Dossier: Water
World Water Week – putting the puzzle together

We know much more about the world’s water challenges than we once did, and many solutions already exist. The urgent question is how to put them into practice – and at the scale required. This was precisely what…

Dossier: Water
Groundwater – real-world data on Africa’s hidden lifeline is lacking

Africa is estimated to hold 0.66 million cubic kilometres of groundwater. However, not all aquifers are created the same, making sustainable management highly complex. Within the Groundwater for Advancing Resilience in…

Dossier: Water
A new tool for more inclusive water governance

At the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, the International Water Management Institute launched the Water Governance Accelerator. It is…

Dossier: Water
Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in…

Dossier: Water
The true state of our water systems

Many regions are living beyond their hydrological means, and many critical water systems are already bankrupt. This is the sobering conclusion that the UN University’s Institute for Water, Environment and Health…

A woman farmer in Ethiopia using a solar-powered pump to draw groundwater for irrigating her crops.
Photo: Maheder Haileselassie/ IWMI

|

Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in Ethiopia. The collaboration aims to improve the conditions for solar-powered irrigation as Ethiopia works to build agricultural resilience.

The partnership brings together IWMI’s research-for-development expertise and ESEDA, an independent non-profit association linking private-sector and policy networks. It aims to strengthen the enabling environment for solar energy applications in agriculture, particularly solar-powered irrigation.

IWMI explains that the agreement is part of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project. Led by IWMI and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SoLAR project aims to unlock investments to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture. Now in its second phase, SoLAR operates across India and Bangladesh in South Asia and Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa.

Agriculture is a major driver of Ethiopia’s economy, and solar irrigation is increasingly seen as a viable option to support rural livelihoods. Ethiopia’s entry into SoLAR comes as the country accelerates efforts to expand clean irrigation.

Through this new partnership, IWMI and ESEDA are working to integrate solar energy into national programmes. They will test gender-inclusive financing models and generate on-field evidence through pilot demonstrations. Furthermore, IWMI researchers are going to introduce knowledge-sharing platforms to improve food security and advance climate adaptation.

Collaboration in research and knowledge exchange

IWMI and ESEDA are collaborating in research on integrating solar technologies into water resource management, too. The focus is on innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. The partnership also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange through training and capacity-building for farmers, technicians and policy-makers, strengthening awareness and adoption of best practices in solar-powered irrigation.

Piloting PPP businesss models

The Country Project Management Committee (CPMC), of which ESEDA is a member, is a national-level coordination body established under IWMI’s SoLAR project. The CPMC guides implementation, ensures alignment with government priorities and facilitates coordination among key stakeholders, including public institutions, research organisations and private sector actors in Ethiopia. One key component of this collaboration is private sector engagement. IWMI and ESEDA are working together to forge partnerships with private sector actors and pilot Public–Private Partnership (PPP) business models.

These pilots aim to demonstrate the economic viability of solar-powered irrigation solutions and help unlock investment for scaling access to climate-resilient and solar-powered irrigation solutions, says IWMI.
(IWMI/wi)


More information:

Link to SoLAR: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience

Rural 21 no 01/2020: Water for food and agriculture 

A woman farmer in Ethiopia using a solar-powered pump to draw groundwater for irrigating her crops.
Photo: Maheder Haileselassie/ IWMI

|

Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in Ethiopia. The collaboration aims to improve the conditions for solar-powered irrigation as Ethiopia works to build agricultural resilience.

The partnership brings together IWMI’s research-for-development expertise and ESEDA, an independent non-profit association linking private-sector and policy networks. It aims to strengthen the enabling environment for solar energy applications in agriculture, particularly solar-powered irrigation.

IWMI explains that the agreement is part of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project. Led by IWMI and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SoLAR project aims to unlock investments to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture. Now in its second phase, SoLAR operates across India and Bangladesh in South Asia and Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa.

Agriculture is a major driver of Ethiopia’s economy, and solar irrigation is increasingly seen as a viable option to support rural livelihoods. Ethiopia’s entry into SoLAR comes as the country accelerates efforts to expand clean irrigation.

Through this new partnership, IWMI and ESEDA are working to integrate solar energy into national programmes. They will test gender-inclusive financing models and generate on-field evidence through pilot demonstrations. Furthermore, IWMI researchers are going to introduce knowledge-sharing platforms to improve food security and advance climate adaptation.

