Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia (SWR Ethiopia) is an international NGO based in Ethiopia. SWR Ethiopia is affiliated to Wageningen University & Research (WUR; the Netherlands). SWR Ethiopia hosted two projects, Ethiopia-Netherlands Seed Partnership (ENSP) and the Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian Food systems (RAISE-FS) which are funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom … Continue reading Call for expressions of interest for MTR
The OTIPAVA-project which is one of the projects hosted by SWR Ethiopia, had its annual workshop in Adama on March 27, 2023. Dr. Tewodrose Tefera, OTIPAVA project manager, welcomed everyone to the workshop. Dr. Tewodrose stated in his welcome speech that the workshop is intended to spark a national compost movement, endorsement of the 'one-timad' package … Continue reading Customized and inclusive extension package to enhance crop productivity and soil health
Linked with the expansion of domestic edible oil industry and associated increased demand, soya bean production in Ethiopia has increased dramatically over the last three years. The Amhara region, in particular, has shown a very significant increase in soya bean production, with the area expanding from 46,892 ha in 2019/2020 to 248,573 ha in 2021/2022. … Continue reading Emerging issues in soya bean marketing: the case of North-western Ethiopia
To enhance sustainable agricultural production in the country, there should be a safe and sound pesticide life cycle. To this end, RAISE-FS conducted a consultative workshop on the pesticide life cycle in Ethiopia. The objective of the workshop was to jointly identify the challenges, opportunities and jointly propose course of action and share responsibilities. The … Continue reading Consultative workshop on the pesticide life cycle in Ethiopia
Inorganic fertilizer is a crucial component for increasing agricultural output in Ethiopia's food system. However, because it is not produced domestically, there is a significant reliance on import, which makes the country very vulnerable to global price shocks. If these global drivers are not appropriately handled, they could have a detrimental effect on Ethiopia's food … Continue reading Stakeholders workshop on fertilizer supply chain in Ethiopia conducted
The RAISE-FS project conducted a baseline survey in its intervention areas in the three regions. The major objective of the survey was to collect information on the outcome areas of the project so as to provide an information base against which to monitor and assess the project progress. Methodology Multistage sampling approach was followed to … Continue reading Brief highlights from RAISE-FS baseline survey
Efficient agricultural planning and informed decision making are key elements for sustainability and resilience of agricultural production. To support this process Innovation Recommendation Mapping (IRM) was developed by Wageningen University & Research and experts from Ethiopia (mainly from the Ministry of Agriculture and Mekelle University) under the BENEFIT projects. IRM allows users to generate maps … Continue reading Improving the Innovation Recommendation Mapping: for evidence-based decision support
The SWR Ethiopia office is hosting a regular seminar session named "Monday Knowledge Plate" starting from end of 2022 to share knowledge and experiences, gather feedbacks, and build evidence. The aim is also to use it as a useful knowledge sharing and integration platform that creates synergy between different outcome areas within and across projects … Continue reading The ‘Monday Knowledge Plate’ Seminar of SWR Ethiopia
RAISE-FS regional teams planned 2023 activities with a close support of national advisors for the five outcome areas and food systems of the project. The teams adapted and improved the plans based on inputs received from the national advisors. The revised work plans were presented in a series of validation workshops to key food system … Continue reading Validation workshops for 2023 work plan conducted
Gender and nutrition can be considered as two sides of the same coin and are also priory intervention areas of the RAISE-FS project. RAISE-FS project employs a gender-sensitive approach to promote nutrition, which acknowledges the important role that women have in nutrition outcomes, as well as the need to better support them to improve their … Continue reading Promoting gender-sensitive approach to improve household nutrition
Regional teams set out to revisit the 2023 plans through the lens of gender and social inclusions after the two-days workshop. SWR Ethiopia-RAISE-FS project organized a Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) start-off workshop for about 35 individuals convened from the three regional RAISE-FS teams, regional team members from partner universities and research institutions, and their … Continue reading Start off workshop on gender and social inclusion held
