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Water, Land and Ecosystems

East Africa

East Africa

A growing population and the increasing use of marginal lands have led to serious land and ecosystem degradation in many parts of the Blue Nile Basin in East Africa. We work to promote land, soil and ecosystem restoration in existing and emerging national and regional processes and investments. Our research promotes improved governance for equitable and sustainable management of infrastructure and ecosystems; delivery of more healthy landscapes and ecosystem services for productive economies and food security; and capacity enhancement and professional development.

Farming in the highlands of Ethiopia.

Watershed management

Equitable water use between the countries of the East African region is a hot topic that flares up from time to time. In order to ensure that every sector has the quantity and quality of water that they need, smart and cooperative water management must be a priority, especially in the agricultural sector.

Land and soil health

Land and soil are the literal bedrock on which agricultural productivity is built, but a great deal of land in East Africa is degraded due to overuse and poor practices. WLE is working with farmers and governments to ensure the longevity and sustainability of agricultural land use to support food security and livelihoods in the region.

Soil carbon

Our soils are capable of sequestering atmospheric carbon in the form of soil organic carbon. This is not only good for agricultural productivity, providing crops with healthier soils, but it also contributes to reducing the amount of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, thereby helping to reduce the impacts to climate change. A great deal of work has been done in East Africa to find appropriate interventions and investments to improve soil carbon sequestration.

More from East Africa

In addition to the highlights above, WLE also works in this region on a range of other sustainable agriculture solutions. Here is the most recent content related to the region.