Arba Minch, Ethiopia – H.E. Jean-Luc Crucke, Belgian Minister of Mobility, Climate & Ecological Transition, accompanied by Ambassador H.E. Dr. Annelies Verstichel and a high-level delegation, visited Arba Minch University (AMU) on September 9, 2025, to witness the transformative impact of its collaborative projects with Belgian universities. Click here to see more photos.
The delegation was warmly received by Dr. Ing. Abdela Kemal, President of Arba Minch University; Mr. Hakime Ayele, Chief Government Representative of Gamo Zone; and Dr. Fasil Eshetu, AMU-IUC Project Manager, along with senior university leadership.
In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Ing. Abdela Kemal highlighted the decade-long collaboration with Belgian universities through VLIRUOS, emphasizing how it has strengthened both human and technological capacity to address critical climate and ecological challenges. He noted that Belgian support has enabled AMU to train 19 PhD scholars in Phase one and 15 ongoing PhD scholars in Phase two, creating a new generation of change agents who now strengthen research, inspire students, and apply their expertise to environmental restoration and sustainable development. "VLIRUOS," he concluded, "has created a fertile ground for research, community service, and ecosystem improvement."
Mr. Hakime Ayele, Chief Government Representative of Gamo Zone, affirmed that the AMU-Belgian collaboration serves as an ideal model for sustainable development. He noted that the partnership’s focus on building local capacity for research, community outreach, and sustainability is perfectly aligned with the Ethiopian government’s strategic direction, reiterating that building a climate-resilient society is a top priority. He described the cooperation as a "best-practice model," calling it a practical demonstration of how international partners, national and local governments, a university, and the local community can work in synergy to achieve a common goal.
Minister Jean-Luc Crucke expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and praised the practical initiatives he observed. He praised the powerful nexus between ecology and economy, and stressed that environmental restoration directly supports livelihoods. The Minister underscored the global importance of climate action and recognized the AMU-Belgian collaboration through VLIRUOS and other Belgian actors as a model of Europe-Africa partnership, confirming that Belgian universities remain open to further joint research, capacity building, and innovation.
Dr. Fasil Eshetu, AMU-IUC Project Manager, noted that the comprehensive study of the aquatic ecology of the two great Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes, Abaya and Chamo, began in 2010 with the STRIPES-VLIRUOS TEAM Project. His own journey exemplifies the change agent model: during his PhD at KU Leuven, his pioneering research revealed that Lake Abaya’s food chain was already severely compromised by massive eutrophication and sedimentation, while Lake Chamo’s ecosystem, though relatively stable, was on the brink of a similar collapse, requiring immediate, prioritized intervention. This research provided the scientific basis to engage government authorities and donors, turning a complex ecological challenge into a clear, actionable mission.
He explained that, inspired by the capacity built through the VLIRUOS Team and IUC projects, and in partnership with GIZ, BOS+, and HRF, his team combined scientific principles with indigenous knowledge to create Biophysical Check Dams and restore wetlands, generating measurable environmental and livelihood benefits. These initiatives have restored degraded land, trapped tons of sediment, enhanced carbon storage, and improved livelihoods for fishing communities. The success of these pilot initiatives paved the way for the €25 million KfW-Ministry of Agriculture-supported Sustainable Land Management Project, which now extends to 10 woredas across the Lake Chamo catchment.
During the visit, another powerful example of this model, Dr. Seyoum Getaneh, a KU Leuven PhD graduate from the Belgian-supported VLIRUOS IUC project, presented the achievements of community-based forest rehabilitation. He highlighted that 12 hectares of degraded land have been restored, agroforestry practices—including apple seedlings and beekeeping—are being promoted, and landslide risks have been mitigated. He emphasized that all activities are research-driven and supported by training for farmers and local communities, noting that the partnership’s technical expertise was critical to ensuring tangible environmental and livelihood benefits.
A flagship achievement of the AMU-VLIRUOS collaboration is the Enset research and innovation program, which has positioned AMU as Ethiopia's leading center for Enset research. The program has transformed Enset from a traditional staple into a scientifically enhanced, climate-resilient crop. Among its notable researchers, Dr. Addisu Fekadu, a PhD graduate from KU Leuven under the VLIRUOS program, has pioneered microbial starter cultures, developed processing technologies that reduce women's labor burden, and secured major international grants to scale Enset innovations nationwide. The Belgian-supported training provided the scientific credibility necessary to translate laboratory innovations into community-driven solutions that improve food security and strengthen livelihoods.
The delegation also toured AMU's High-Performance Computing (HPC) and ICT facilities, established and enhanced through support from VLIRUOS and KU Leuven. Mekwanint HaileMichael, HPC System Administrator and Transversal Sub-project 1 member, presented the achievements, noting that Phase One (2017–2022) included a Mirror Data Center, seven high-performance servers, and major donations from KU Leuven, including 160 HPC servers. Now in Phase Two (2024–present), advanced training in Brussels and a new 1.5-petabyte enterprise storage system have positioned AMU as a hub for cutting-edge climate data analysis and artificial intelligence.
The visit reaffirmed the AMU-Belgian collaboration as a driver of climate resilience, ecological restoration, and a model Europe-Africa partnership, demonstrating the positive synergy between environmental protection, technological innovation, and economic growth while opening doors for future joint research and innovation.
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