This short video shows the impact of soybean innovation in changing the sesame dominated farming system in NW Ethiopia. The video was produced by RAISE-FS staff with the support of Eye Opener Works and EKN Addis. https://videopress.com/v/8IOB1d2t?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true MSC story of soybean innovation in Amhara region
Due to prolonged periods of food scarcity, drought, and starvation, people in some highlands of the Amhara region use some wild green vegetables, the most common of which is stinging nettle, which is known locally as sama. The plant, which is primarily associated with the diet of the underprivileged, has also long been consumed for … Continue reading Stinging Nettle (Urtica simensis): a potential food crop for highlands with food insecurity
RAISE-FS organized National Food Safety System Assessment Validation meeting with the objective of presenting findings, validating possible recommendations, and prioritizing key points to be addressed and stakeholders to be involved. An opening speech and introduction to the RAISE-FS project were given by Dr. Dawit Alemu, the project manager and country representative for SWR Ethiopia. He … Continue reading Validation workshop and consultative meeting on national food safety system assessment
SWR/RAISE-FS in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) organized Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on nutrition sensitive agriculture (NSA ) from November 28- December 2, 2022 at Adama. In attendance were 20 individuals including representatives from research institutes and their affiliated center's, universities and regional RAISE-FS teams. The objectives of the training were to provide … Continue reading Training held on Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture
A national event was organized by the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) on 3rd December, 2022 to discuss about how the different agricultural professional societies can work together for better contribution to the agricultural sector transformation meanwhile promoting their respective profession in education, research and development. Representatives of the agricultural professional societies reported that their … Continue reading Agricultural professional societies in Ethiopia: how they can serve as a national think-tank for agricultural transformation
Ginger has since been known in Ethiopia and is cultivated primarily in the humid regions of the Southern parts of the country. Though there is huge potential for production and export earnings, there are lots of challenges that keep the performance of the commodity very low. The ginger problem was identified as a crucial concern … Continue reading Consultative workshop to revitalize ginger
Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) Ethiopia is an international NGO registered in Ethiopia since March 2021 with the FDRE Agency for Civil Society Organizations. The organization is established with the objectives of promoting a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable food systems in Ethiopia. SWR Ethiopia currently implements four projects; Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian … Continue reading Innovation Fund 1st Call for Proposals
In the week of 25 September, an Ethiopian delegation representing both the public and private sector visited the Netherlands. The mission focused on exchanging knowledge and experiences in the field of food safety, phytosanitary and quality for vegetables, fruit and cut flowers. The delegation visited amongst others, LNV (the Dutch ministry of Agriculture), NVWA (the … Continue reading Ethiopian delegates from the horticulture field visited Wageningen University & Research
Lentil provides important economic advantages to the small-scale farm households in providing food, feed, cash income, and at national level, it also provides advantage to earn foreign currency, import substitution and job creation through value addition and processing. In spite of its importance, lentil productivity had remained very low mainly due to the use of … Continue reading Technology testing and validation efforts to revitalize lentil production visited by stakeholder
Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian Food System (RAISE FS) project is being implemented in partnership with different stakeholders. One of the regions where the project operate is Oromia region. In Oromia region the project collaborates with different stakeholders which includes implementing partners namely Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and Haramaya university and … Continue reading Baseline survey and Rapid Food System Appraisal findings validated
Women farmers in Kililit and Adet Zuria kebeles of the Yilman Densa woreda benefit from the sale of the vegetables they grow in their backyard gardens in addition to using them for domestic consumptions. On the 4th of October 2022, Adet Agricultural Research Center (AARC) in partnership with Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian- … Continue reading Women farmers benefited economically from vegetable production
