DOCSLIB.ORG

Evaluation of Danish Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan 1992-98

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Evaluation of Danish Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan 1992-98 Evaluation of Danish Humanitarian Assistance to Sudan 1992-1998 Final Report Margaret Buchanan-Smith Steve Collins Christopher Dammers Fred Wekesa Joanna Macrae October 1999 Overseas Development Institute Portland House, Stag Place London, UK, SW1E 5DP. Tel: (+44)20 7393 1600. Fax: (+44)20 7393 1699. Email: <[email protected]> Website: <www.oneworld.org/odi/hpg/> ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Our thanks go to the numerous people who met with us and patiently answered our questions and requests for documentation. In particular, we would like to thank UNICEF, for hosting the team in Kenya and for facilitating the programme and travel to South Sudan. Particular thanks to Gillian Wilcox for all her help. The UNICEF office in Khartoum gave us persistent support in our efforts to obtain visas to travel to Khartoum. Special thanks to Mohammed Abdel Hameed, and to the UNICEF- Khartoum office for hosting Fred Wekesa and facilitating his programme and travel to Wau. We are extremely grateful to Birthe Nautrup and Pia Nielsen for their excellent support in Copenhagen, with documentation, translations, media searches, meeting arrangements and hospitality. Mark Bradbury and Joanna Macrae of the London-based Peer Review Group, provided excellent background briefings to the team, and feedback on our findings. The interaction with the Afghanistan team throughout, to cross-check findings and exchange information, was very valuable. Finally, a special thank-you to Kanwal Amara-Bangali for her unfailing support throughout, in so many ways, including all the administrative arrangements, collection of documentation and editing. iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................iii TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................v LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................. viii LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................ix GLOSSARY....................................................................................................................................x EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS................xiii 1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................1 2. METHODOLOGY..................................................................................................................3 2.1 Approach ................................................................................................................................. 3 2.2 Evaluation of the southern sector........................................................................................ 3 2.3 Evaluation of the northern sector........................................................................................ 3 2.4 Focus of the evaluation.......................................................................................................... 4 2.5 Sources of information .......................................................................................................... 5 2.6 Constraints............................................................................................................................... 5 2.7 Other evaluations.................................................................................................................... 5 3. OVERVIEW OF THE COMPLEX POLITICAL EMERGENCY IN SUDAN...... 13 4. OVERVIEW OF THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE............................................. 15 4.1 OLS......................................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 Outside OLS.......................................................................................................................... 16 5. OVERVIEW OF DANISH HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO SUDAN......... 17 5.1 Overall funding ..................................................................................................................... 17 5.2 Funding channels.................................................................................................................. 18 5.3 DANIDA’s decision-making mechanisms ....................................................................... 21 5.4 Relative significance of DANIDA funding ...................................................................... 22 6. APPROPRIATENESS OF AID CHANNELS................................................................ 25 6.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 25 6.2 DANIDA’s selection and funding of implementing partners ....................................... 25 6.3 UN agencies and OLS.......................................................................................................... 26 6.4 DANIDA’s NGO partners................................................................................................. 27 6.5 The Red Cross Movement .................................................................................................. 29 6.6 Issues for DANIDA ........................................................................................................... 30 7. NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND APPEALS: THE STARTING POINT OF A HUMANITARIAN OPERATION ........................................................................................ 