Grand Kulfo Project team holds meeting to thresh out modalities

The core team of Arba Minch University’s upcoming ‘The Grand Kulfo Watershed Project’ in its brainstorming session held on 5th February, 2014, has constituted task forces to head identified project components and also drawn a work plan with timeline that will lead the launching of the project. The Steering Committee of the project was constituted in a meeting held on January 9, 2014, is comprised of three Vice Presidents and concerned directors, will be headed by AMU President, Dr Feleke Woldeyes. The committee has further identified five project components and 27 university departments will contribute their technical in-puts to shape up this project.
The Grand Kulfo Watershed Project: Sustainable Management of Kulfo Watershed is meant to enhance sustainable hydrological, ecological and productive functions of Kulfo watershed through integrated development and management of watershed systems including river taming that will ultimately improve the livelihood of the community and environmental health.
In its first brainstorming session that began at Lecture Theatre, Main Campus was attended by heads of different departments from across all AMU campuses. Project Steering Committee secretary, Dr Fantahun, re-oriented the gathering about the project, with technical facilitator, Dr Mekonen providing technical in-puts.
The project has five components; first one will deal with land-use planning and watershed development; second will look into hydro-meteorological investigation; the third will take care of socio-economic aspects, river taming and landscaping or beautification.
On the occasion, five identified groups after deliberation selected focal persons to head different components and made their suggestions which were duly incorporated.
Dr Teshome Yirgu will head the first component with Dr Tesema Tanto. Mr Haftom G/Kiros and Zerihun Anbese will take care of second; Defaru Debebe and Gebrerufael Girma are for the third while Habtamu Tsegaye and Gezahegn Geru will steer the fourth and fifth components.
According to the agreed timeline, the project team will meet in the next week to evolve project ideas and proposal roadmap, to be followed by project site visit, stakeholder consultation and meeting briefing on February 20, 2014.
The project proposal draft is likely to be ready by the first week of March, followed by presentation, revision and harmonization, mobilization of resources and finally the project would be kicked off in March end.
The meeting generated much-required bonhomie and synergy in which the project team has evinced great enthusiasm and desirability to make this endeavor a great success.
By Philips Joseph