Excerpts From Ecb3 Ethiopia DRR Pilot Projects

Table of Contents
Review of Disaster Risk Reduction Practices in Ethiopia: the Experience of the

Interagency Working Group …………………………………………….. 2
Executive summary …………………………………………….. 3

Findings: Major Issues and Challenges …………………………………………….. 4
Lessons Learned …………………………………………….. 6
Recommendations …………………………………………….. 8
Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in East and West Hararghe:

Mercy Corps, CARE, CRS …………………………………………….. 10
Executive summary …………………………………………….. 11

Lessons and Concluding Remarks …………………………………………….. 14
Summary …………………………………………….. 18
Flood Risk Mitigation in East Hararhge Zone, Dire Dawa Administrative

Council and Shinile Zone …………………………………………….. 20
Executive Summary …………………………………………….. 21

Haramaya and Kersa – East Hararghe …………………………………………….. 22
Dire Dawa administrative Council …………………………………………….. 23
Aysha Woreda, Shinile Zone …………………………………………….. 26
Conclusion and
overall Recommendations …………………………………………….. 27-28
Acknowledgements
The ECB3 project and its associates would like to acknowledge the many individuals and
institutions whose contributions are incorporated throughout the pages of this document.
The materials appearing in this document, pulled from three reports commissioned by Save the
Children, Mercy Corps and CRS, are based on consultancy studies conducted by the Association
for Disaster Studies and Management (ADSaM), Tropical consults, and two free lance
consultants, respectively.
Valuable contributions were made by the staff of the Interagency Working Group (IWG) agencies
and their partners, individuals and institutions, who participated on the debriefing meetings with
the consultants.
The production of this excerpt was made possible through funding provided to the ECB Project
by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the agencies.
Introduction
The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) Project is an endeavor of the Interagency Working Group
(IWG) on Emergency Capacity. The IWG is an ad-hoc consultative membership of seven non-
governmental organizations engaged in global humanitarian relief and development: CARE, CRS,
IRC, Mercy Corps, Oxfam-GB, Save the Children US (SC-US), and World Vision International
(WV).
The Disaster Risk Reduction initiative of this project (ECB3), which strives to improve capacity
for disaster risk reduction among the IWG agencies and their local partners, has been operational
in Ethiopia since September 2005 and has been undertaking various activities under three major
components one of which is to design or identify and test models and promising practices for
disaster risk reduction. To this end, ECB3 has been working on documentation of good/promising
practices of the IWG agencies which is complemented by a similar study conducted by
Oxfam GB.
In addition, in collaboration with Mercy Corps Ethiopia and CRS, the project carried out two
studies – DRR strategies employed in MC, CARE, and CRS’ operational areas in East and West
Hararghe and, flood risk mitigation in East Haraghe, Dire Dawa and Shinile to look at the causes
and patterns of flooding, and local coping strategies and mitigation practices.
The purpose of this excerpt is to review and highlight good or promising practices in disaster risk
reduction from past or current development and humanitarian programs that employed DRR
principles, though they were not carried out as standalone DRR projects. It is taken out from the
final reports of the studies with due emphasis on relaying the most pertinent and concise
information on DRR practices contained there in. Lessons and summary of recommendations
have also been included for a complete picture. However, individuals interested on the whole
document, need to contact the respective agencies at the addresses given on each section.
Excerpts from ECB3 Ethiopia … Pilot Studies in Disaster Risk Reduction practices and lessons 1
Review of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
Practices in Ethiopia
The Experiences of the Interagency Working Group
Association for Disaster Studies and Management (ADSAM)
In Partnership with: Save the Children USA
This excerpt is taken from a report produced by the Emergency Capacity Building Project of Save
the Children USA, Ethiopia Country Office based on a study conducted among four of the seven IWG
agencies in Ethiopia. The whole document can be obtained from SC-US at the address below.
Save the Children USA / Ethiopia Country Office

