Introduction

What is the BDU-IUC program all about?

The BDU-IUC program is trying to address environmental and socio-economic bottlenecks through joint research geared towards land, water, post-harvest loss management, and socio-economic aspects in northwestern Ethiopia, specifically in the Tana-Beles basin areas. Therefore, the program is targeted to contribute to the Climate Resilient Green Economy Strategy of the Ethiopian Government, which is the cornerstone of the Green Growth Strategy of the Ethiopian Government.

The first phase of the BDU-IUC program targeted capacity development in research and Ph.D. study outputs, empowering the entire university to design sustainable outreach activities to answer the community’s considerable challenges. In phase II, the BDU-IUC project, which was a program in phase I, additionally focuses on knowledge sharing and outreach practices to generate win-win situations that combine agricultural productivity increase with the enhancement of ecosystem services, such as regulation of water and sediment flows and carbon sequestration; and improvements of livelihoods, incomes, and food and fodder security. 

The project has been divided into six research sub-projects (RSPs) to accomplish the proposed objectives. The outcomes of the BDU-IUC subproject are well integrated with SGDs and meet the demands of the local community, the nation, and the local area. The proposed outreach activities will combine indigenous and scientific practices on community land and empower the local community to diversify their farms through integrated farming and sustainable soil and water practices. The success of the outreach activities may be dependent on the scientific knowledge generated in the first phase and the indigenous knowledge from the local community. Knowledge-sharing and outreach activities will be implemented at small-scale demo outreach sites at upstream, midstream, and downstream.

Objectives of the Programme (Phase I)

Academic objective: Train 17 PhD graduates and 7 pre-doctoral studies at the international level, 28 MSc at BDU from 22 departments/units of the university, and boost physical capacities of BDU through joint implementation of research projects (1. Transversal Institutional Strengthening (TISP), 2. Land Resilience, 3. Hydrology, 4. Postharvest and food processing, 5. Aquatic ecology and waterborne Diseases, and 6. Socio-economic development)

Development objective: Contribute to the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy in northwest Ethiopia through research that is geared towards the solution of bottlenecks related to environment, water, food security, health, and economic and social development.

Phase II Objectives

Academic objective: Train 15 PhD graduates at the international level and 21 MSc at BDU from 22 departments/units of the university and boost the physical capacities of BDU through joint implementation of research sub-projects (1. Transversal Institutional Strengthening (TISP), 2. Climate Resilience and Terrestrial Environment, 3. Water Management and the Hydrosystem, 4. Food production and Postharvest Technologies, 5. Aquatic ecology, and 6. Socio-economics, sustainable livelihood, and environmental management)

Development objective:

• Contribute to the Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy in northwest Ethiopia through research that is geared towards the solution of bottlenecks related to environment, water, food security, health, and economic and social development.
• Establishing living laboratories to test and refine knowledge and technology
• Dissemination of first-phase research findings through manuals/guidelines, brochures, and flyers.
• Organizing events to validate and disseminate promising research results
• Identifying and Working with potential stakeholders coordinately to maximize efficiency and boost outputs

Therefore, the BDU-IUC program has the following vision and mission statements:

Vision: BDU plays pivotal roles in addressing societal problems             

Mission: Boosting human and physical capacities of BDU to achieve excellence in research, teaching, and community services