Slides
The Water and Food Security PIRE team launched its international research collaboration at a kickoff event in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia from July 11-14. The event included: a two-day workshop with presentations and breakout sessions devoted to the key subjects of the project: rain-fed agriculture, irrigation, hydropower, and international teaching and learning; field trips to targeted irrigated and rain-fed communities, an irrigation dam, visits with the Blue Nile Water Institute and the Abay Basin Authority; and meetings with key officials including the regional ministers for education and water resources. Click Conference Photos – 1 to view selected slides.
The kickoff conference served as important platform where the main stakeholders renewed their commitment and several new local organizations (including notably, the President of Bahir Dar University and community leaders in potential field sites) pledged to support the project. In addition, regional and federal news media outlets gave the project considerable coverage, attending some of the workshop presentation and field visits and interviewing team members. Click Conference Photos – 2 to view selected slides.