The BDU-IUC Socioeconomics, Sustainable Livelihood, and Environmental Management Sub-Project hosted a successful "Urban and Rural Livelihood Strategies and Challenges" workshop on March 28, 2025, in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. 

The workshop schedule was structured as an overview of the BDU-IUC subproject 6, four consecutive presentation sessions, a poster session, and a discussion session, concluding with closing remarks.

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The workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including farmers, kebele-level development agents, woreda-level extension experts, regional agricultural extension experts, ANRS natural resource management officers, ANRS land bureau representatives, Bahir Dar and Zuria land administration officers, municipality office representatives, BDU community representatives, extension experts from ATI, and extension experts from ARARI. This event aimed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge-sharing among all participants.

1. Opening Session

Dr. Tesfaye Shiferaw, the project manager for BDU-IUC, introduced the program of the event and managed the overall schedule. According to Dr. Tesfaye, in addition to its research and capacity-building activities, the project is actively engaged in knowledge and technology sharing through different extension methods, namely demonstration sites, workshops, conferences, training sessions, and printed media. This event is also a part of those initiatives. He also noted that the project has recruited a dissemination officer to organize and facilitate the dissemination activities.

Professor Amare Sewnet, the leader for the Socioeconomics, Sustainable Livelihood, and Environmental Management Sub-Project, delivered an overview of his esteemed sub-project. In his speech, he emphasized that the purpose of this workshop was to share the research findings generated by four Ph.D. candidates from the project's first phase. The sub-project has funded five Ph.D. graduates and produced 14 research articles, two pre-doctoral students, and four MSc candidates during its first phase. Additionally, the sub-project has three additional Ph.D. candidates ongoing and five MSc students proposed in phase two. The research findings will be shared additionally, through training sessions and printed materials such as manuals and brochures. A policy brief is also being prepared in both Amharic and English and will be distributed to stakeholders soon.

2. Presentation and Discussion Session

The discussion session of the workshop was facilitated/moderated by Dr. Bossena Tegegne.

Presenter 1. 

Dr. Wubante Fetene's presentation was titled "Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact of Expropriation of Agricultural Land for Urbanization in Ethiopia”. 

In his presentation, Dr. Wubante highlights the issues of land expropriation due to urbanization in Bahir Dar. He identifies a significant gap between government compensation and alternative models. Specifically affected farmers receive, on average, only 37 percent of the market value of their properties. According to his presentation, the current uniform compensation system in kebeles and land use types does not consider productivity differences and farmers’ preferences, resulting in spatial injustice and lower incentives for sustainable land management. To improve this, the government should classify land based on specific characteristics and create tailored compensation models for each category. These reforms aim to enhance farmers’ welfare, promote equitable land use, and support sustainable ecosystem management.

The land expropriation process also often overlooks environmental concerns, despite local communities recognizing and valuing ecosystem services. Therefore, he suggests that while economic benefits typically dominate, protecting ecosystem services is equally crucial for sustainable development. Therefore, the government should create a framework that integrates environmental considerations into land use decisions, which requires prior assessment and valuation of ecosystem services.

The value of ecosystem services, particularly non-market ecosystem services, is often not taken into account in the cost-benefit analysis of land use decision-making. This oversight can lead to the deterioration of both existing ecosystem services and their potential. Therefore, the government needs to invest in these non-marketable ecosystem services to support efforts aimed at protecting them. Local governments, such as the Bahir Dar city administration, receive funds from the regional government for compensation purposes. This is in addition to the revenue generated from their sources, such as taxes and lease prices. 

Despite repeated statements about insufficient funds to provide adequate compensation for affected individuals, they continue to lease urban land at high rates between 40,000 and 70,000 birr per square meter while offering land to investors and residents at minimal or no cost. Therefore, an additional source of income for the local government could be to charge a reasonable amount of money on people receiving land for the construction of residential houses and industrial and manufacturing constructions. 

Presenter 2. 

Prof. Amare Sewnet's presentation was extracted from Dr. Melaku Bogale's PhD. work. His title was "The Impact of Urbanization on Land-Use Change and Farmers’ Livelihoods in Ethiopia." 

Under his title the issues were land-use changes and their effects on farmers' livelihoods, the role of various stakeholders in the urbanization process, and assess farmers' responses to urban expansion. He highlights that urban governance often lacks coordinated planning, resulting in both formal and informal urban expansion. The formal land-use change process is overseen by national, regional, and local governments, involving planners, city residents, and farmers. In contrast, the informal land-use change process is largely controlled by brokers and landholders operating outside regulatory frameworks. This lack of inclusive decision-making has marginalized key groups, including farmers and civil society organizations, diminishing their influence on urban development policies. Inadequate public participation has limited the involvement of affected communities in shaping land-use policies. Issues such as corruption in land transfers, inconsistencies in valuation systems, a shortage of qualified experts, financial constraints, abrupt policy shifts, and inefficiencies in peri-urban areas have led to the large-scale conversion of farmland.

