of Health Sciences, Assistant Dean of Students, Harar Campus, and was leading other units. Dr. Nega lead the establishment of East African Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences in the College of Health and Medical Sciences and served as associate editor-in-chief of the journal for three years. In addition, Dr Nega, is the national editorial board of East African Journal of Science, Haramaya University. Dr. Nega, besides his contribution to Haramaya University, he has been a member of several advisory groups in Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health and Ethiopian Public Health Association (EPHA).

Over all, Dr. Nega is a man of principle with contagious positive energy who enjoys working with the community to contribute to a better tomorrow. After careful evaluations, the University Senate and the Board of the University awarded the rank of full professorship in Maternal and Child Health on 27 of February 2023

Haramaya University Public and International Relations Directorate

Training Conducted on Hygienic Meat Handling and Sanitation Practices

Haramaya University College of Veterinary Medicine in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development, conducted community based training on hygienic meat handling and sanitation practices for selected towns of East Harerge Zone from March 1-2, 2023 at the University’s Resource Center.

Prof. Adem Hiko, Dean of College of Veterinary Medicine, explained that attention is not given to the hygiene of the meat, from personal hygiene to the time it is served; it exposes people to diseases that can be transmitted from animal meat to humans.

Prof. Adem also underlined that empowering the experts in the field and the community is pivotal so that they use clean meat to prevent diseases that can be transmitted from animal meat to humans.

Haramaya University’s Director of Community Development work Directorate, Dr. Admasu Bogale, mentioned that by raising the awareness of the community through training, in addition to making them aware of the damage that unsanitary meat can cause to the community, the University is working to expand the awareness by sharing the training with the local community.

Dr. Debele Tadsena and Dr. Getachew Shelfa, lecturers at the University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and who gave the training, elaborates the trainees should share their knowledge as to how to maintain the cleanliness of meat, how to prevent diseases that can be transmitted to humans from the meat we eat, starting from personal hygiene and maintaining the cleanliness of the meat and the environment. The training was supported by scientific knowledge regarding hygienic meat handling.

The participants in the training were animal slaughter experts and butchers from Harar, Kombolcha, Aweday, Haramaya areas and Haramaya University.

By: – Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographer: – Tewodros Lishan

PIRD

“A quality education grants us the ability to fight the war on ignorance and poverty”-Charles Rangel.

Haramaya University to fight ignorance and poverty

Haramaya University Academic Assessment and Quality Assurance Directorate in Collaboration with the office of Vice President for Academic Affairs organized a Capacity Building Training for middle-level educational leaders on March 7, 2023 on the topic “Enhancing the Quality of Education at Higher Education”

The training was given by Dr. Assefa Beyene from the Ethiopian Civil Service University, who is well experienced in giving such training.

Professor Mengistu Urge, Vice President for Academic Affairs, said at his training opening remarks that quality education is a foundation for the development of the country, as a country which has quality education can grow faster and ensure a high level of social, cultural and economic development. Concerning Ethiopia, one can say that education in Ethiopia is facing a quality problem at all levels, therefore, the government and the employers are worried about the deteriorating quality of education, according to professor Mengistu.

Professor Mengistu added that the quality of education is a must-to-do job at all levels of education, and we have to show our readiness to support the policy in place to reverse education quality problems in Ethiopia.

Dr. Garkebo Basha, Academic Assessment and Quality Assurance Directorate Director, in his welcoming speech said that the training is a capacity building training for department heads, program coordinators and other people in similar positions, and it is the part of the training for higher and middle-level managements, which was started two years ago.

The main focus of the training is to create awareness and clarify about the meaning of quality, quality education and how to assure quality education, as well as discuss the conceptual frameworks, according to Dr, Garkebo. In addition, Dr. Garkebo requested all concerned bodies to assure quality education by working cooperatively as a system.

Professor Jeylan Woliyie, Vice President for Administration and Student Affairs, said at his training closing remark that the issue of quality education is not only the issue of the institutions but also the issue of the country’s existence, so it must be given a serious attention from all stakeholders. For the future, to assure quality education, responsibility and accountability assuring mechanisms should be prepared and implemented, according to professor Jeylan.

At the end of the training, the trainees asked questions and reflected thoughts and appreciations for the training organizers and the trainers and they pointed out that, to ensure the intended quality education, it should be intensively worked on raising the teachers’ awareness concerning their responsibilities, skills of how to transfer knowledge; the course credit hour fulfillment; and the infrastructure and technology equipment for the teachers.

The training came to end with certificate awards for the trainees, trainers and organizers.

