Addis Ababa University (AAU) in collaboration with Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) organized an annual review meeting on the Environmental Sustainability and Resilience project activities led by the Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center and Network (HoA-REC & N), at Gullele Botanic Garden from 6^th – 7^th of Sept. 2022.

Professor Tassew Woldehanna, President of AAU, on his welcoming speech stated the progress of The Horn of Africa Environmental Sustainability and Resilience (HoA-ESR) project and the solid commitment of AAU on the implementation of the project to achieve its vision and mission of serving Ethiopian and the Horn countries.

“The goal of the regional projects is to enhance environmental sustainability and build community resilience through research, policy and development to promote sustainable natural resource management, conservation of biodiversity, promote regional integration, peace and stability in the Horn of African Countries,” he elaborated.

According to Prof. Tassew, the project is only at its beginning and many more regional projects will be launched in the coming years with the cooperative commitment of AAU and other stakeholders.

As reminded by Porf. Tassew, HoA-REC was established by AAU fifteen years ago to entirely serve the Horn of African communities in advancing environmental governance and to this date the Center has been serving the region through its networks.

“We recognize and highly value these services because AAU’s community service is being effectively delivered not only in Ethiopia but also in the Horn of Africa through this institutional network,” reminded the participants

“As everyone knows, AAU’s motto is ‘Seek Wisdom, Elevate Your Intellect and Serve Humanity’; we do this without borders, allover Africa and the entire world. To better serve humanity in the country and the region in the Horn, AAU is on the process of reorganizing itself as autonomous institution,” Prof. Tassew intensified.

Ms. Ulla Andren, Head of Regional Development Cooperation, Sida, in her remarks underlined that the project’s progress and improvement through performing tasks in the Center has become true after cooperative agreement signed in 2019.

Mekuria Argaw (PhD), Executive Director of AAU-HoA-REC & N, presented the goals and the activities of the project as to enhance environmental sustainability and resilience through research, knowledge-based policy and development, promoting sustainable natural resource management, conservation of biodiversity, regional integration, peace and stability in the Horn countries.

Different participants and scholars from different institutions of the Horn countries presented research results on their respective places of the project activities observed so far.

Reporter: Zelalem Moges

Photo: Andualem Aseffa

Editor: Abraham Girmay