Collaboration in research and knowledge exchange

IWMI and ESEDA are collaborating in research on integrating solar technologies into water resource management, too. The focus is on innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. The partnership also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange through training and capacity-building for farmers, technicians and policy-makers, strengthening awareness and adoption of best practices in solar-powered irrigation.

Piloting PPP businesss models

The Country Project Management Committee (CPMC), of which ESEDA is a member, is a national-level coordination body established under IWMI’s SoLAR project. The CPMC guides implementation, ensures alignment with government priorities and facilitates coordination among key stakeholders, including public institutions, research organisations and private sector actors in Ethiopia. One key component of this collaboration is private sector engagement. IWMI and ESEDA are working together to forge partnerships with private sector actors and pilot Public–Private Partnership (PPP) business models.

These pilots aim to demonstrate the economic viability of solar-powered irrigation solutions and help unlock investment for scaling access to climate-resilient and solar-powered irrigation solutions, says IWMI.
(IWMI/wi)


More information:

Link to SoLAR: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience

Rural 21 no 01/2020: Water for food and agriculture 

A woman farmer in Ethiopia using a solar-powered pump to draw groundwater for irrigating her crops.
Photo: Maheder Haileselassie/ IWMI

|

Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in Ethiopia. The collaboration aims to improve the conditions for solar-powered irrigation as Ethiopia works to build agricultural resilience.

The partnership brings together IWMI’s research-for-development expertise and ESEDA, an independent non-profit association linking private-sector and policy networks. It aims to strengthen the enabling environment for solar energy applications in agriculture, particularly solar-powered irrigation.

IWMI explains that the agreement is part of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project. Led by IWMI and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SoLAR project aims to unlock investments to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture. Now in its second phase, SoLAR operates across India and Bangladesh in South Asia and Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa.

Agriculture is a major driver of Ethiopia’s economy, and solar irrigation is increasingly seen as a viable option to support rural livelihoods. Ethiopia’s entry into SoLAR comes as the country accelerates efforts to expand clean irrigation.

Through this new partnership, IWMI and ESEDA are working to integrate solar energy into national programmes. They will test gender-inclusive financing models and generate on-field evidence through pilot demonstrations. Furthermore, IWMI researchers are going to introduce knowledge-sharing platforms to improve food security and advance climate adaptation.

Collaboration in research and knowledge exchange

IWMI and ESEDA are collaborating in research on integrating solar technologies into water resource management, too. The focus is on innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. The partnership also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange through training and capacity-building for farmers, technicians and policy-makers, strengthening awareness and adoption of best practices in solar-powered irrigation.

Piloting PPP businesss models

The Country Project Management Committee (CPMC), of which ESEDA is a member, is a national-level coordination body established under IWMI’s SoLAR project. The CPMC guides implementation, ensures alignment with government priorities and facilitates coordination among key stakeholders, including public institutions, research organisations and private sector actors in Ethiopia. One key component of this collaboration is private sector engagement. IWMI and ESEDA are working together to forge partnerships with private sector actors and pilot Public–Private Partnership (PPP) business models.

These pilots aim to demonstrate the economic viability of solar-powered irrigation solutions and help unlock investment for scaling access to climate-resilient and solar-powered irrigation solutions, says IWMI.
(IWMI/wi)


More information:

Link to SoLAR: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience

Rural 21 no 01/2020: Water for food and agriculture 

A woman farmer in Ethiopia using a solar-powered pump to draw groundwater for irrigating her crops.
Photo: Maheder Haileselassie/ IWMI

|

Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in Ethiopia. The collaboration aims to improve the conditions for solar-powered irrigation as Ethiopia works to build agricultural resilience.

The partnership brings together IWMI’s research-for-development expertise and ESEDA, an independent non-profit association linking private-sector and policy networks. It aims to strengthen the enabling environment for solar energy applications in agriculture, particularly solar-powered irrigation.

IWMI explains that the agreement is part of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project. Led by IWMI and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SoLAR project aims to unlock investments to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture. Now in its second phase, SoLAR operates across India and Bangladesh in South Asia and Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa.

Agriculture is a major driver of Ethiopia’s economy, and solar irrigation is increasingly seen as a viable option to support rural livelihoods. Ethiopia’s entry into SoLAR comes as the country accelerates efforts to expand clean irrigation.

Through this new partnership, IWMI and ESEDA are working to integrate solar energy into national programmes. They will test gender-inclusive financing models and generate on-field evidence through pilot demonstrations. Furthermore, IWMI researchers are going to introduce knowledge-sharing platforms to improve food security and advance climate adaptation.