33 7.1 Analysis and understanding of the long-term context .................................................... 33 7.2 Annual needs assessments and appeals: analysis and interpretation of information.. 33 v 8. COVERAGE .......................................................................................................................... 39 8.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 39 8.2 The impact of donor under-funding and resourcing ..................................................... 39 8.3 Standards of coverage......................................................................................................... 40 8.4 Security and negotiated access........................................................................................... 42 8.5 The coverage of DANIDA-funded programmes: an overview..................................... 43 8.6 Coverage of DANIDA-funded programmes: political and institutional dimensions44 8.7 Internally Displaced Persons...............................................................................................45 8.8 Issues and implications for DANIDA ............................................................................. 47 9. COORDINATION ............................................................................................................... 49 9.1 Introduction........................................................................................................................... 49 9.2 The coordination challenge.................................................................................................49 9.3 Strategic coordination ......................................................................................................... 50 9.4 Technical/programme coordination: northern sector .................................................... 54 9.5 Technical/programme coordination: southern sector .................................................... 54 9.6 Technical/programme coordination: issues for both sectors ........................................ 57 9.7 Funding constraints.............................................................................................................. 57 9.8 Issues for DANIDA ........................................................................................................... 58 10. CONNECTEDNESS.......................................................................................................... 61 10.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 61 10.2 Connectedness and the policy framework of OLS........................................................ 61 10.3 DANIDA’s policy framework and its application to Sudan........................................ 63 10.4 Approaches to connectedness: DANIDA’s implementing partners .......................... 64 10.5 Implications for DANIDA ............................................................................................... 66 11. APPROPRIATENESS OF THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE.......................... 67 11.1 Timeliness and efficiency................................................................................................... 67 11.2 Influence of the media....................................................................................................... 70 11.3 Appropriateness and relevance of relief assistance........................................................ 71 12. MONITORING AND EVALUATION......................................................................... 73 12.1 DANIDA ........................................................................................................................... 73 12.2 DANIDA’s partner agencies ...........................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Wetlands of the Nile Basin the Many Eco for Their Liveli This Chapt Distribution, Functions and Contribution to Contribution Livelihoods They Provide
    important role particular imp into wetlands budget (Sutch 11 in the Blue N icantly 1110difi Wetlands of the Nile Basin the many eco for their liveli This chapt Distribution, functions and contribution to contribution livelihoods they provide. activities, ane rainfall (i.e. 1 Lisa-Maria Rebelo and Matthew P McCartney climate chan: food securit; currently eX' arc under tb Key messages water resour support • Wetlands occur extensively across the Nile Basin and support the livelihoods ofmillions of related ;;ervi people. Despite their importance, there are big gaps in the knowledge about the current better evalu: status of these ecosystems, and how populations in the Nile use them. A better understand­ systematic I ing is needed on the ecosystem services provided by the difl:erent types of wetlands in the provide. Nile, and how these contribute to local livelihoods. • While many ofthe Nile's wetlands arc inextricably linked to agricultural production systems the basis for making decisions on the extent to which, and how, wetlands can be sustainably used for agriculture is weak. The Nile I: • Due to these infi)fl11atio!1 gaps, the future contribution of wetlands to agriculture is poorly the basin ( understood, and wetlands are otten overlooked in the Nile Basin discourse on water and both the E agriculture. While there is great potential for the further development of agriculture and marsh, fen, fisheries, in particular in the wetlands of Sudan and Ethiopia, at the same time many that is stat wetlands in the basin are threatened by poor management practices and populations. which at \, In order to ensure that the future use of wetlands for agriculture will result in net benefits (i.e.
