Arba Minch, Ethiopia – The Ambassador of Belgium to Ethiopia, H.E. Dr. Annelies Verstichel, visited Arba Minch University (AMU) to observe the impact of ongoing collaborative projects between AMU and Belgian universities under the Institutional University Cooperation (IUC) program.
The Ambassador toured research demonstration sites, outreach initiatives, and capacity-building activities, gaining insight into how these projects are transforming climate change adaptation, environmental management, agriculture, community livelihoods, and higher education.Click here to see more photos.
In her address, Ambassador Verstichel praised the partnership as a shining example of academic collaboration translating into real-world impact. She highlighted initiatives tackling erosion, restoring degraded land, and improving livelihoods, noting that research and education can tangibly enhance quality of life. She further emphasized that nature conservation benefits both local communities and the broader environment, contributing to climate mitigation and carbon stock enhancement, and expressed her appreciation for the transformative work achieved through these initiatives.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Teklu Wegayehu Vice President for Research and Cooperation and Deligate for the President warmly welcomed the delegates to Arba Minch, describing it as the land of peace and wisdom where AMU is proudly located. He underscored the role of the visit in strengthening the ties between AMU and Belgian universities, emphasizing that AMU is the only research university in southern Ethiopia and that such collaborations are invaluable for the university’s growth and innovation.
He further highlighted that collaboration with Belgian universities through the IUC project and earlier initiatives has played an instrumental role in capacitating AMU’s staff, strengthening laboratories, and enhancing ICT infrastructure. Importantly, Dr. Tekilu noted that 33 PhD scholars from AMU have had the opportunity to study in five Belgian universities. Many of those who have graduated are now serving AMU in high-level research and academic leadership, significantly contributing to the university’s advancement.
Dr. Fasil Eshetu, AMU–IUC Project Manager, emphasized the practical innovations emerging from the partnership, citing the biophysical brushwood check dam developed at Gerese as a model of community-driven science. “By combining scientific principles with indigenous knowledge and local materials like eucalyptus and bamboo, we have created a low-cost, high-impact solution that stabilizes gullies, protects Lake Chamo, and supports local livelihoods. This is Belgian cooperation in action,” he said.
He also highlighted the Lake Chamo wetland initiative, implemented on 4.6 hectares of land in collaboration with local fisheries. Once degraded farmland, the area has now been successfully transformed into a thriving wetland ecosystem. As a result, native wetland plants have regenerated, and various bird and animal species have reappeared, creating a balanced habitat that supports biodiversity. At the same time, the initiative has revived fish breeding grounds and strengthened the livelihoods of local fishing communities. “This achievement demonstrates how collaborative science and community engagement can restore ecosystems while creating tangible benefits for society,” Dr. Fasil remarked. He concluded by noting that these initiatives are being scaled up under the €25 million KfW-supported Sustainable Land Management project.
Mekwanint HaileMichael, HPC System Administrator at AMU’s ICT Directorate, highlighted that the IUC partnership has transformed AMU’s ICT capacity. Phase One (2017–2022) saw the launch of a Mirror Data Center, installation of seven high-performance servers, training of ICT staff at Ghent University, and major donations from KU Leuven, including 160 HPC servers. In Phase Two (2024–present), a staff member completed advanced HPC training in Brussels, and an E5700 enterprise storage system with 1.5 petabytes of capacity was introduced, positioning AMU as a hub for cutting-edge research and innovation.
At the event, PhD graduates of Belgian universities — Dr. Seyoum Getaneh, Dr. Addisu Fekadu, Dr. Sabura Shara, and Dr. Gezahgn Garo — shared their testimonies, highlighting how Belgian-supported research enabled them to become change agents in the university, region, and environment, and to lead large-scale projects with international funding agencies.
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