Collaboration in research and knowledge exchange

IWMI and ESEDA are collaborating in research on integrating solar technologies into water resource management, too. The focus is on innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. The partnership also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange through training and capacity-building for farmers, technicians and policy-makers, strengthening awareness and adoption of best practices in solar-powered irrigation.

Piloting PPP businesss models

The Country Project Management Committee (CPMC), of which ESEDA is a member, is a national-level coordination body established under IWMI’s SoLAR project. The CPMC guides implementation, ensures alignment with government priorities and facilitates coordination among key stakeholders, including public institutions, research organisations and private sector actors in Ethiopia. One key component of this collaboration is private sector engagement. IWMI and ESEDA are working together to forge partnerships with private sector actors and pilot Public–Private Partnership (PPP) business models.

These pilots aim to demonstrate the economic viability of solar-powered irrigation solutions and help unlock investment for scaling access to climate-resilient and solar-powered irrigation solutions, says IWMI.
(IWMI/wi)


More information:

Link to SoLAR: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience

Rural 21 no 01/2020: Water for food and agriculture 

A woman farmer in Ethiopia using a solar-powered pump to draw groundwater for irrigating her crops.
Photo: Maheder Haileselassie/ IWMI

|

Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in Ethiopia. The collaboration aims to improve the conditions for solar-powered irrigation as Ethiopia works to build agricultural resilience.

The partnership brings together IWMI’s research-for-development expertise and ESEDA, an independent non-profit association linking private-sector and policy networks. It aims to strengthen the enabling environment for solar energy applications in agriculture, particularly solar-powered irrigation.

IWMI explains that the agreement is part of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project. Led by IWMI and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SoLAR project aims to unlock investments to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture. Now in its second phase, SoLAR operates across India and Bangladesh in South Asia and Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa.

Agriculture is a major driver of Ethiopia’s economy, and solar irrigation is increasingly seen as a viable option to support rural livelihoods. Ethiopia’s entry into SoLAR comes as the country accelerates efforts to expand clean irrigation.

Through this new partnership, IWMI and ESEDA are working to integrate solar energy into national programmes. They will test gender-inclusive financing models and generate on-field evidence through pilot demonstrations. Furthermore, IWMI researchers are going to introduce knowledge-sharing platforms to improve food security and advance climate adaptation.

Collaboration in research and knowledge exchange

IWMI and ESEDA are collaborating in research on integrating solar technologies into water resource management, too. The focus is on innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. The partnership also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange through training and capacity-building for farmers, technicians and policy-makers, strengthening awareness and adoption of best practices in solar-powered irrigation.

Piloting PPP businesss models

The Country Project Management Committee (CPMC), of which ESEDA is a member, is a national-level coordination body established under IWMI’s SoLAR project. The CPMC guides implementation, ensures alignment with government priorities and facilitates coordination among key stakeholders, including public institutions, research organisations and private sector actors in Ethiopia. One key component of this collaboration is private sector engagement. IWMI and ESEDA are working together to forge partnerships with private sector actors and pilot Public–Private Partnership (PPP) business models.

These pilots aim to demonstrate the economic viability of solar-powered irrigation solutions and help unlock investment for scaling access to climate-resilient and solar-powered irrigation solutions, says IWMI.
(IWMI/wi)


More information:

Link to SoLAR: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience

Rural 21 no 01/2020: Water for food and agriculture 

A woman farmer in Ethiopia using a solar-powered pump to draw groundwater for irrigating her crops.
Photo: Maheder Haileselassie/ IWMI

|

Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in Ethiopia. The collaboration aims to improve the conditions for solar-powered irrigation as Ethiopia works to build agricultural resilience.

The partnership brings together IWMI’s research-for-development expertise and ESEDA, an independent non-profit association linking private-sector and policy networks. It aims to strengthen the enabling environment for solar energy applications in agriculture, particularly solar-powered irrigation.

IWMI explains that the agreement is part of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project. Led by IWMI and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SoLAR project aims to unlock investments to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture. Now in its second phase, SoLAR operates across India and Bangladesh in South Asia and Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa.

Agriculture is a major driver of Ethiopia’s economy, and solar irrigation is increasingly seen as a viable option to support rural livelihoods. Ethiopia’s entry into SoLAR comes as the country accelerates efforts to expand clean irrigation.

Through this new partnership, IWMI and ESEDA are working to integrate solar energy into national programmes. They will test gender-inclusive financing models and generate on-field evidence through pilot demonstrations. Furthermore, IWMI researchers are going to introduce knowledge-sharing platforms to improve food security and advance climate adaptation.