    [Show full text]
  • Local History of Ethiopia Ma - Mezzo © Bernhard Lindahl (2008)
    Local History of Ethiopia Ma - Mezzo © Bernhard Lindahl (2008) ma, maa (O) why? HES37 Ma 1258'/3813' 2093 m, near Deresge 12/38 [Gz] HES37 Ma Abo (church) 1259'/3812' 2549 m 12/38 [Gz] JEH61 Maabai (plain) 12/40 [WO] HEM61 Maaga (Maago), see Mahago HEU35 Maago 2354 m 12/39 [LM WO] HEU71 Maajeraro (Ma'ajeraro) 1320'/3931' 2345 m, 13/39 [Gz] south of Mekele -- Maale language, an Omotic language spoken in the Bako-Gazer district -- Maale people, living at some distance to the north-west of the Konso HCC.. Maale (area), east of Jinka 05/36 [x] ?? Maana, east of Ankar in the north-west 12/37? [n] JEJ40 Maandita (area) 12/41 [WO] HFF31 Maaquddi, see Meakudi maar (T) honey HFC45 Maar (Amba Maar) 1401'/3706' 1151 m 14/37 [Gz] HEU62 Maara 1314'/3935' 1940 m 13/39 [Gu Gz] JEJ42 Maaru (area) 12/41 [WO] maass..: masara (O) castle, temple JEJ52 Maassarra (area) 12/41 [WO] Ma.., see also Me.. -- Mabaan (Burun), name of a small ethnic group, numbering 3,026 at one census, but about 23 only according to the 1994 census maber (Gurage) monthly Christian gathering where there is an orthodox church HET52 Maber 1312'/3838' 1996 m 13/38 [WO Gz] mabera: mabara (O) religious organization of a group of men or women JEC50 Mabera (area), cf Mebera 11/41 [WO] mabil: mebil (mäbil) (A) food, eatables -- Mabil, Mavil, name of a Mecha Oromo tribe HDR42 Mabil, see Koli, cf Mebel JEP96 Mabra 1330'/4116' 126 m, 13/41 [WO Gz] near the border of Eritrea, cf Mebera HEU91 Macalle, see Mekele JDK54 Macanis, see Makanissa HDM12 Macaniso, see Makaniso HES69 Macanna, see Makanna, and also Mekane Birhan HFF64 Macargot, see Makargot JER02 Macarra, see Makarra HES50 Macatat, see Makatat HDH78 Maccanissa, see Makanisa HDE04 Macchi, se Meki HFF02 Macden, see May Mekden (with sub-post office) macha (O) 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Annex a Eastern Nile Water Simulation Model
    Annex A Eastern Nile Water Simulation Model Hydrological boundary conditions 1206020-000-VEB-0017, 4 December 2012, draft Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Hydraulic infrastructure 3 2.1 River basins and hydraulic infrastructure 3 2.2 The Equatorial Lakes basin 3 2.3 White Nile from Mongalla to Sobat mouth 5 2.4 Baro-Akobo-Sobat0White Nile Sub-basin 5 2.4.1 Abay-Blue Nile Sub-basin 6 2.4.2 Tekeze-Setit-Atbara Sub-basin 7 2.4.3 Main Nile Sub-basin 7 2.5 Hydrological characteristics 8 2.5.1 Rainfall and evaporation 8 2.5.2 River flows 10 2.5.3 Key hydrological stations 17 3 Database for ENWSM 19 3.1 General 19 3.2 Data availability 19 3.3 Basin areas 20 4 Rainfall and effective rainfall 23 4.1 Data sources 23 4.2 Extension of rainfall series 23 4.3 Effective rainfall 24 4.4 Overview of average monthly and annual rainfall and effective rainfall 25 5 Evaporation 31 5.1 Reference evapotranspiration 31 5.1.1 Penman-Montheith equation 32 5.1.2 Aerodynamic resistance ra 32 5.1.3 ‘Bulk’ surface resistance rs 33 5.1.4 Coefficient of vapour term 34 5.1.5 Net energy term 34 5.2 ET0 in the basins 35 5.2.1 Baro-Akobo-Sobat-White Nile 35 5.2.2 Abay-Blue Nile 36 5.2.3 Tekeze-Setit-Atbara 37 5.3 Open water evaporation 39 5.4 Open water evaporation relative to the refrence evapotranspiration 40 5.5 Overview of applied evapo(transpi)ration values 42 6 River flows 47 6.1 General 47 6.2 Baro-Akobo-Sobat-White Nile sub-basin 47 6.2.1 Baro at Gambela 47 Annex A Eastern Nile Water Simulation Model i 1206020-000-VEB-0017, 4 December 2012, draft 6.2.2 Baro upstream
    [Show full text]
  • Ministry of Water Resources Water Sector Development Program
    Volume I 1 Executive Summary FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES WATER SECTOR DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM MAIN REPORT VOLUME I OCTOBER 2002 Volume I 2 Executive Summary 1. Context and Background 1.1 Physical Features of the Socio-economic Context Ethiopia is naturally endowed with water resources that could easily satisfy its domestic requirements for irrigation and hydropower, if sufficient financial resources were made available. The geographical location of Ethiopia and its favorable climate provide a relatively high amount of rainfall for the sub- Saharan African region. Annual surface runoff, excluding groundwater, is estimated to be about 122 billion m³ of water. Groundwater resources are estimated to be around 2.6 billion m³. Ethiopia is also blessed with major rivers, although between 80 and 90 per cent of the water resources are found in the 4 river basins of Abay (Blue Nile), Tekeze, Baro Akobo, and Omo Gibe in western parts of Ethiopia where no more than 30 to 40 per cent of Ethiopia’s population live. The country has about 3.7 million hectares of potentially irrigable land, over which 75,000 ha of large-scale and 72,000 ha of small-scale irrigation schemes had been developed by 1996. Also by that year, the water supply system had been extended to only 1 quarter of the total population to provide clean water for domestic use. Of the hydropower potential of more than 135,000 GWh per year, perhaps only 1 per cent so far has been exploited. Close to 30 million Ethiopians of a total population of about 64 million live in absolute poverty.
