ADDIS ABABA – The Groundwater Access Facility (GaFa), launched earlier this month, aims to improve access to clean drinking water and enhance livelihood resilience in the Horn of Africa, UN agencies reported.

According to Ethiopian News Agency, the initiative, launched on May 7, 2024, by IGAD Water Ministers and UN officials in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, addresses critical water scarcity affecting millions in the region.

UNDP Resident Representative in Ethiopia, Samuel Doe, emphasized the GaFa project’s role in providing clean drinking water and agricultural water in borderland areas, enhancing sustainable peace and social cohesion through shared resources. “We believe in access to groundwater advancing resilience and sustainable agriculture, fostering food sovereignty in the Horn of Africa,” Doe stated.

Paolo Paron, Senior Land and Water Advisor at FAO Somalia, highlighted the initiative’s importance for water management in drought-affected areas and pledged further projects for sustainable water use in IGAD countries. He emphasized the transboundary nature of water resources, advocating for pilot projects to demonstrate effective management and resilience building.

Victor Kinyanjui, Chief of WASH Program at UNICEF Ethiopia, noted the organization’s close collaboration with Ethiopia’s Ministry of Water and Energy. He stressed the GaFa initiative’s critical role in securing sustainable water resources for climate-affected lowland communities, with UNICEF supporting clean water provision efforts. “The Ethiopian government is moving quickly on major water resources management, and UNICEF is fully supporting these activities,” Kinyanjui said.