A Validation Workshop on Collaborative Research Project, Hawassa University.
Hawassa University has organized a validation workshop for a collaborative research project entitled "Empowering Women and Youth through Innovative Practices: A Move towards Resilience" that has been coordinated by CORDAID Ethiopia in collaboration with Fair & Sustainable Ethiopia, and financed by RESET Plus Fund of the European Union on October 30, 2023 at Bin International Hotel, Bishoftu.
The objective of the validation workshop was to share findings of the research aimed at assessment of the major lessons learned and the barriers thereof in the implementation and diffusion of technological innovations towards empowering women, youth and building their resilience among pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities across five regional states in Ethiopia: Oromia, Amhara, SNNPR, Somali and Afar.
Dr. Rahmeto Abebe, Director of Research Programs at HU, officially opened the workshop where he highlighted the impactful experiences of the university working with local and international partners on pressing national and local issues over the years. He thanked CORDAID Ethiopia for choosing to work with Hawassa University on the project presented for validation and congratulated the researchers of Hawassa University for their hard work, commitment and professional contributions as they competed with others from 43 universities to win two of the five calls for project grant.
Mr. Tenaw Fentaw from CORDAID Ethiopia also spoke on behalf of the country director explaining the fact that their company wanted to assess the compatibility, complexity, observability, trialability, and relative advantages of 13 innovative initiatives implemented in the five regions of Ethiopia through action research for which two out of five projects were reasonably won by researchers of Hawassa University. He also appreciated the professional commitment and timely completion of the research within a short period of time despite all kinds of challenges the researchers faced while data collection.
Dr. Melisew Dejene, the Principal researcher of the project, presented the synthesis report followed by seven more presentations of findings from Wolaita Zone, Somali Region, Bale Zone (Oromia), Dasenech (South Omo), Amhara Region, Afar Region, and Borana (Oromia).
The presentations were followed by questions and reflections from different stakeholders invited for the workshop. The discussion session was chaired by Dr. Rahmeto Abebe, Prof. Nigatu Regassa and Dr. Melisew Dejene.