By: – Aweke Ayalneh

Photographer: – Foad Ahmed Ali

Public & International Relations Directorate

Agri-Aqua Project meeting held at Haramaya University

A project team member from Haramaya University, Ethiopia; Gulu University, Uganda and Egerton University, Kenya, and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna, Austria held a project meeting on Agri-Aqua, which is integration of Agriculture and Aquaculture from March 7-11, 2023 at Haramaya University.

According to Dr Abdi Mohammed, a lecturer at the University and Project Coordinator, Agri-Aquaculture is the most demanded technology for food and nutrition security mainly in areas like Hararghe where communities have small farmland.

Dr Abdi said Haramaya University is working on demand-driven problem-solving research activities. Thus, the project team is working on mega projects which may solve the community problem regardless of small farm-land and utilization through integrating Agriculture and Aquaculture with horticultural crops, he added.

Dr. Gabriele Slezak, from Department of Africans Studies at University of Vienna, expressed that she is happy to work with Haramaya University, which has a lot of experience in this regard, and explained that they will do everything necessary until the project starts and ends.

Field visits around Haramaya University areas, vegetable production status, and challenges of Haramaya lake restoration were observed, which will be included in the project as an intervention strategy.

By: Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographs: Tewodros Lishan

PIRD

Haramaya University exerting its efforts to solve health problems by creating linkages with regional health bureaus

Haramaya University, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Dire Dawa, Harari, and Somali Regional Health Bureaus, the Data Use Partnership, and Digital Health Activity, conducted a Capacity Building and Mentorship Program (CBMP) Regional Review Meeting and Research Dissemination Implementation Workshop in Dire Dawa on January 4, 2023.

Mr. Admas Abera, CBMP Project Director, presented the project’s achievements over the last three years, highlighting significant improvements in providing technical support for the health information system in the Harari, Somali, and Dire Dawa regions. He also explained that the project is conducting HIS-specific research implementation, which is expected to inform policy. Providing HIS-specific pre- and in-service trainings, onsite mentoring, and supporting Master’s and PhD research grants were among the major activities accomplished so far.

According to Mr. Admas, the project aims to break the barrier between academia (the university) and the health sector by creating a collaborative partnership between local universities and regional health bureaus. He added that Haramaya University has supported the Harari, Dire Dawa, and Somali regions since its establishment. As part of the community service, the university has, through this project, been providing technical support on the health information system to around 54 health facilities and woredas in the Harari, Dire Dawa, and Somali regions since 2018.

Pre-service education on health informatics at the bachelor’s level provided a master’s research grant to 15 HrU MSc and MPH students (7 defended their theses, 3 published their research in reputable journals, and the others are conducting research) as part of capacity building for the health workforce (about 1350 trainees have been trained on 14 different types of training). Moreover, regular onsite mentorship (coaching) of facilities on health information systems and two research studies implementation were discussed in collaboration with regional health bureaus and the Ministry of Health. These two scientific research works were selected because they indicate the actual conditions. In addition, the results of building a center of excellence in electronic medical evidence management were announced and discussed.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ahmed, the Chief Executive Director of the College of Health and Medical Sciences, emphasized the importance of strengthening the partnership between Haramaya University and the regions created through the CBMP Project platform, and he said that Haramaya University is carrying out the work of building capacity through the CBMP Project to ensure the quality of health information at three regional sector institutions.

Dr. Ahmed said that by modernizing health information management, ensuring information-based services, and using information for decision-making, efforts are being exerted to increase access to model health facilities because enabling the quality of health information to be supported by technology has a key role in modernizing service delivery and increasing accessibility in the health sector.

Mr. Naod Wohrad, Director of the Policy Plan Control and Evaluation Directorate of the Ministry of Health, said to continue using the results achieved in health information, the university, regional health offices, and partners should work together. In this case, universities should consider this a big social service, while regions should help the community by working together on the implementation and benefiting from the results.

Mr. Naod added that the Minister of Health is working to ensure the continuity of the project by coordinating partners who can support it and will continue to strengthen it.

By: – Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographer: – Behailu Girma

Public & International Relations Directorate

Haramaya University Conducts Field Day on Irrigated Wheat Seeds Multiplication in Meyu Muluke, Kumbi and Meta Woredas, East Hararghe

Haramaya University conducts field day in Meyu Muluke, Kumbi and Meta Woredas of the East Hararghe Zone on March 09-10, 2023.

According to Mr. Kemal Kassim, facilitator of the event, the field day was conducted to evaluate the performance and sustainability of Haramaya University- supported summer irrigated wheat seeds multiplication on 400 hectares by agro-pastoralists organized into clusters. The field visit and evaluation was conducted jointly with seed producers, development agents, agricultural experts, administrators, and researchers of Haramaya University.

