Launching a User-Centered Rangeland and Water Monitoring System

Pastoralist communities in Ethiopia have long suffered from climate-induced shocks and stressors, leading to significant livestock losses which in turn cause food insecurity, severe disruptions to livelihoods, and human displacement as people search for sources of food and water. To support local communities to overcome these challenges, timely and reliable information is essential. However, the lack of access to comprehensive water and pasture information is a challenge for Ethiopian pastoralists, decision-makers, policy planners, and other stakeholders to effectively address climate-induced challenges.

To address this, the Alliance - in collaboration with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands (MILLs), the Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO), and other key partners - developed a User-Centered Integrated Rangeland and Water Monitoring and Early Warning System in Pastoral areas of Ethiopia, launched in February 2024 in Addis Ababa, and now in Yabello, applying the system at a regional level; this innovative system aims to empower pastoralists with the information needed to make informed decisions.

Group photo from the launch in Yabello, Ethiopia

Launching a User-Centered Rangeland and Water Monitoring System for Early Warning in Ethiopia's Pastoral Areas - H E Dr Endrias Geta — PH.E. Dr. Endrias Geta, State Minister for the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands delivers the opening speech, highlighting the importance of sustainable water management and rangeland monitoring in Ethiopia's pastoral regions

The workshop officially commenced with a traditional blessing ceremony from a Gada elder followed by an opening speech by H.E. Dr. Endrias Geta, State Minister for the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands. In his opening remark, H.E. Dr. Endrias Geta said that “the project comes at a time when pastoralists are struggling to survive under recurrent droughts. A 2021-2022 drought impacted all pastoral areas of Ethiopia, resulting in the loss of more than 6 million livestock animals, reportedly leading to internal displacement and food insecurity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for proactive risk management solutions to ensure their survival.”

He continued: "A lack of timely information on where to find available water and forages is a major limiting factor for enhancing pastoralists’ climate change adaptation capacity. The introduction of user-centered integrated rangeland and water source monitoring and early warning systems heralds a new chapter of innovation and collaborative effort aimed at improving the lives of our pastoral communities amid the challenges posed by climate and environmental degradation.”

He also emphasized the system's vital role in strengthening the resilience of pastoralists' livelihoods by delivering near-real-time information on water and pasture resources. This enables better livestock risk management and supports informed decision-making, even in remote areas.

Launching a User-Centered Rangeland and Water Monitoring System for Early Warning in Ethiopia's Pastoral Areas - Image 2 — Sintayehu Alemayehu - Alliance Scientist and Project Leader - presenting the project and platform.

After the opening remarks, a series of presentations showcased the system's design and features to the participants. Sintayehu Alemayehu - Alliance Scientist and Project Leader - highlighted how the system is both user-friendly and tailored to the needs of pastoralists. Using a human-centered design (HCD) approach, the system integrates science with Indigenous knowledge, making it truly unique. Sintayehu also noted that the launch represents a major leap forward in tackling the challenges of climate change with a proactive, gender-responsive approach. The system empowers pastoralists by enhancing their resilience and marks a significant improvement in livestock risk management through advanced monitoring and early warning capabilities.

Launching a User-Centered Rangeland and Water Monitoring System for Early Warning in Ethiopia's Pastoral Areas - Liyuneh Gebre — Liyuneh Gebre, Associate Researcher at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research.

Building on the foundation laid by the earlier presentations, Liyuneh Gebre - Associate Researcher at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) - outlined a roadmap for implementing the project across federal, regional, and local levels through the Pastoral Community of Practice platform. He emphasized the practical connection between the system and various end-users, drawing on insights gathered from user persona profiles and human-centered design (HCD) assessments. He stated,

“The system was specifically designed to address the needs and enable the gathering of valuable insights from diverse end-users, including pastoralists and decision-makers, while continually addressing their needs. By applying a human-centered design approach, the project aims to create a solution that aligns with the requirements and challenges faced by pastoralists, helping to mitigate the adverse effects of climate-induced risks.”

A panel discussion of diverse stakeholders served to facilitate dialogue among participants and delve into the opportunities and prospects for implementing and scaling such a transformative decision-support system. The panelists included local-level leaders such as Aba Gadas, Abbaa Herregaas (two customary water managers), Abbaa Dheedaas (customary rangeland manager), local-level administrators, university representatives, the head of the regional disaster risk management office, and elderly women representing local communities. Panelists shared the challenges faced while searching for essential but increasingly scarce resources such as water and pasture. The panel emphasized that the launched system is a game-changer in addressing their needs and supporting the existing traditional and time-consuming methods of gathering pasture and water availability information to make anticipatory action and informed decision.

