The COWASH IV Federal Technical Assistance Team contributed to Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative by participating in a tree planting activity on August 19, 2024. The event was organized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy in collaboration with the Ministries of Education, Innovation and Technology and Agriculture. The tree planting took place in Chancho Woreda, Oromia Region.

Water and Energy Minister Dr. Engineer Habetamu Ittefa, in his opening speech, expressed his gratitude to the participating organizations and local communities. He described the day as a historic milestone, as the institutions joined forces to create a legacy for future generations. Dr. Ittefa expressed hope that the seedlings planted that day would flourish and revitalize the mountain in the area within a few years. Through the collaborative efforts of the day, approximately 27,000 seedlings were successfully planted in the area according to the Ministry of Water and Energy.

Mussie Hailegeorgis, a Climate and Environmental Risks and Water Safety Specialist at COWASH IV, emphasized the importance of reforestation efforts in combating climate change, noting that they contribute to flood prevention, groundwater recharge and carbon sequestration. He highlighted how these actions align with COWASH IV’s commitment to building climate-resilient WASH infrastructure.

Bertukan Asmamaw, the office manager of COWASH IV, also expressed her enthusiasm for the project’s team participation in the tree-planting initiative. She believes that the initiative contributes to building climate resilience and expressed her happiness in being part of the Green Legacy initiative. In addition to planting trees, the COWASH IV team also collected leftover plastic bags that the seedlings were packed in. This is not the first time COWASH IV has participated in the Green Legacy initiative. In previous years, the team has participated in similar initiatives during the rainy season.

According to the Office of the Prime Minister, 615.7 million seedlings were planted across 318.4 hectares of land during this national planting day. Since the inception of the Green Legacy Initiative in 2019, Ethiopia has successfully planted 32.5 billion saplings, reported the government owned Ethiopian News Agency. The goal for this rainy season is to add another 7.5 billion seedlings.