UAE-led initiative secures clean water for rural Ethiopians

A UAE-led humanitarian drive has improved access to safe drinking water for 9,000 people in rural villages in Ethiopia.

Six shallow wells with solar pumps have been installed in three villages (Walessa, Holte and Gato) in the East African nation's Dirashe District.

The project was implemented by the Beyond2020 scheme launched by the Zayed Sustainability Prize and its partners, including the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, Mubadala Energy and Masdar.

"This deployment in Ethiopia is a perfect example of how we can create meaningful change and address the urgent issues posed by climate change when we come together. We must continue acting in solidarity as we strive towards a future where safe water is accessible to all," said Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Director-General of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, and COP28 President-Designate.

The campaign in Ethiopia is being led by the Zayed Sustainability Prize finalist Solarkiosk Solutions, a German company that provides rural, off-grid communities with electricity and has benefitted five million people so far.

It has significantly reduced the burden of travelling long distances to fetch water – a burden which fell primarily on women and children, who spent several hours each day traveling as far as 5 km to collect water from neighbouring sources like open rivers and ponds during the dry seasons.

"We would like to thank the Beyond2020 initiative, its partners, and the UAE government for supporting the efficient installation of a clean water source to improve the lives of thousands of people in these rural Ethiopian villages," said Habtamu Itefa Geleta, Ethiopia's Minister of Water and Energy.

Beyond2020 has been providing solutions to energy, health, water and food-related challenges in 15 countries, including Nepal, Tanzania, Uganda, Jordan, Egypt, Cambodia, Madagascar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Rwanda, Peru, Lebanon and Sudan.

In addition to Ethiopia, another five countries have been identified as deployment grounds going forward.