Teklu Wodajo, 251-011-372 8455
PO Box 387, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, twodajo@savechildren.org.et
Executive Summary
Disaster risks and the means of reducing its effects have long been a real concern, not only to
Ethiopia, but to the world at large. Reports coming out from various agencies show that some 75%-
85% of the world’s population living in disaster prone areas has at least been affected once by
earthquake, tropical cyclone, flood or drought between the years 1980 and 2005. Ethiopia is one
among the community of such nations exposed to intermittent flooding and drought induced
disasters that exasperate vulnerability of the poorer section of the population.
According to UNDP 2004 global report, African States are referred to as having the highest
vulnerability to drought and various other shocks. Several field assessments strongly show
evidences that droughts translate themselves into famine mediated by primarily armed conflict,
internal displacement, HIV/AIDS, poor governance and economic crises. As natural disaster risks are
intimately connected to processes of human activities, the development choices made by
individuals, communities and nations do also generate new disaster risk.
This DRR study was instigated by the Emergency Capacity Building (ECB3) Project to solicit the
collective knowledge and experiences of members of the Interagency Working Group (IWG)
composed of Save the Children US, World Vision International, Catholic Relief Services, International
Rescue Committee and utilize the product as an input towards strengthening Disaster Risk
Reduction systems with the ultimate goal of bringing about sustainable and unhindered development
in Ethiopia.
The review intends to explore and document IWG agencies’ good or promising practices, challenges
and the lessons learned in the process of their program development and implementations. It also
involves review and analysis of policies on DRR, conceptual framework and adoption of
recommended models derived from past experiences. This DRR review is an extension of and
supplementary to the recent exercise undertaken by Oxfam GB on Community Based Risk
Management (CBRM) in collaboration with the Association of Disaster Studies and Management
(ADSaM).
Findings: Major Issues and Challenges
The review of the DRR practices of the four IWG member NGOs, namely, SC US, WVE, IRC, and CRS
the state of policy instruments in Ethiopia showed that in as much as there are noble and
imaginative starts and hopes major challenges continue to abound.
The team started the review exercise by providing the DRR conceptual framework and forwarded a
sample model in order to anchor its analysis of experiences in Ethiopia on a firm theoretical ground.
It has also attempted to provide analysis on the link between DRR and Development and a brief
overview on the current government policy, poverty reduction instruments and institutional
arrangements in Ethiopia. Seven Program and Project cases were reviewed and analyzed against a
standard DRR planning process.
The overall findings show that there are recorded achievements in disaster risk identifications,
improving the livelihoods of communities and a gradual understanding and appreciation of DRR
issues in Ethiopia. It was found out that DRR approaches applied by the four reviewed agencies have
some similarities in as much as they have differences in the way they conceive and understand DRR
and in their management styles and commonalities in the fact that all do not anchor their DRR
approach on a conceptual understanding and adoption of a model that guides their intervention
towards helping the affected communities to resilience.
4 Excerpts from ECB3 Ethiopia … Pilot Studies in Disaster Risk Reduction practices and lessons
There are also challenges/ gaps shared by all the reviewed NGOs. The major ones are:
- A visible gap in defining terms, developing conceptual framework of DRR and adopting models
that guide interventions.
- Disaster risk reduction laws, institutions, plans, programs and processes do not seem to
anticipate changes and adapt to new circumstances, knowledge demands and conditions.
- Relatively good policies, systems, plans, or regulations are in place but seem to be ignored, or
make little impact on DRR practices. For policies to make an impact they must be constantly
taken into account in routine decision-making and must be institutionalized (legislated and
integrated into the laws, practices, and customs of the society).
- Coordination and cooperation among government and non-governmental organizations is not

strengthened to the desired level to enable the integration of DRR into development planning.
Functions and responsibilities do not seem to be formalized and accepted by all involved entities.
Dealing with environmental pollution: the experience of Oxfam during the 2002 drought crisis.
- In Ethiopia, there is currently a drive toward devolution of powers, authorities and responsibilities
from higher levels of government to lower levels of administration. However, local governments
particularly in the pastoral areas do not yet possess adequate resources, expertise, and the
essential capacity.
- There is an absence of constituencies and little integration of DRR in all sectors of government
and civil society that should be addressed through capacity building, community-based disaster
management, and public awareness and social marketing.
- Approaches organizations adopt in risk reduction management are different. Each of them adopts
approaches taken from different sources and situations. This is not a problem per se. The real
challenge is the fact that there is little information exchange and networking between the
agencies which sometimes is aggravated by donor pressure and fund accessing drive of
agencies.
- There are gaps in properly approaching the community through existing traditions, culture,
knowledge and local capacities and enable them choose their development options. Using local
knowledge to improve DRR is yet to be developed.
Lessons Learned
Key lessons that emerged from the exercise are:
l Conceptual clarity about disasters, risks and their link with overall development of a country is
essential to effectively reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience of communities.
l Community participation builds up confidence to enable them make a difference and acquire
capabilities in pursue disaster preparedness and development responsibilities at the local level.
This leads to empowerment.
l Community involvement in disaster risk assessment, management and reduction leads to

