An inception workshop was held for the project ‘Youth Empowerment through Livelihood Transformation in Agro-Pastoral Areas of East and West Hararghe Zones, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.’
The workshop was conducted in Miesso Woreda Office of Agriculture and Natural Resources Meeting Hall. According to Dr. Muluken Gezahegn Wordofa, Principal Investigator of the project, the aim of the project is to identify youth aspirations, competitive advantages, and potential sources of sustainable livelihood opportunities, challenges and ways of addressing them in agro-pastoral areas of East and West Hararghe Zones.
Dr. Muluken presented a brief overview of the LASER PULSE project; and in his presentation covered aspects such as aim of the project, research translated products, and progresses made so far in the implementation of the project.
Dr. Getachew Shambel, Primary Co-PI of the project, in his part said the aim of the workshop is to bring together all the relevant stakeholders from various bureaus, share project implementation progresses made so far, and establish a multi-stakeholders’ platform to enhance research translation and joint implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the project.
The workshop provided critical feedback to the project team on translation partners’ commitment and support for the project, including the provision of secondary data from other relevant projects. It was also an opportunity for participants to provide feedback on new ideas that could be included in future surveys, such as challenges, opportunities, and existing resources.
Head of East Hararghe Zone Irrigation and Pastoralist Area Development Office, Mr. Michael Abrahim In his closing speech emphasized the importance of continued collaborations across relevant stakeholders to enhance youth livelihoods in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas.
Mr. Michael closed the workshop, on behalf of the research translation partners, stating that it had been a very beneficial and interesting meeting and sincerely thanked everyone for their participation.
The inception workshop was attended by participants from Haramaya University, East Hararghe Zone Irrigation and Pastoralist Area Development Office, Miesso Woreda Office of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Miesso Woreda Irrigation and Pastoralist Area Development, Gumbi Bordede Woreda Office of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gumbi Borded Woreda Office of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Member of Parliament (MP) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) House of People’s Representatives.