    [Show full text]
  • Marking Nuer Histories
    Marking Nuer Histories Gender, Gerontocracy, and the Politics of Inclusion in the Upper Nile from 1400 – 1931 By Noel Stringham Department of History University of Virgnia 1 February 2016 0 Table of Contents Table of Contents Page 1 Dating System Table of Historical Age-Sets/Marriage-Sets Page 2 List of Maps Page 4 Orthographies, Spellings, and Translations Page 5 Acknowledgements Page 8 Introduction Marking the Past: Page 10 Indigenous Epistemologies of History, “the Nuer”, and Africanist Historians Chapter 1 History as Exogamous Kinship: Page 33 Agro-Pastoralist Mobility, Pulling Teeth, and Ethnogenesis After 1400 Chapter 2 Marking Marriageability: Page 76 Reconstructing a Gendered History of the Era of “Turning-Hearts (1790s – 1828) Chapter 3 Marking Costly Assimilations Page 110 Loosing Battles, Recruiting Bachelors, and Erosion of Moral Community (1828 – 1860s) Chapter 4 Marking the Prophet’s Rod: Page 154 From Chaos to Syncretistic Community (1870s – 1896) Chapter 5 Marking Militarization: Page 196 From the Prophet’s Rod to Firearms on the Abyssinian Frontier (1896 – 1920s) Conclusion History as Additive: Page 245 Achieving and Archiving Change through Combination and Accumulation Bibliography Page 253 1 Table of Historic Age-Sets / Marriageability-Sets Cohorts of the Eastern Jikäny and other nei ti naath until 2003 Ric (thok naath) Age-Set / Marriage-Set Name (English) Initiation Date - Early Sets (Bul and Jikäny) 1 – Riɛk 2 Alter Pole Unknown Jɔk 3 Earth-Spirit / Disease Unknown - Sets with Gaar (Jikäny, Lak, Thiaŋ, Jagɛi, Lɔu,
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental & Ecological Assessment of the Sobat River
    Environmental & Ecological Assessment of the Sobat River Fisheries States Government. Upper Nile and Jonglei States, South Sudan Government. South Sudan Transition and Conflict Mitigation Program (SSTCM) September 15, 2013 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It was prepared by Norbert Rottcher, a consultant for the South Sudan Transition and Conflict Mitigation Program. Some additional inputs were contributed by the SSTCM senior management. DISCLAIMER The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. 1 CONTENTS Executive Summary .............................................................................................................................. 4 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 4 Fisheries Ecologist Consultancy: Scope of Work, Access and Methodology ..................... 5 Overview of the Sobat River Basin: Nomenclature, Physical Characteristics and Hydrology................................................................................................................................................. 6 Demographics of the Survey Area ................................................................................................... 7 Livelihood Security and Food Economy; Recent Changes Thereof ...................................
    [Show full text]
  • 4.2. Gambella and the Baro-Akobo River Basin ...19
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by Lund University Publications - Student Papers Master of Science in International Development and Management August 2014 Rush for the ‘blue gold’ The governance of agricultural investments influencing the socio-ecological system of the Gambella region, Ethiopia Source: the Author Author: Kata Molnar Supervisor: Tobias Axelsson Kata Molnar 18.08.2014. LUMID: MSc thesis Abstract This paper presents a case study from the Gambella region of Ethiopia, where large-scale land concessions shape the resource system and necessitate adoption of new institutions. Private investors are free from water charges, and have the right to take over already built irrigation structures such as dams or main canals. The Alwero river in Gambella, located in the Baro- Akobo river basin, is one of the key sources of water for indigenous rural communities who practice fishing, pastoralism and shifting cultivation agriculture. New water users are increasing in number, one of them being Saudi Star Agricultural Development Plc., who is currently developing a rice plantation on 10,000 hectare along the river. There are no environmental controls or limits established on the company’s water use. Neither are there any mechanisms for monitoring the effects of increasing water use on users, the Duma wetland, and the wildlife. The adoption of a comprehensive land use and river basin plan would be important to avoid the escalation of resource conflicts and for the future development of the region. The analysis looked into how the governance of water and land resource allocation for agricultural investment challenges and influences the complex social and ecological system in Gambella.