Farmers who have had their land expropriated experienced a decline in farm income compared to those who were not expropriated. Consequently, they shifted toward off-farm employment, which resulted in higher off-farm income. However, this shift also led them to spend more on food rather than agricultural inputs, indicating a change in dependency. The lack of adequate compensation, employment opportunities, and skills training has further exacerbated their vulnerabilities. As a result, farmers have begun to resist urban expansion due to unfair compensation practices, lack of consultation, and insufficient transparency in the land requisition process.

Prof. Amare recommended strengthening regulatory frameworks to manage informal settlements and unauthorized land conversions. He urged enhancing collaboration between government authorities and local institutions to ensure better enforcement of land-use plans. Additionally, he suggested modifying compensation packages and promoting participatory land-use planning.

 Presenter 3. 

Dr. Yemane Asmelash's presentation was titled "Enhancing Agricultural Extension Services in Ethiopia: Towards a Transformative Agricultural Innovation System (AIS)." 

According to Dr. Yemane, smallholder farmers involved in the formal extension system feel pressured by the government to engage in political activities. Furthermore, the transition from Training of Trainers (ToT) to the Agricultural Innovation System (AIS) has not been effectively implemented in the research and extension sectors. The socioeconomic and institutional conditions of farmers significantly influence their choice of extension methods. Additionally, due to fragmented linkages between research and extension, extension workers are often providing farmers with the same information, technology, and knowledge.

Dr. Yemane emphasized the importance of informal cooperatives within an extension delivery system. To enhance the effectiveness of extension services, the training program must be revamped. There is a need for capacity building among both formal and informal cooperatives to enable them to contribute more effectively to development. Water User Associations (WUAs) should create and adhere to their own internal rules of procedure. It is crucial to provide capacity building to ensure that extension agents and researchers are fully aware of the transition to Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) and possess the necessary skills and knowledge to implement this new approach effectively. Agricultural extension activities that enhance market linkages are essential for increasing farmer benefits and improving their competitiveness.

Presenter 4. 

 Dr. Zerihun Nigussie's presentation was titled “Leveraging Innovation Platforms for Effective and Sustainable Watershed Management”. 

Dr. Zerihun emphasizes the significance of a watershed development approach for sustainable agricultural practices. According to Dr. Zerihun, effective watershed development requires the coordination and management of various stakeholders, users, and natural resources within a river basin. Currently, the approach to watershed development often relies on top-down technologies and methods, which limits the involvement of the user community in contributing their technologies and practices. 

To address this issue, a community learning platform is needed where diverse individuals can come together to identify problems and opportunities within a watershed. This platform would allow them to collaboratively develop strategies to achieve their goals and introduce discoveries and practices to the community. The fundamental idea behind a community learning platform is that different stakeholders depend on each other’s presence and resources to enhance their livelihoods and environmental conditions. Farmers always need a platform where they can learn, negotiate, and collaborate to address their challenges. This platform offers the opportunity to shift the agricultural sector's focus from merely transferring technology from producers or distributors to users to co-creating technology and practices in partnership with the users.

He also shared the experiences and success story of the Aba Gerima Self-Help Savings and Credit Association, which operates under the watershed approach framework.

3. Poster Session

There was also a poster presentation by Mr. Atalel Wubalem titled "Exploring the Determinants and Recursive Influences of Land Degradation and Climate Change Adaptation Technologies in Ethiopia: Evidence from a Recursive Multivariate Probit Model." Additionally, Mr. Belaynew Belete prepared a poster on "Mapping Urban Food Sources in Crisis-Affected Urban Areas: Evidence from Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia," and presented by Professor Amare Sewnet. Lastly, Mr. Yihalem Kebete discussed "Stakeholder Mapping for Effective Tourism Governance."

4. Closing Remark Session

Policy reforms addressing the existing shortcomings in land expropriation compensation models are crucial for fostering fairness and sustainability and implementing clear protocols for the assessment and valuation of ecosystem services before any land expropriation.

Additionally, both local and national governments should prioritize their budget allocations to support initiatives that enhance sustainable land use and protect essential ecosystem services, recognizing that these investments are critical for the health of the environment and the well-being of future generations.

Actively engaging with farmers, local government officials, and community organizations in meaningful discussions and feedback can lead to more equitable and effective solutions that reflect the diverse needs of the community. 

To maximize the impact of research findings, ongoing efforts to disseminate this knowledge to all relevant parties will ensure that the valuable insights generated reach those who can benefit from them. 

The event concluded successfully with engaging discussions and exchanges of ideas, culminating in a memorable group photo. Participants captured the moment, sharing valuable recommendations, insights, common concerns, and a commitment to future action that defined a truly remarkable experience.