Ministry Of Water Resources

Date of Establishment

Since its establishment, in 1995, the MoWR has undergone some organizational changes. Autonomous enterprises have been created as it was found necessary to commercialize organs for water works construction and supervision activities.

The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR) was established in 1995 by proclamation (first year no.4) with the purpose of undertaking studies related to water and soil in line with national economic plan. Major responsibilities are to study water resources distribution and conservation using modern scientific research tools. The units treated under its analysis are departments and services that are closely related to water resources data generation, processing, storage and dissemination. The enterprises, which are accountable to the MoWR, are not included in this section.
Mandate and activities

The MoWR has the following powers and duties:

Determine conditions and methods required for the optimum allocation and utilization of water that flows across or lies between more than one Regional Governments among various uses and regions
Prepare draft laws concerning the protection and utilization of Water resources
Issue permits to construct and operate water works relating to water
Make appropriate studies concerning water tariff and upon approval collect bulk charges for water use
Undertake studies pertaining to the utilization of the waters of transboundary rivers and upon approval, follow up the implementation of same;
Prepare plans that help to properly utilize water resources for development purposes supervise their implementation upon approval,
Provide all the assistance deemed necessary with regard to water resources development.
Sign international agreements relating to Transboundary Rivers in accordance with the law.
In cooperation with the appropriate organs, prescribe the quality standards for waters to be used for various purposes;
Supervise the proper rendering of meteorological services.

Clients Being Served

Governmental Organizations
Non- Governmental Organizations
Individual researchers
Regions
And Others.

Staffing

The MoWR has a total of 737 employees of whom 114 are professional staff and 85 are technicians. Both groups are involved in the use of natural resources data, particularly concerning water resources. The remaining 538 staff is support personnel. Among the 737 staff 457 are male and 280 are female. Currently, the staff of the MoWR has range of professional skills and possesses diverse qualifications.

Departments

All technical departments are engaged in data generation, analysis, retrieval and dissemination of information.

The leading departments in data generation in the MoWR seem the Basin Study and Hydrology departments. These two departments have huge amounts of data that are related to basins resources potential and development plan as well as hydrological data. So far the basin studies department has numerous study outputs in the form of reports. The hydrology department also possesses large data set related to river flow, sediments and other hydrological characteristics of major rivers in the country.

Transboundary Rivers Study Department

The Transboundary Rivers Study Department is responsible for all transboundary water issues. It provides policy advice on strategies and legal matters pertaining to negotiation with riparian statues. It coordinates the conduct of negotiations and riparian states. It coordinates the conduct of negotiations and riparian dialogue.

It facilitates the in country coordination of the Nile Basin Initiative. As a relational NBI office it provides a forum for in country coordination of the shared vision and Subsidiary Action progress through the following functions

Functions

Provide a forum for coordination of NBI activities at the national level.
Support the members of the Nile Technical Advisory Committee (Nile-TAC).
Liaise with the Nile Secretariat.
Liaise with the relevant national ministries and institutions.
Facilitate coordination of SAP project implementation at the national level.
Facilitate, as needed, coordination of SAP activities at the national level.
Assist with identification of representatives to serve on various committees and working groups at the regional NBI level.
Assist with logistical arrangements for incoming missions.

Water Rights Administration & Water Management Department's Duties and Responsibilities

Controls the implementation of the Water Codes and Regulative issued by the Ministry. Registers or records the amount of the water resources utilized for different uses such as, irrigation, domestic water supply, industry, hydropower, and e.t.c according to their sources such as, rivers, lakes, springs, extracted from dams or tube wells. Registers different kinds of water users and accept all applications submitted to the Ministry to have a permit for water utilization and issues permits for the type of uses applied for and controls and follows up their activities.

Gives permits for the disposal of wastewater to the water bodies, after being reclaimed and satisfied the requirement specified by the Ministry. Controls the overall quality of the water resources such as surface and ground waters. Performs water management & project operation works in different projects owned by the federal government. Conducts structure safety follow up works and performs maintenance works.

Controls the quality and standard of irrigation structures, drainage works and other water works constructed on different water bodies. Registers contractors engaged in water works, gives contractor professional licenses certifying their capability to conduct such works. Certify all Professionals who are qualified to undertake construction or supervision or design works in water resources fields and related to these Consultancies.

Gives solution for conflicts rose on the use of water resources, water works constructions and related to these matters among different users. Forms water users associations and coordinate their activities whenever there is a need. Prepares guidelines on different water works and water utilizations.

E-mail waterser@telecom.net.et

Contract Administration Department Main Duties

Preparation of bid documents of Water sector development activities conducted at the federal level.
Evaluation studies and designs conducted for water sector developments and carry out supervision services during implementation.
Preparation of standards for contract administration.
Evaluate the capabilities of technical staffs assigned on the supervision Water Development projects.
Provide technical assistance to governmental & non-governmental organizations working in the water sector.
Provide technical assistance to Federal states on contract administration and projects supervision.

Women's Affairs Department (WAD)

Mission and Objective: Mainstream Gender in Water Resources Development Activities, Programs, Projects, Strategies and Policies.

Wad's duties and responsibilities:

Ensure gender needs and priorities are reflected in water development program /projects, project formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Foster awareness for greater integration and active participation of women in all phases of water development activities through the provision of ideas, trainings and strategies.
Ensure that female employees of the ministry have equal access to the opportunities given by the employer organization
Conducting research on women and water also provide technical support to regions.