ownership, commitment and concerted actions towards disaster mitigation, including resource
mobilization; cost effectiveness, uplifting the spirits of self-help and sustainability.
l Traditional methods of early warning and resources management should always be given due
attention in designing and implementing any development and/or relief activities. Any DRR
intervention particularly with regard to environmental rehabilitation, livestock, water and
rangeland development should be strengthened and designed in line with existing traditional
systems.
l The reclamation of degraded areas should be a necessary part of any program desiring to improve
agricultural production and livelihoods in the drought prone areas where so many of the food
insecure population live.
l The new approach adopted to land rehabilitation which combines physical soil and water
conservation structures with biological measures have a noticeable impact even in a few years
in reducing the rates of soil erosion and increasing water retention in the soils and water
availability in drought prone areas.
l Forecasting on the links with the private sector could ensure viability of projects like for instance
the marketability of cash crops produced through WV projects before committing resources to
its cultivation. Abundance may not some time be the only way out from the traps of food
insecurity.
l Gathering population data during baseline study to launch a project shouldn’t stop at the current
figures. It should project the potential rate of annual increase and factor the implications into the
size of the project planning process. Attraction factors of projects must also be considered and
hedging mechanism should be put in place.
l More vigorous and systematic approach is required in conducting community participation to

remove suspicion and ensure successes of DRR projects. For this, carefully identifying cultural
contexts and identities of communities and having very clear knowledge on the local socio-
political and cultural history before soliciting ideas is crucial.
Recommendations
Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Reduction into Development endeavors: disasters are unresolved
development problems that occur when risks go unmanaged. Disasters such as floods, landslides,
drought, and earthquakes tend to be viewed in isolation by development planners as a humanitarian
issue to which ad hoc responses are only made in the form of immediate relief.
The review recommends a departure from such traditional thinking. Mainstreaming of disaster
reduction into development and post-disaster recovery should become an essential component in
for sustainable human and physical development.
Standardization and Coordination: Disaster risk reduction should be the central element in future or
ongoing development policy. This calls for a standardized approach and collaboration between
government and other development agencies responsible for development planning.
Decentralized disaster risk planning strategies: This approach empowers communities and opens
the window for local participation. The most vulnerable societies are often those most excluded from
community decision-making and in many cases this includes women. Enabling participation in these
circumstances requires a long term commitment to social development as part of vulnerability
reduction programs.
Establishment of Information and Knowledge Network/ Disaster Risk Reduction Information

Platform/: It is high time to establish Disaster Risk Reduction Information Platform at national,
regional and woreda levels : The objectives of such platform would be to promote a nationwide
culture of risk reduction by providing access to knowledge, experience and effective practices for
disaster risk management and its increased application (i.e. availability and utility) of public
administration policy, professional involvement, commercial engagement, and public understanding
to reduce the impact of future disaster on societies. To this end, the following implementing
objectives are needed:
l To promote collaboration and information sharing.
l To motivate a knowledge network and user-based services.
l To increase public awareness
l To identify gaps in information usage and to disseminate information according to a

comprehensive communication strategy, distributing relevant and accurate information on risk
reduction and educational material through multiple means, including the use of freely
available web-based portals.
This will have the added value of enabling useful information sharing; linkage to reliable information
sources, and contributes to the identification of lessons learned and good practices and harmonizing
approaches for disaster risk reduction and related management activities in Ethiopia.
GOOD PRACTICES OF DISASTER RISK
REDUCTION STRATEGIES IN
EAST AND WEST HARARGHE, ETHIOPIA
MERCY CORPS
CARE and CRS
This excerpt is taken from a report produced by Mercy Corps Ethiopia based on a study conducted
in the two zones in Eastern Ethiopia. The whole document can be obtained from Mercy Corps at the
address below.
Mercy Corps Ethiopia