    [Show full text]
  • The Development of the Baro-Akobo-Sobat Sub Basin And
    The Development of the Baro-Akobo-Sobat sub basin and its Impact on Downstream Nile Basin Countries Tahani Moustafa Sileet1, Mohamed El Shamy2, Mohammed Abdel Aty3 & Dr. Abbas Mohamed Sharaky4 1 Senior Engineer, Nile Water Sector, MWRI, Egypt 2 Regional Water Resources Modeller, Nile Basin Initiative Secretariat, Entebbe, Uganda 3 Former Chairman, Nile Water Sector, MWRI, Egypt 4Associate Professor Department of Natural Resources, Institute of African Research and Studies, Cairo University, Egypt Abstract The Nile Basin, due to its size and varying climate, hydrology, topography and demography, constitutes one of the most complex and unique river basins. A great number of water resources development projects are being under planning and implementation phase on both national and transboundary levels in order to respond to rapid population growth, climate change impact, urbanization, industrialization, economic and food crises on both global and regional levels. The Baro- Akobo-Sobat sub basin is considered one of the most promising regions in the Eastern Nile Sub-basin and a number of water resources development projects are being planned for this purpose: TAMS Dam, Birbir A and Birbir R Dams, Baro-1 and Baro-2 Dams, Geba-A and Geba-R dams for hydropower production, Itang Irr Scheme, Gilo-2 Dam and Irr Scheme, , Dumbong Dam and Irr Scheme, Genji Scheme (Hydropower). The main objective of this study is to assess the positive and negative impacts of these projects on both national and regional levels. Different assumptions and approaches in proposed dams operation rules and irrigation schemes are used in order to reach an optimal solution for an integrated development of the sub basin while minimizing the negative impact on the basin level downstream.
    [Show full text]
  • Conflict Trends, Issue 3 (2013)
    IS S U E 3 , 2 0 1 3 Celebrating Nelson Mandela’s Legacy 20 YEARS OF CONTRIBUTING TO PEACE contents EDITORIAL 2 by Vasu Gounden FEATURES 3 The Other Side of Drones: Saving Wildlife in Africa and Managing Global Crime by Johan Bergenas, Rachel Stohl and Alexander Georgieff 10 At the Crossroads: Understanding Egypt’s Faltering Transition by Hazel Haddon 16 Rethinking the Tuareg Factor in the Mali Crisis by David Zounmenou 24 Inter-ethnic Conflict in South Sudan: A Challenge to Peace by Lukong Stella Shulika and Nwabufo Okeke-Uzodike 31 Exploring the Nexus between Ethnicity and Terrorism in Africa by Hussein Solomon 38 Celebrating Nelson Mandela’s Legacy: A Colloquium on Diversity, Cohesion and Integration by Buntu Siwisa 44 Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment through Political Parties: Africa’s Record in Democracy-building by Victor Shale 50 Decentralising Liberia’s Security Sector: The Role of Non- governmental Actors in Justice and Security Delivery by Trine Nikolaisen COVeR piCTURe: ReUTeRS / THe BiGGeR piCTURe conflict trends I 1 editorial By vasu gounden “Syria has become the great tragedy of the century – weapons, including weapons of mass destruction and a disgraceful humanitarian calamity with suffering and chemical weapons. The human costs will be devastating displacement unparalleled in recent history.” These words and the financial costs to the region and global economy were spoken by António Guterres, the United Nations High will be high. Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Guterres stated this This will not be the first time that the world will following the release of a UNHCR report indicating that the experience war with such devastating consequences.