More than 60 individuals- farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector convened from woreda to national levels paid a field visit to RAISE-FS supported activities carried out in 10 farmers’ fields and in the sub-research stations of Gondar Agricultural Research Center on the 1st of October 2022 at Mirab Armachiho woreda. Participants of the field … Continue reading Farmers and stakeholders pay a visit to field-level innovation testing and validation activities
From 20 to 22nd of September 2022, RAISE-FS held a planning workshop for 2023 fiscal year and beyond at Adama town. The aim of this workshop, which gathered around 35 experts from research institutes and universities, was to identify and priorities concrete action points for innovation testing and validation related to transforming food systems in … Continue reading A planning workshop for 2023 and beyond held
The RAISE-FS newsletter's goal is to provide relevant information on latest developments and current problems issues in the Ethiopian food system as well as project support activities. The first issue outlines the major activities that took place between January and July 2022. A scoping study conducted by RAISE-FS to map gender and youth focused initiatives in the agriculture … Continue reading RAISE-FS Newsletter August 2022 issue published
Understanding the nature, processes, drivers and governance of local food systems is a key priority to identify leverage points. To this end RAISE-FS has designed and implementing a Rapid Food System Appraisal approach to generate qualitative insights on key food system challenges and opportunities by engaging local stakeholders in action research. The Rapid food system … Continue reading Rapid Food System Appraisal in RAISE-FS
Malnutrition is a serious problem among the poor population of developing countries including Ethiopia. Meeting dietary standards remains the challenge to Ethiopia. Scanning thefood systems to analyse the various actors engaged in nutrition and food safety is critical for identifying viable intervention strategies and adhering to the concepts of sequencing, layering, and integration during nutrition … Continue reading Highlights from a nutrition scoping study
RAISE-FS and ENSP staffs met with Worldveg Ethiopia team on 22nd of July 2022 at SWR Ethiopia office to share experiences and discuss opportunities for collaboration. Dr. Tewodrose Terefe, RAISE-FS senior advisor, made an introductory remark to set the scene of the learning event. In his introductory remark he cited the forum's general objective as … Continue reading Sharing Experience and Exploring Possibilities for Partnership between Worldveg Ethiopia and RAISE-FS
The Ethiopian Spices Aromatic and Herbs Growers and Processors Association (ESAHGPA) and RAISE FS agreed to collaborate in future platform meetings which would also help the association identify potential new members as well as enhance the engagement ofexisting members aside from discussing major sector challenges with other stakeholders. ESAHGPA held its general assembly on July … Continue reading Spices private sector validation workshop
By Jonah Muthui (PhD) Nakuru Living lab (Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya) The success of a living lab requires active involvement of all actors in co-creating a vision, defining the objectives and identifying activities that achieve these objectives. The REFOOTURE project’s objective is to transform food systems to regenerative and inclusive systems. To achieve this objective, … Continue reading ESTABLISHING A LIVING LAB: KEY LESSSONS FROM ETHIOPIA
Planning workshopIn order to improve collaboration and partnerships, RAISEFS recognises stakeholder engagement as an important first step in project implementation. As a result, a collaborative planning session was held in each of the regions following the signing of the collaborationagreement between RAISE-FS and the implementing partners. The planning workshops wereconducted for two days in each … Continue reading RAISE-FS facilitates 2022 planning and validation workshops
By Tewodros Tefera (PhD) The REFOOTURE project (Food Futures Eastern Africa) promotes Regenerative Inclusive Food systems (RIFS) using a Living lab as a platform to bring thinkers, enablers, and doers to facilitate the process of change and transformation. It collects evidence, identifies pathways, and supports collaboration in innovation co-creation of regenerative and inclusive food systems … Continue reading Transforming a village using game-changer innovations model: The case of South Achefer living lab in Ethiopia
Global developments are causing a chain of spin-off effects that influence the food chain at an international and local scale. The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia has resulted in price increases for natural gas which is needed to produce ammonia and then nitrogen, key elements of fertilizers, as well as increased fertilizer transportation costs.The … Continue reading Soaring fertilizer costs threateningfood and nutrition security in Ethiopia
Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) in partnership with Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) conducted the validation workshop for the RAISE-FS regional plan on July 02, 2022, at Bellevue Hotel in Addis Ababa. Dr. Diriba Geleti, Deputy Director General for Research, EIAR, said in his opening speech that Interaction, networking and feedback are very important for … Continue reading Interaction, networking and feedback are very important to ensure food systems transformation
Several governmental and non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society and research organizations are currently engaged in addressing gender and social inclusion issues in Ethiopia’s agriculture sector. However, there is stilllimited coordination and collaboration between these stakeholders, which results in duplication of effort, fragmentation of resources, and the use of various approaches and methodologies. … Continue reading Mapping gender and youth focused initiatives in theagriculture sector: a scoping study
The underlying problem framing or conceptualization guides interventions to promote food system transformation. This framing, on the other hand, pays little attention to other, sometimes underlying causes of food system challenges, such as institutional interplay or power imbalances. In practice, however, determining how to intervene in a specific food system to most effectively promote food … Continue reading Identifying Leverage Points to Foster Food System Transformation in Ethiopia
Food system transformation requires innovation across and within food systems, as well as strong teamwork, partnerships, and building on previous experiences. Facilitating multi-stakeholder platforms at all levels is critical for food system transformation. RAISE-FS acknowledges and use as an implementation approach institutional innovations that improve and develop new models of collaboration and partnerships to ensure … Continue reading Institutional Innovation Key to Food System Transformation
Stichting Wageningen Research (SWR) Ethiopia inked collaboration agreements with regional Agricultural Research Institutes and Universities for its project Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian Food System (RAISE-FS) on the 29th of April 2022 at Bellevue Hotel in Addis Ababa. The signing ceremony took place between SWR-RAISE-FS and three regional universities- Bahir Dar, Hawassa, and … Continue reading SWR Ethiopia inks collaboration agreement with regional implementing partners
Resilient Agriculture for Inclusive and Sustainable Ethiopian Food Systems (RAISE-FS) is a four year project (2021-2025) funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Addis Ababa and hosted by Stichting Wageningen Research Ethiopia, which is an international NGO based in Addis Ababa. With the vision of having a more resilient, inclusive, and … Continue reading RAISE-FS: supporting food system transformation endeavours in Ethiopia
BENEFIT-SBN programme recently published a book about the programme experiences in the sesame sector in Northwest Ethiopia. The book looks at the many challenges and opportunities for transforming the sector, to the benefit of farmers and stakeholders involved.
BENEFIT-REALISE brief “The effect of COVID19 on agricultural casual labourers: a case of sesame belt migrants from Amhara and Tigray” highlights the findings of a rapid assessment designed to evaluate the early effects of COVID19 on PSNP households wage income in sesame growing areas of Tigray and Amhara regions.
To better understand the effects of COVID-19 on the livelihoods and food security of casual labourers at household level, especially those in PSNP areas, BENEFIT-REALISE conducted a rapid assessment in selected 17 zones and 24 PSNP woredas in six clusters of BENEFIT-REALISE programme.
The second BENEFIT ISSD-Ethiopia COVID-19 seed alert that was published this week highlighted issues related to release and registration of new varieties, timely supply of early generation seed (EGS), quality assurance in EGS production, reduced availability of varieties in high demand and challenges related to producers access to agro-inputs, labor and finance.
On June 9 2020, BENEFIT-ENTAG published a brief that outlines the major effects of COVID-19 on the performance of the Ethiopian poultry sector.
BENEFIT-SBN published its first Sesame Alert that highlights COVID-19 related challenges and urgent actions needed in the Ethiopian sesame sector. The brief outlines the major alters, their impacts, actions required, stakeholders involved, and a responsible body to take the initiatives.
In response to COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on food security, BENEFIT-ISSD Ethiopia Program’s recent effort focuses on better understanding how the pandemic affects the seed sector and supports the development of urgent coping strategies that would enhance resilience and support continuity of activities of the seed sector.
RAISE-FS 