Launching a User-Centered Rangeland and Water Monitoring System for Early Warning in Ethiopia's Pastoral Areas - Image 3 — Panel discussion of community leaders and regional government representatives.

Launching a User-Centered Rangeland and Water Monitoring System for Early Warning in Ethiopia's Pastoral Areas - Image 4 — Aba Gada Kura Jarso delivering a speech during the panel discussion

The current Aba Gadas of Borana and Gebra areas attended the launch workshop, emphasizing the project's importance in reducing conflicts frequently arising in pastoral areas due to limited resources, particularly water and pasture. Both Aba Gada expressed their appreciation to the implementing institutions and donors for supporting the initiative, noting that it will provide strategic guidance to minimize climate-induced risks and enhance community resilience.

Kura Jarso - the Borana Aba Gada - emphasized the value of integrating Indigenous knowledge into the project. He praised the Community Information Center (CIC) as a dissemination tool, noting its accessibility for community members without formal education and the inclusion of local languages. He urged all communities and stakeholders to utilize the product to prevent livestock losses from drought and to adopt it for anticipatory action. Furthermore, he stressed the need for the community to familiarize themselves with the system using their phones and community information centers to access timely information for informed decision-making.

Mr. Seid Umer - Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP) National Project Coordinator - reflected on the collaborative efforts towards a more resilient and sustainable future for Ethiopia’s lowland areas. This collaborative approach used to develop the system is key to empowering pastoralists, enhancing their resilience by providing real-time data on water and pasture resources. Further, the LLRP project aims to provide resources to enhance and scale the work to other parts of the pastoral regions.

H.E. Dr. Endrias Geta noted that using early warning information for anticipatory actions is crucial for enabling proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of potential disasters. By identifying risks early, communities can prepare and respond more effectively, reducing damage, saving lives, and minimizing economic losses. This approach enhances resilience and helps in better resource allocation, ultimately leading to sustainable development. H.E. Dr. Endrias Geta stated “By continuing to collaborate and pool our expertise, resources, and dedication, we can transform the lives of our pastoral communities. Together, we will overcome future challenges and ensure a thriving future for all Ethiopians.”

Launching a User-Centered Rangeland and Water Monitoring System for Early Warning in Ethiopia's Pastoral Areas - Image 5 — Mr. Seid Umer, Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project (LLRP) National Project Coordinator, from Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland.

In closing, Dr. Yohannes Girma - Advisor to the State Minister for Livestock & Fisheries Resources Development Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture - stated: "I commend the remarkable efforts of the system in integrating several actionable measures that link early warning systems to anticipatory actions at both national and local levels. This integration plays a critical role in mitigating and preventing the impacts of drought. Furthermore, the workshop fosters a collaborative environment by actively engaging various stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, local communities, community leaders, women's representatives, academic institutions, regional players, and international partners. Together, we aim to create a more resilient and sustainable future for the lowland areas of Ethiopia, particularly for the most vulnerable pastoral communities."

Way Forward: Paving the Way for Resilient Pastoral Communities

Data sharing is key for effective anticipatory actions. To ensure that water and forage availability for livestock is disseminated and to demonstrate anticipatory actions for informed decision-making, a CIC has been established. Developing CICs in pastoral areas serves as a platform for disseminating real-time water level information, providing early warnings, and enabling anticipatory actions. These CICs help communities prepare for and mitigate the impacts of water shortages, manage resources sustainably, and reduce conflicts over water. By enhancing resilience against climate variability and informing decision-making about migration, grazing, and water management, these CIC empower local communities and improve the efficiency of pastoral practices.

A powerful feature of the platform is a short message service (SMS) available in the local language. This feature allows end users to receive real-time updates on water conditions for specific water points of interest, providing them with timely and relevant information across all monitored sites. Overall, these data sharing mechanisms are essential for strengthening the sustainability and resilience of pastoral livelihoods.

Beyond data sharing, the workshop also convened key local level actors and stakeholders to understand the advancing adoption and operationalization of early warning systems and anticipatory action developed by the project. To reinforce the importance of the system, a field-based demonstration was conducted for community representatives, with H.E. Dr. Endrias in attendance, showcasing how the system enhances pastoral early warning capabilities. Building long-term resilience requires close collaboration between information providers, users, and experts at all levels—from local communities to the national scale.

In addition, field demonstrations were also conducted in the presence of high-level officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders to validate the science-based output and ground information, showcasing the best methods for visualizing and translating this data. Community leaders played a key role in these demonstrations, explaining the necessary early warning and anticipatory actions based on the forecast information. H. E. Dr. Endrias remarked, "I am witnessing the integration of science and indigenous knowledge for a sustainable future and pastoral resilience in Realtime, and I am convinced of the impactful change this project is bringing to our country.”