Tom Hensleigh
251-011-416-9337, PO Box 14319, Addis Ababa
E-mail: thensleigh@ethionet.et
kerkos K/Ketema, Kebele 08/09 House No 336
Executive Summary
The Emergency Capacity Building (ECB) project aims to combine the collective knowledge and
experiences of the Interagency Working Group (IWG) to improve the speed, quality and
effectiveness of emergency responses. The project encompasses four initiatives, one of which is
Disaster Risk reduction (DRR). ECB3 Ethiopia was initiated as a pilot project to focus on Disaster
Risk Reduction. Documentation of past experiences and learning from local communities of the
project areas of IWG was identified to be one of the activities of ECB3. One of these activities was
the DRR Strategy in operational areas of CARE, CRS and Mercy Corps in West Hararghe and East
Hararghe Zones. This document is a report produced by a consultant on this assignment to review
and document the DRR strategies employed by these agencies in their operational areas in the two
Zones. The report is based on information gathered from document review, the field and the Addis
offices of the three IWG members, pertinent government offices and principally the community, in a
qualitative participatory approach.
The study area is characterized by, among others, mixed farming dominated by crop husbandry,
rugged topography, degraded natural resource bases, high population pressure with almost all
adolescent and adult members of the community addicted to chat and cigarettes, and chronic food
insecurity related to poor climate. In these two Zones, in most cases, the principal and most frequent
hazards that easily lead to disasters have been related to an undesirable change in elements of the
climate. Others, like social conflicts, outbreak of livestock and human diseases and crop pests, and
floods are also reported. Poor performance of the rains, including delayed onset, erratic, uneven
and/or inadequate distribution, and early termination, have been frequent and severe, especially over
the last two decades. These disasters have been instigated or escalated by a number of factors,
including unchecked population growth, unwise livelihood strategies and unwise behaviours.
CRS, CARE and Mercy Corps are NGOs operating in the two Zones. CRS started operating in Ethiopia
in 1958, and has been intervening through its partners such as the Hararghe Catholic Secretariat
(HCS), recently reorganized as the Social and Development Coordination Office of Hararghe. In
Hararghe, these partners have designed and accomplished programs that include: the Multi-Year
Operational Plan; Development Activity Proposal (DAP) I, DAP II and the Productive Safety Net
Program (PSNP)/Biruh Tesfa. Likewise, CARE has been operating in Hararghe since 1985, when it
started emergency operations and has been working on relief rehabilitation and development-related
intervention through programs and projects such as Relief to Development Program, DAP I, DAP II,
MICAH, EOS, REVIVE and the currently ongoing HIBRET/PSNP. Mercy Corps started intervention in
Ethiopia and in West Hararghe in 2004, in response to the 2003 disaster and has been working on
activities related to livestock health and feed, and livelihood strengthening activities.
A number of agencies have been responding to the disasters in the area in different ways. Almost
all NGOs that once operated or are still operating in the area started in response to emergency.
CARE, HCS, EECMY/LWF, CISP, ICRC, MfM, Oxfam GB, GOAL and DPPC (using resources obtained
from sources such as the EC, WFP and USAID) have regularly responded to disasters. Responses
have also been made in the areas of therapeutic feeding, water development and rehabilitation of
victims. The launch of the PSNP, including almost all of the districts of the two Zones, is the recent
response to the chronic disaster. Apart from some irregular arrangements, a forum to enable
practitioners to synchronize their relief, rehabilitation and development activities coherently has not
been in place.
Even though none of the three NGOs has designed and implemented a specific program as part of a
strategy that they have called DRR, they have accomplished commendable activities in terms of
prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response:
l Prevention and mitigation - activities undertaken by Mercy Corps and the others in the area of
livestock health and feed, the Integrated Watershed Management approach designed and
implemented by CRS and CARE, activities undertaken by CARE and CRS in relation to crop
husbandry like crop introduction and diversification, integrated pest management, and irrigation,
activities accomplished by CRS and CARE in terms of infrastructures and social services like
roads, community health services, and water development, CARE’s and CRS’ rehabilitation and
conservation of natural resources, activities undertaken by all three agencies in income
generation and behavioural change.
l Preparedness and response - roles played by CRS and CARE in relation to early warning,
construction of access roads and food stores, distribution of relief and rehabilitation resources,
and capacity building.
Considering the duration and severity of the problem the people have experienced, one might expect
that they have developed and broadly used their own disaster risk management strategies.
However, due to reasons principally related to tradition, socio-cultural set-up, the way in which
responses of outsiders have been made, and other related variables like education and exposures,
this has barely happened. Their practice is limited to exercising traditional risk minimization and risk
diversification activities in crop and livestock husbandry. They have also been involved in the
resettlement program and activities undertaken by GOs and NGOs in relation to disaster risk
management.
Interventions undertaken in relation to disaster risk reduction have faced challenges, including
frequent and high staff turnover and structural change in government offices, wrong expectations by
the people, lack of continuity of interventions, limited coverage, inadequate response and limited
activities of the NGOs, lack of sustainability of achievements, absence of work on social conflict,
and lack of work on education and behavioural change.
Finally, a number of points were identified and are presented as lessons for future possible
interventions that could be undertaken in this area or more broadly. These include the added value
of an Integrated Watershed Management approach; the added value of household-based natural
resource rehabilitation, conservation and management; the need for community level sensitization
and awareness creation regarding the root causes of disaster and their possible reduction
strategies; the importance and added value of diversification of activities, and hence sources of
income of the vulnerable households; the importance and immediate impact of crop diversification
and irrigation development together with the required software components, especially high value
crops; the possibility of capitalizing on the past and ongoing activities of these agencies for
development of DRR strategies; the desirable effect of combining health, nutrition, capacity building
and awareness creation interventions in relation to livestock husbandry; the need for and importance
of promoting saving and credit groups and working on changing the behaviour and attitudes of
people in terms of resource management and utilization; sustained values of infrastructure like
roads; and the need for promoting the concept and approach of a DRR strategy.
Lessons and Concluding Remarks
By this assessment, in response to concerns of the TOR prepared for the same, attempt is made to
identify and present factors causing disasters in the area and immediate and long-term
consequences of the disasters and their broader implications. Attempt is also made to briefly
describe the presence and program portfolio of CARE, CRS and Mercy Corps. As much as possible,
it is also attempted to identify and characterize activities accomplished by this organizations in the
two Zones directly or through their partners vis-à-vis the disasters the people have been facing.
Responses made to disaster in the area and their coherences are also assessed. Further, some of
the gaps manifested in general and in the course of interventions of these NGOs are also identified.
Based on these, the following points are identified as lessons learned and for consideration in future
possible interventions that could be undertaken in this specific area or at the macro level.
Considering the fact that none of these three NGOs have designed DRR Strategy related project, the
activities they accomplished in the course of responding to emergencies and rehabilitating the
victims are found to be good examples for the different strategies of disaster risk management.
However, they have been limited principally by inadequate resource that forced them to work in
limited kebeles and on limited activities, hence their contribution to tackling the root causes of the
disasters has not been significant. This could indicate to the NGOs and their donors the importance
of giving due consideration to sustainable prevention of disaster risks.
Commendable activities have been accomplished by the three NGOs in terms of prevention,
mitigation, preparedness and response in the areas of livestock husbandry, integrated development
approach, crop husbandry, infrastructure and social service development, rehabilitation and
conservation of natural resources, income generation and behavioural change, early warning works,
access roads and food stores, relief and rehabilitation, and capacity building. From accomplishments
and achievements of these activities, the following are clear.
l Experiences and achievements from these NGOs and elsewhere in the country indicate that, not
withstanding the fact that it demands huge resource, integrated development approaches like the
Integrated Watershed Management approach have better sustainable impact in terms of disaster
prevention and mitigation and overall development.
l Rehabilitation and conservation of the natural resource base of areas affected by drought is the
basic and long-term means of disaster risk reduction.
l There is a felt need for awareness creation and capacity building interventions within the
community so that they can correctly understand the root causes and be able to actively
participate on community based DRR programs.
l Diversifying income activities of the frequently affected households, is identified as among the
best DRR strategies.
l From the assessment, diversification of the crop husbandry through measures like introduction
and promotion of varieties of the existing crops that are early maturing, drought resistant, disease
and pest resistant and more productive, and introduction of crops new to the area like types of
vegetables, fruits and oil seeds are determined to have immediate and sustainable impact in
terms of disaster prevention and building resiliency of the people.
l Also related to crop husbandry, where the potential is available, irrigation development using
surface or underground water is identified to be the other sustainable solution that would also
have immediate impact. The impact and sustainability would be high if the physical development
is accompanied with the required software components like organizing the beneficiaries, linking
them to input-output markets and equipping them with the required skill and knowledge.
l Practices of these NGOs have shown that successful DRR strategies could be designed in the
area of livestock husbandry. It is possible to mitigate and prevent disasters related to this sub-
sector through interventions like vaccination, treatment, and development of household level
indigenous fodder plants, and water. Combining these with awareness creation and capacity
building interventions is also identified to result in more effective and more sustainable
strategies.
l Undesirable working culture is the other point. Efforts made by these NGOs like organizing the
people into saving and credit groups indicate that systematic work on this issue, including
awareness raising intervention aimed at behavioural change, can result in significant and
immediate improvement on vulnerability of the households.
l It is also identified that opening access roads to inaccessible areas is important in terms of timely
and effective response to, preparedness against, and working on mitigation and prevention of
disasters.
l The interventions or their outcomes have been constrained by a number of problems like frequent
and high turnover, wrong expectation, absence of continuity of interventions, limited coverage,
inadequate response and limited activities, lack of sustainability, absence of work on social
conflict, and absence of work on education and behavioural change. For better performances and
achievements, future interventions should consider these gaps.
l Future responses to disasters should be designed to build communities’ problem solving