Collaboration in research and knowledge exchange

IWMI and ESEDA are collaborating in research on integrating solar technologies into water resource management, too. The focus is on innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. The partnership also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange through training and capacity-building for farmers, technicians and policy-makers, strengthening awareness and adoption of best practices in solar-powered irrigation.

Piloting PPP businesss models

The Country Project Management Committee (CPMC), of which ESEDA is a member, is a national-level coordination body established under IWMI’s SoLAR project. The CPMC guides implementation, ensures alignment with government priorities and facilitates coordination among key stakeholders, including public institutions, research organisations and private sector actors in Ethiopia. One key component of this collaboration is private sector engagement. IWMI and ESEDA are working together to forge partnerships with private sector actors and pilot Public–Private Partnership (PPP) business models.

These pilots aim to demonstrate the economic viability of solar-powered irrigation solutions and help unlock investment for scaling access to climate-resilient and solar-powered irrigation solutions, says IWMI.
(IWMI/wi)


More information:

Link to SoLAR: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience

Rural 21 no 01/2020: Water for food and agriculture 

19  – 30 October 2026, Yerevan, Armenia

United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP17)

Information: Website

20–21 October, Dublin, Ireland 

Global Bioeconomy Summit 2026

Information: Website

3–6 November 2026,  Xi' An, China

Fifteenth International Forum on Energy for Sustainable Development

Information: Website

9–20 November 2026,  Antalya, Türkiye

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP31

Information: Website

11-15 January 2027, Berlin, Germany

Global Forum for Food and Agriculture

Information: Website

15-24 January 2027, Berlin, Germany

Grüne Woche 2027 – Green Week 2027

Information: Website

16-18 March 2027, Aqaba, Jordan 

14th World Ocean Summit & Expo

Information: Website


A woman farmer in Ethiopia using a solar-powered pump to draw groundwater for irrigating her crops.
Photo: Maheder Haileselassie/ IWMI

|

Solar irrigation initiative launched

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the Ethiopian Solar Energy Development Association (ESEDA) have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance solar-powered irrigation systems in Ethiopia. The collaboration aims to improve the conditions for solar-powered irrigation as Ethiopia works to build agricultural resilience.

The partnership brings together IWMI’s research-for-development expertise and ESEDA, an independent non-profit association linking private-sector and policy networks. It aims to strengthen the enabling environment for solar energy applications in agriculture, particularly solar-powered irrigation.

IWMI explains that the agreement is part of the Solar Energy for Agricultural Resilience (SoLAR) project. Led by IWMI and supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the SoLAR project aims to unlock investments to scale solar energy solutions for agriculture. Now in its second phase, SoLAR operates across India and Bangladesh in South Asia and Ethiopia and Kenya in East Africa.

Agriculture is a major driver of Ethiopia’s economy, and solar irrigation is increasingly seen as a viable option to support rural livelihoods. Ethiopia’s entry into SoLAR comes as the country accelerates efforts to expand clean irrigation.

Through this new partnership, IWMI and ESEDA are working to integrate solar energy into national programmes. They will test gender-inclusive financing models and generate on-field evidence through pilot demonstrations. Furthermore, IWMI researchers are going to introduce knowledge-sharing platforms to improve food security and advance climate adaptation.

Collaboration in research and knowledge exchange

IWMI and ESEDA are collaborating in research on integrating solar technologies into water resource management, too. The focus is on innovations in climate-resilient agriculture and efficient irrigation systems. The partnership also aims to facilitate knowledge exchange through training and capacity-building for farmers, technicians and policy-makers, strengthening awareness and adoption of best practices in solar-powered irrigation.

Piloting PPP businesss models

The Country Project Management Committee (CPMC), of which ESEDA is a member, is a national-level coordination body established under IWMI’s SoLAR project. The CPMC guides implementation, ensures alignment with government priorities and facilitates coordination among key stakeholders, including public institutions, research organisations and private sector actors in Ethiopia. One key component of this collaboration is private sector engagement. IWMI and ESEDA are working together to forge partnerships with private sector actors and pilot Public–Private Partnership (PPP) business models.

These pilots aim to demonstrate the economic viability of solar-powered irrigation solutions and help unlock investment for scaling access to climate-resilient and solar-powered irrigation solutions, says IWMI.
(IWMI/wi)


More information:

Link to SoLAR: Solar Irrigation for Agricultural Resilience

Rural 21 no 01/2020: Water for food and agriculture