Haramaya University Vice President for Research Affairs, Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, reiterated that the national wheat initiative is aimed at dramatically increasing domestic wheat production for self-sufficiency, wheat import substitution, and generating surplus for export to earn foreign currency. Dr. Tesfaye said, increased use of irrigation and improved technologies for wheat production has been the primary means to enhance wheat production and productivity in addition to the expansion of areas and productivity of rain-fed wheat production. Accordingly, Haramaya University has been supporting the initiative since 2019/20 cropping season in eastern Ethiopia.

According to Dr. Tesfaye Lemma, the university has been supporting the initiative through training experts, development agents and producers; providing seeds and associated technologies; conducting continuous follow up and providing technical backstopping; seeds inspection and certification service; and market linkage facilitation both for certified seeds and grains. In addition, researchers from Haramaya University have been conducting participatory evaluation of performance of 25 wheat varieties in local context together with producers and development agents

During the current dry season, Haramaya University, in collaboration with the East Hararghe Zone Office of Agricultures, is supporting irrigation-based wheat seeds production on 400 hectares and grain production on 600 hectares of land through organizing agro-pastoralists and farmers in clusters in nine wards (Meyu Muluke, Kumbi, Gola Oda, Meta, Babile, Gursum, Haramaya and Deder).

Discussion was conducted with the producers and the other field day participants to share lessons, challenges, and agree on the way forward. Proper post-harvest handling, marketing, soil fertility and irrigation (salinity) management, expanding irrigation infrastructure and ensuring fair water distribution were among issues raised during the discussion. Haramaya University researchers promised to address some of the issues through research and technological innovations.

The woreda office heads and the wheat seeds producers appreciated Haramaya University for the all rounded supports they received that enabled them to produce wheat for the first time using their under-utilized labor, land and water resources and requested the university to expand the successful partnership in areas related to other crops and livestock research and development.

By:- Shemsedin Mohammed

Photographer:- Tewodros Lishan

PIRD

Top of Form

East Hararghe Zone High Court in cooperation with Haramaya University College of Law conducted capacity building training for 618 judges of customary courts, Abba Gadas, Abba Bokkuu, Abba Hawaasa, and for elders of customary courts in East Hararghe Zone from March 15-16, 2023 at Afran Qallo Hall.

During the welcoming speech, Dr. Yisak Yusuf Vice President for Community Engagement and Enterprise Development of Haramaya University said that the main objective of this training is given to strength level of understanding and to capacity building of Aba Gedas and elders of Customary Court of First Instance and Customary Court of Appeal.

Dr. Yisak added that Gada System is the foundation for democracy and it is basic for ensuring justice system and by using this system people are living peacefully and settle their dispute amicably without exposing for unnecessary expenses and cost.

Mrs. Miski Mohammad, East Hararghe Zone Administrator, on her opening speech said that Oromia Regional State Government State Council issued proclamation and regulation and established Customary Court in East Hararghe Zone.
Customary Court are able to solve a lot of disputes and are able to decide on a lot of cases and files. They reduced overload of case from the Ordinary Court of Law.

Mrs. Miski explained that the training is very useful and will strengthen the understanding and skills of the elders of Customary Courts and is very important to provide an effective and efficient qualified justice for community.

In addition, in the training highlighted the paper presented by the Coordinator of Judicial Service Delivery of the East Hararghe Zone High Court, Mr. Tamiree Shubbuu, who described how justice services are being provided for community in the Customary Courts from the establishment of the Customary Court to the present time. He also presented achievements and weaknesses that exist in delivering of justice and way forwarded to overcome and settle the problems.

According to Mr. Ramadhan Shame, the coordinator of Haramaya University’s Free Legal Consulting Service, the training is coordinated by the East Hararghe Zone High Court, Haramaya University and the East Hararghe Culture and Tourism Office with the support of Haramaya University.

He said Over 600 participants from various sectors took part in the training, which was given by staff members of Haramaya University.
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During the occasion, East Hararghe Zone High Court gave an award and recognition for Haramaya University College of Law and other persons who contributed for the success the training.

On closing remarks Mr. Mahammad Abdurahman, East Hararghe Zone High Court President described and explained the establishment of Customary Courts, which have reduced the workload of the Ordinary Courts. He also expressed his belief that the knowledge and understanding gained through the training will enable them to work better.

By: Shemsedin Mohammed
Photographs: Tewodros Lishan
PIRD