capacity. In relation to this, the Hyogo Framework for Action recommends that both communities
and local authorities should be empowered to manage and reduce disaster risk by having access,
among the others, to the necessary information to implement actions for disaster risk reduction.
l Considering the fact that hazards and resulting disasters are not governed by political boundaries,
a strong forum that could bring GOs and NGOs together at zone level with the objective of
creating coherence, avoiding duplications, facilitating experience sharing, etc. is required.
Summary
During an evaluation of October 2006 into the Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies of Mercy Corps,
CARE and CRS, the following good practices were identified.
In disaster risk reduction/prevention and mitigation, the following were of particular note:
l Mercy Corps’ activities in West Hararghe in livestock disease prevention and cure, indigenous
fodder tree cultivation and capacity building of relevant government offices have improved the
resilience of livestock and in turn improved the resilience of people.
l CRS’ and CARE’s integrated watershed management approach in some areas of East and
West Hararghe is comprehensive, inclusive and participatory with immediate results and
spillover impacts.
l CARE’s and CRS’ activities in crop husbandry have been effective, including diversification
away from sorghum, through the introduction of new crop types, better performing types of
existing crops, integrated pest management and micro irrigation.
l CRS’ and CARE’s natural resource rehabilitation and conservation activities in East and West
Hararghe, mainly reforestation and soil and water conservation, on communal holdings and
individual plots, are a source of considerable income. In particular, reforestation with
multipurpose, early maturing and cash generating trees has improved people’s resilience.
These activities, though they have lacked adequate sustainability, have contributed to
greening the area and have taught the people that it is possible to change the area’s
appearance, micro-climate and natural resource base.
l Diversification of activities and hence of sources of income have taught people that it is
possible to save and to change people’s behaviour. Groups initiated by the three organisations
have served as forums for discussion on social matters and an entry point for behavioural
change.
l Development by CARE and CRS of infrastructure and social services such as access roads,
community heath services and water services in East and West Hararghe are highly valued
by beneficiaries. Access roads in particular have proven to be sustainable and have facilitated
disaster response and development works such as construction of social centres and trading.
In preparedness and response, the following exemplary activities were particularly