    [Show full text]
  • Ethiopia and the Nile Dilemmas of National and Regional Hydropolitics
    Research Collection Doctoral Thesis Ethiopia and the Nile Dilemmas of national and regional hydropolitics Author(s): Arsano, Yacob Publication Date: 2007 Permanent Link: https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-a-005380361 Rights / License: In Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Permitted This page was generated automatically upon download from the ETH Zurich Research Collection. For more information please consult the Terms of use. ETH Library Yacob Arsano Ethiopia and the Nile Dilemmas of National and Regional Hydropolitics © 2007, ETH Zurich and Yacob Arsano Center for Security Studies, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich ETH Zentrum SEI, Seilergraben 49, CH-8092-Zurich, Switzerland. Tel. ++41 (0)44 632 40 25 Fax ++41 (0)44 632 19 41 www.css.ethz.ch Author contact Yacob Arsano, Addis Ababa University, Department of Political Sciences and International Relations, Email: [email protected] Fulltext online available at www.isn.ethz.ch All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the prior written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Cover-Photo Tis Isat Falls / Blue Nile Falls by Torleif Svensson Layout and graphics Fabian Furter Fonts Adobe Caslon Pro News Gothic Std. (Cover) ISBN 3-905696-14-2 Ethiopia and the Nile Dilemmas of National and Regional Hydropolitics Thesis presented to the Faculty of Arts of the University of Zurich for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Yacob Arsano of Ethiopia Accepted in the summer semester on the recommendation of Prof. Dr. Andreas Wenger and Prof.
    [Show full text]
  • Agwater Solutions Project Case Study
    AgWater Solutions Project Case Study Agricultural Use of Ground Water in Ethiopia: Assessment of Potential and Analysis of Economics, Policies, Constraints and Opportunities Semu Moges Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia September, 2012 Acknowledgment The authors and project partners wish to thank the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the generous grant that made this project possible. The AWM Project The AgWater Solutions project was implemented in five countries in Africa and two states in India between 2008 and 2012. The objective of the project was to identify investment options and opportunities in agricultural water management with the greatest potential to improve incomes and food security for poor farmers, and to develop tools and recommendations for stakeholders in the sector including policymakers, investors, NGOs and small-scale farmers. The leading implementing institutions were the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Development Enterprises (iDE) and CH2MHill. For more information on the project or detailed reports please visit the project website http://awm-solutions.iwmi.org/home-page.aspx . Disclaimers This report is based on research funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The findings and conclusions contained within are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect positions or policies of the project, its partners or the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Copyright © 2012, by IWMI. All rights reserved. IWMI encourages the use of its material provided that the organization is acknowledged and kept informed in all such instances. i Contents Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Case of Baro-Akobo River Basin, Ethiopia
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE): E-Journals Journal of Environment and Earth Science www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) Vol.6, No.1, 2016 Groundwater Recharge under Changing Landuses and Climate Variability: The Case of Baro-Akobo River Basin, Ethiopia Taye Alemayehu 1* Seifu Kebede 2 Lanbo Liu 3 Dese Nedaw 2 1. Ethiopian Institute of Water Resources, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2. School of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Connecticut Abstract Impacts of landuse/landcover changes coupled with climate variability are well felt in areas of pristine environments like the dominantly high rainforest covered Baro-Akobo river basin of Ethiopia that form the Sobbat River system. Recharge is one of the hydrologic components to be influenced by induced anthropogenic changes. Quantifying and understanding changes in recharge and related hydrologic parameters help to properly manage the water resources and protect such vulnerable hydro-ecosystems. Among the various recharge estimation methods, WetSpass model is used for its capability to estimate recharge by coupling surface- subsurface water balances. It is also used to simulate yearly or seasonal averages of groundwater recharge, evapotranspiration and runoff that help to understand the basin’s hydro ecosystems dynamics. Modeling is done for the entire river basin of Baro-Akobo, taking into account landuse/landcover changes, varying climate and other physical parameters over the past four decades. Simulation results are validated using previous estimates, empirical methods using data from monitoring wells and isotope measurements.
    [Show full text]