Water Resources Development in Ethiopia

Known to Westerners for its series of devastating droughts, Ethiopia in fact receives 110 billion m[superscript 3] of fresh water each year. However, only 4.5% remains within the country's borders, and only 17% of the population has access to clean drinking water. Efforts to remedy this situation have been uncoordinated, and conflicting demands on water, for irrigation, drinking and waste disposal have not been reconciled. The issues of planning and conservation of water resources are in urgent need of clear objectives and priorities. Dr Abate reveals the potential of Ethiopia's considerable water resources, thus enabling researchers, policy makers and other specialists to adopt a realistic view of Ethiopia's natural resources. In addition to exploring the current state of water development, sectoral usage, planning needs and interrelated issues, Dr Abate tackles the policy reforms required to improve current performance and meet the projected demands of the next decades.