noteworthy.
l Response to disasters and distribution of relief resources through schemes that contributed to
fighting the root cause of the problem, such as employment generation schemes.
l Rehabilitating disaster victims through the distribution of rehabilitation resources such as

seeds (through seed fairs and seed vouchers), hand/farm tools and restocking.
l Contribution to early warning schemes through providing resources, know how and labour.
l Construction of food stores in accessible locations.
l Capacity building of relevant government offices such as disaster prevention and

preparedness units and agricultural and natural resources development offices, enabling them
to work more effectively on development, disaster risk reduction and response to disasters.
A Study on
Flood Risk Mitigation in East Hararhge Zone, Dire
Dawa Administrative Council and Shinile Zone
A pilot project of ECB3 (Save the Children-USA),

lead and conducted by
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
- December 2006 / Addis Ababa
This excerpt is taken from a report produced by CRS Ethiopia based on a study conducted in the
three areas in Eastern Ethiopia. The whole document can be obtained from CRS at the address
below.
Catholic Relief Services/Ethiopia
Tesfaye Tilahun / 251-011-467 0298, PO Box 6592, Addis Ababa
tesfayeti@crsethiopia.org.et
Executive Summary
This paper is an outcome of the study made on "Flood Risk Mitigation" in the three areas of eastern
Ethiopia - Harmaya and Kersa Woredas of East Hararghe Zone, Oromiya Region, Dire Dawa
Administrative Council and Aysha Woreda of Shinile Zone, Somali Region. The objectives of the
study were to identify the causes and patterns of floods, local coping strategies and mitigation
practices and to identify priority actions as recommendations for the mitigation of flood hazards.
Based on objectives of the study as specified in the TOR, the Consultants have formulated methods
of data collection and investigation pertaining to flooding causation, effects and employed local
practices to avert the situation.
The data for this purpose are collected from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data
sources include: interview, organized group discussion, and field observations. The incidence and
extent of damage used as historical perspectives were obtained from memory recall of community
elders. Information received in this manner was then verified through debriefing sessions organized
to local stakeholders. Debriefings were conducted, first among government officials, experts and
NGOs within the respective study areas, and then followed by CRS experts and Interagency Working
Group (IWG) members. Secondary sources were also referred from existing documents maintained
by government organization and NGOs.
The flooding situations in all the areas evolved from human activities on land-based resources.
Therefore, the present flooding problems have emerged from physical, social and policy issues. The
community, government and humanitarian organizations are required to coordinate their concerted
efforts to withstand the current flooding challenges faced by those communities living in the flood
prone areas. Finally, development options integrated in comprehensive watershed management are
recommended for mitigating flooding risks.
Findings and Recommendations
The study findings which include the causes of flooding, their magnitude and trends are separately
described for the three agro-ecological zones (upland Haramaya and Kersa, midland Dire Dawa, and
lowland (semi-arid) Ayhsa of Shinile Zone).
1. Haramaya and Kersa – East Harerghe
Causation: These areas are observed as having topographically steep, shallow soils and degraded
vegetation and extensive cultivation that often generate flash floods. Also, drainages from roads
have become the major source of flooding.
Incidences: Flooding has become one of the major threats over the past three decades (1975 to
date). The major flooding incidences occurred in the year 1975, 1981, 1990, 1994, 2002 and 2006.
Therefore, the incidence took place during both short "Belg" and long "Meher" rainy seasons. The
floods have killed several persons and livestock with further crop field damages.
Effect: Flooding has increased in frequency and magnitude along with the increase of cultivation,
and grazing of fragile lands.
Coping mechanism: The existing effort and practice are borati lola (cut-off drain like structure), tie -
ridging, terracing, hedgerow planting, row cropping and check-dams. After the incidence, the
community and neighbourhoods have traditional mutual assistance system known as Guza through
whereby labour and materials are freely contributed for sediment removal from the crop fields and
house reconstruction for those households affected by the flooding.
Recommendations
l Enhance existing traditional and introduced good land and flood management practices;
l Make productive the deteriorating gullies and hillsides that are prone to flooding by implementing
plantation and water conservation measures. These land use types need to be allocated to
certain community user groups or individuals so as to achieve sustainable results.
l Income generation including ecotourism should be promoted to reduce pressure on the already
fragile lands;
l Emergency relief assistance for flood victimised people should be provided in a better
coordinated way;
l Environmental education among local schools and broader community should be initiated and
supported;
l Encourage and facilitate research leading to better community management of flood mitigation
approach and other natural resource use.
2. Dire Dawa Administrative Council
This administration is divided into rural and urban settings comprising of 28 rural and nine urban
kebeles; with a total population of 95,391 rural and 260,759 urban.
Rural Dire Dawa
Causation: Topography, overgrazing and deforestation of the hills were the main causes of flooding.
About 70% of the total runoff in the studied watershed is generated from the upland of eastern
Hararghe (including other woredas that are not covered by this study).
Incidence: The significant historical perspective of flooding goes back to six decades (1945).
Subsequent floods were recalled to have occurred in 1980, 1981, 1994, 2005 and 2006.
Effects: From their memory recall, elders have reported that 258 ha of croplands were damaged
