In the dry lands of South Omo and under the relentless gaze of the sun, Yos Etos, an elderly mother of six in OcholIoch kebele, Dasenech woreda, South Omo zone, is faced with another day of uncertainty. As she stands by the hand-dug well, her heart is heavy with the weight of responsibility—her family relies on this fragile source of water. It is a lifeline for her six children and their livestock, a beacon of survival in a landscape where drought reigns supreme.
“This is our source of water during this dry season, perhaps until the next flood comes. I don’t know for sure if it lasts long, as it’s already cracked. Every morning, before I come here, I pray that it doesn’t collapse and take away any life,” said Yos Etos, referring to the family’s hand-dug well her children were struggling with to get water from. “There are many instances such wells have collapsed and claimed human lives in our community,” she added.
Yos Etos’ story is just one of a thousand similar stories in the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities of South Omo. Inhabitants of the zone are predominantly dependent on hand-dug wells in sediments or along (usually dry) river beds for their drinking water and that of their livestock. Deeper boreholes are also encountered in the area, but are far less common than hand-dug wells (Groen and Schotting, 2019).
The zone, with an estimated population of 802, 467 (CSA, 2019), faces severe environmental challenges: chronic soil erosion, land degradation, inadequate water resources, loss of biodiversity, natural hazards (repeated droughts and flash floods), and climate change. Water is now increasingly scarce in large parts of the zone, posing the greatest threat to livelihoods, food security, ecosystems and the economy (Sarah, 2022). Yet, the zone significantly contributes to the country’s overall livestock population and economy. According to CSA (2020-21), South Omo zone has a huge livestock population of 2.73 million cattle, 3.11 million goats and 1.42 million sheep. Excluding the values of draught power, manure and transport of people and products, the contribution of live animals and their products to the country’s agricultural economy accounts for around 40% (Aleme and Lemma, 2015).
Because of the historical neglect of marginal regions, it is unsurprising that the infrastructure of South Omo can be described as ‘weak and for the most part nonexistent’ (Farah, 1996). This lack of decent infrastructure, together with severe environmental challenges, has largely contributed to the overall underdevelopment of the area, including water, sanitation and hygiene services (Groen and Schotting, 2019).
In its drive to catalyze agricultural transformation in South Omo zone, Hailemariam & Roman Foundation (HRF) has prioritized the need to address the critical water shortage for livestock in the zone. To this end, the Foundation, along with its key stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, regional, zonal and woreda bureaus, academic institutions, NGOs and private sector, carried out a joint feasibility assessment to scale up sand dam technology for livestock watering in four woredas of the zone, namely Hamer, Bena Tsemay, Dasenech and Nyangatom, from 26-31 January 2025. The assessment included creating common understanding on sand dam technology among stakeholders, visiting sand dams already constructed by stakeholders (both functional and nonfunctional) and identifying potential areas to scale up the technology.
“Watering livestock is a major job for pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in South Omo and shortage of water often leads to social conflicts. In most instances, where both humans and animals consume water from the same source, there is a serious risk to public health,” said Ato Tesfaye Falaha, Chief of Agricultural Transformation, Food and Nutrition Security at HRF, indicating that the joint feasibility assessment has revealed the urgency of the matter and identified potential areas for sand dam constructions. “Now, we want all concerned bodies to join us in addressing this pressing community need. It is important investing in sand dams as a solution to perennial challenges of hunger, water shortages and negatives effects of climate change,” he added.
With the financial support of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, HRF is implementing Agricultural Transformation, Food and Nutrition Security Project in South Omo zone, Ethiopia, and advocating for policies, regulations and innovative approaches that transform agriculture, food systems and value chain development in Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia and Ghana.