The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Maritime Authority conducted a final validation workshop of the Action Plan to the National Blue Economy Strategy, and the UNECA Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit (BEVTK) assessment of Ethiopia.
The validation followed a consultation exercise that was held on 23-24 October 2023 in Addis Ababa where the Action Plan and BEVTK assessment documents were reviewed.
Speaking at the opening session of the workshop, Eshete Dejen, Program Manager, AED Sustainable Environment Unit, said that “our water-based resources our lakes, rivers, and wetlands are reservoirs of untapped wealth.”
The purpose of this workshop is clear, he said, “to validate the action plan that will guide Ethiopia’s sustainable development in the blue economy domain.”
“We aim to fill the visible gaps, modernize our water economy, and ensure the participation of all stakeholders,” he indicated.
The validation workshop convened stakeholders including policymakers of ministries, agencies, and departments concerned by the blue economy, private sector representatives, civil society representatives, development partners, and academics.
Opening the session, Director General of the Ethiopian Maritime Authority, Abdulber Shemsu, highlighted that the initiative of Ethiopia to commit fully to the development of its blue economy resources is laudable, given its landlocked status. ‘It recognizes the potential of its 12 river basins and 30 lakes and carries avenues for improving the water-food-energy nexus, along with bringing social development to the community.”
It is already actively engaged and successful in related activities such as the maritime sector, hydropower, fisheries, soda, and lime extraction, Abdulber said.