during those memorable incidences. Besides, subsequent floods
have killed 6 persons, 48 animals and destroyed 40 residential
homes.
Urban Dire Dawa
Causation: Dire Dawa City lies on the foothills. The four streams
Damage occurred on Dechatu Bridge passing through the city (Legehare, Goro, Dechatu and Butugi)
on August 5, 2006
often burst their banks causing flash floods after heavy rains in
the June-August period drench neighboring highland areas in East Harerghe. Inappropriate design of
settlement areas and construction along river courses, including inadequate and poor sewerage and
roof waters have exacerbated flooding.
Incidence: Flooding incidences are similar with that of rural Dire Dawa. However, the extent and
magnitude of the effect on property and human life loss are immense. Case studies are brought to
highlight the conditions of flood victims.
Trend: The trend of flooding is increasing as long as human activities in the upland continue to exert
pressure on land resources.
Coping mechanism: The Italians, during their brief occupation of Ethiopia (1936-1941) had
prohibited construction of residential homes around river banks to provided safety to the community.
At times of flood disasters, victims are often assisted by the neighbourhood, broader community,
the government, foreign agencies and NGOs.
Recommendations
l Enhance existing traditional and introduced good land and flood management practices;
l Make productive the deteriorating gullies and hillsides that are prone to flooding by implementing
plantation and water conservation measures. These land use types need to be allocated to
certain community user groups or individuals so as to achieve sustainable results.
l Income generation including ecotourism should be promoted to reduce pressure on the fragile
lands;
l Assist in the relocation of illegal settlers and built-up structures along floodplain;
l Emergency relief assistance for flood victimised people should be provided in a better
coordinated way;
l Environmental education among local schools and broader community should be initiated and
supported;
l Encourage and facilitate research leading to better community management of flood mitigation
approach and other natural resource use.
3. Aysha Woreda, Shinile Zone
Causation: The flooding among the semi-arid pastoral communities in Aysha Woreda mainly caused
by rainfall beyond the boundary from the Puntland of Somalia. Also, some of the floods in Aysha are
caused by rains in Dire Dawa area and highland areas in East Harerghe.
Incidence and effect: Five flooding incidences have occurred in 1977, 2002, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Loss of 12 persons and 900 animals were reported. Although the streams in the area have great
economic importance they have become a threat and danger on many occasions because of sudden
over flooding.
Coping mechanism: Flooding results both positive and negative impacts depending on specific
socio-economic activities and topographic location. Coping mechanism also depended on this
situation. For pastoralists flooding brings water and sediment that will be used for rejuvenating
pasture and replenishing groundwater. Pastoralists are delighted when pastures are flooded. On the
other hand, flash floods cause severe losses onto the communities residing along stream courses
through disruption of livelihoods and environmental degradation. This part of the community
indicated that since major flood comes from outside their area they often get victimised even
without recognizing rain has fallen. Hence they developed little coping mechanism towards these
phenomena. Moreover pastoralists in the Puntland and Aysha woreda move from place to place
depending on the availability of pasture and water. This method helps pastoralists to get away from
drought and flood incidences.
Recommendations
For pastoralists flooding brings water and sediment that will be used for rejuvenating pasture and
replenishing groundwater. This situation should be recognized beneficial to the livelihood of the
pastoralists and environment and supported by development programmes of the government as well
as IWG. On the other hand, communities residing along stream courses should be supported by
applying various flood mitigation methods that include construction of dykes and giving early
warning of flood occurrence. Moreover pastoralists in Aysha woreda and Puntland of Somalia travel
from place to place depending on the availability of pasture and water. This method helps
pastoralists to get away from drought and flood incidences and should be allowed to persist.
However flood mitigation strategies within these areas remains trans-regional and trans-national
issue that need to be addressed by the government.
Moreover, environmental education among local schools and broader community should be initiated
and supported. Emergency relief assistance for flood victimised people should be provided in a
better coordinated way.
Conclusion
We conclude that flooding incidences have increased from time to time. The major causes of
flooding are steep slopes, reduced vegetation cover, shallow soils, and inappropriate human
activities mainly along river courses. Poverty creates conditions that result in greater damage from
this natural disaster. Following the floods, incidence of poverty increases, as marginal groups
descend into poverty after flood-related losses occur. When people descend into poverty they may
not invest on flood mitigation intervention. In general flooding has both positive and negative
impacts depending on geographical location and socio-economic settings. For the downstream
agriculture-based communities and pastoralists floods are sources of fertile sediment and water that
are used for crop production, rejuvenating pasture and replenishing groundwater. On the other hand,
flash floods cause severe losses on communities residing along stream courses through disruption
of livelihoods and environmental degradation. If such flooding situation continues the study team
fear a worsening of the livelihoods of the population and environmental degradation soon. In spite of
this responses to flooding were reactive rather than preventive, with the humanitarian community
responding to appeals for assistance after floods have caused damage.
Overall Recommendation
l In the entire stratum of the study an integrated watershed management is recommended