E-mail waterser@telecom.net.et

Hydrology Department Main Duties

To study and quantify the availability of surface and ground water resources of the nation in space and time.
To study and quantify the sediment discharge of rivers
To determine the chemical contents of river and lakes
To conduct Bathymetric survey on lakes and reservoirs
To disseminate the processed date to different user organizations

Planning and projects Department.

It prepares the country's water resource policy and strategy, coordinates the relevant government offices and various Departments of the Ministry to prepare the Federal water policy, prepares an integrated short, medium and long-term plans for the water sector. Besides, it follows up implementation, evaluates and prepares socio-economic studies for vital projects and conduct studies on water tariff policy. The Department. Prepares and provides to the pedicel Government, Regional Governments and investors as, required, detail of projects that were covered by the Master plan Studies.

River Basins Development Studies Department.

The Department is responsible for the preparation of integrated development master plans for all the twelve river basins of the country. It undertakes a comprehensive inventory of the water and other natural resources of the basins to be implemented within 30 to 50 years.

The Department is also responsible for the follow-up and implementation of the completed master plan studies. Water resources development projects such as irrigation and hydropower are prepared to pre-feasibility and feasibility levels.

Master plan studies of five river basins have already been completed. Master plan study of a river basin is conducted over a period of three years divided into three distinct phases as follows: -

          Phase 1- Reconnaissance level

          Phase 2- Survey, Data Collection and Analysis

          Phase 3- Master Plan Preparation.

Different aspects of the river basins have been modeled to provide a rational and systematic base to the natural resources exploitation: -

          Population support capacity

          Water balance

          Energy balance

          Livestock feed balance

          Optimization etc.

Design Department.
The Design Department of the Ministry of Water Resources is structured by the following Technical Teams and One Service:

Dam and Irrigation design team
Environmental assessment team
Geotechnique study team
Electro mechanical design team
Survey & drafting service

Main Duties

In order to fulfill the country's water resources development and utilization policy, the department prepares various types of study and design manuals and guide lines for small and medium irrigation projects.
Provides technical assistance for federal & regional governments on the study and design of water resources development projects.
To prepare proposal for dam safety Guideline preparation for the existing dams of hydropower, irrigation and water supply projects.
Provides surveying and drafting services for water resources development projects under the ministry.

Water Supply and Sewerage Department (WSSD)

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Make all pre-conditions for promotions and expansions of Water Supply and Sewerage Services. And make research and strategy to make Water Supply and Sewerage Service of the country to be operational. And also follow up the research and design system on operations.
Collect a necessary information/data on the water supply and sewerage system of the country, and made available at the central office. Make analysis of the information and present policy proposal.
Bring important experience from different foreign countries and try to make it applicable within the country.
Make sure that, in the completed water supply construction project, the process of purification is correct, and ensure the quality standards of the water is normal for domestic use.
Upon request prepare Technical specification, manuals, standards, and guideline and work closely with regions on implementations.

Information Services

The Computer and Geographic Information System Service (CGIS) and Library & Documentation Service are the main organs of the ministry for data management activities. However, all line Departments, the Meteorological Services Agency and the enterprises are also involved in data generation, analysis and storage. Next to the CGIS and the Library and Documentation Service, almost all the Departments keep and maintain natural resources data in their respective areas. They, therefore, are important units too for the establishment of the meta- database in the MoWR.

Organizational structure of the MoWR

The MoWR is organized in eight Department and ten Services. The ministry has two autonomous enterprises and one autonomous agency (NMSA). The Minister and the Vice-Minister are the highest policy and decision- making body of the ministry, supported by the Chief Engineer and the Chief Economist providing advice on technical and administrative matters respectively.

In addition to the existing technical departments, projects are being carried out with foreign funding which require significant investment beyond the scope of the regular budget. Such projects are, in actual fact, the vehicles for realization of the duties and powers of the ministry stipulated in the proclamation that established the MoWR.

The Management Bodies of MoWR

Minister	Mr. Shiferaw Jarso +251-1-626325
Vice-Minister	Mr. Mesfin Tegene +251-1-626327
Chief Engineer	Mr. Abera Mekonen +251-1-627004
Chief Economist	Mrs. Mohammed Abdulwahab +251-1-626322
Office of the Minister	Mr. Eyasu Gebru +251-1-624060
Contract Administration Department	Mr. Getachew Abdi +251-637004
Planning & Projects Department	Mr. Gulilat Berhane +251-1-625516
Design Department	Mr. Mekonnen Leulseged +251-1-461175
Master Plan Studies Department	Mr. Messele Fisha +251-1-461169
Water Rights Administration and Water Management Department	Mr. Leulseged Tadesse +251-1-625521
Water Supply and Sewerage Department	Mr.Yohannes G/medhin +251-1-625526
Transboundry Rivers Department	Mr. Musa Mohammed +251-1-612410
Women's Affair Department	Mrs. Lakech Haile +251-1-626829
Computer and GIS Service	Mrs. Wagaye Teshome +251-1-630461
Audit Service	Mr. Getnet Moges +251-1-625518
Legal Service	Mr. Zewdu Tefera +251-1-627391
Public Relation and Information Service	Mr. Solomon Workneh +251-1-625514
Organization, management & Training Service	Mr. Tefera Assefa +251-1-625513
Administration and finance Service	Mr. Bekele Addise +251-1-626326
Supplies and equipment Service	Mr. Asrat Mane +251-1-626323
Library and Documentation Service	Mrs. Yeworkuha Kelemu +251-1-627392
Hydrology Department	Mr. Deksiyos Tarekegn +251-1-610708