because it constitutes land, water, vegetation, livestock and human population. Therefore, it is
imperative for efficient management of resource by way of introducing various activities
including flooding as an appropriate intervention approach.
l Coping mechanisms to flood incidences exist in different study areas. But intensive capacity
building intervention is required to make the practices more robust and effective.
l The semi-arid pastoral Somali zone requires extensive research not only for flood mitigation but
should include sustainable livelihood and welfare for the pastoral communities.

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Table of Contents

Review of Disaster Risk Reduction Practices in Ethiopia: the Experience of the

Executive summary …………………………………………….. 3

Disaster Risk Reduction Strategies in East and West Hararghe:

Executive summary …………………………………………….. 11

Flood Risk Mitigation in East Hararhge Zone, Dire Dawa Administrative

Executive Summary …………………………………………….. 21

The Experiences of the Interagency Working Group

Association for Disaster Studies and Management (ADSAM)

In Partnership with: Save the Children USA

Save the Children USA / Ethiopia Country Office

Findings: Major Issues and Challenges

- Coordination and cooperation among government and non-governmental organizations is not

Key lessons that emerged from the exercise are:

l Community involvement in disaster risk assessment, management and reduction leads to

l More vigorous and systematic approach is required in conducting community participation to

Establishment of Information and Knowledge Network/ Disaster Risk Reduction Information

l To promote collaboration and information sharing.

l To motivate a knowledge network and user-based services.

l To increase public awareness

l To identify gaps in information usage and to disseminate information according to a

Mercy Corps Ethiopia

Lessons and Concluding Remarks

l Future responses to disasters should be designed to build communities’ problem solving

In preparedness and response, the following exemplary activities were particularly

l Rehabilitating disaster victims through the distribution of rehabilitation resources such as

l Construction of food stores in accessible locations.

l Capacity building of relevant government offices such as disaster prevention and

A pilot project of ECB3 (Save the Children-USA),

1. Haramaya and Kersa – East Harerghe

2. Dire Dawa Administrative Council

Rural Dire Dawa

Urban Dire Dawa

l In the entire stratum of the study an integrated watershed management is recommended

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