2. Background of Relief Society of Tigray
(REST)

Relief Society of Tigray (REST) is an indigenous (Ethiopian)
non-governmental organization based in Tigray since 1978,

REST is implementing a wide range of Relief, Rehabilitation
and Development activities in Rural areas of Tigray .
Originally REST was established to serve the needs of the
people in the liberated areas of Tigray during the then civil
war.



REST has always been a grass-roots organization, committed
to working with the poorest and most marginalized
communities to bring about positive and sustainable changes.
The activities of REST are funded by various international
donor organizations and NGOs (EU and USAID--)

3. REST’s Vision and Mission
REST’s Vision
A future where poverty has been eradicated and all
people enjoy equitable access to development
opportunities and benefits.
REST’s Mission
To contribute to the eradication of poverty in Ethiopia
by promoting livelihoods on a sustainable basis
within the context of stimulating wider economic
dynamism and growth within the Regional State of
Tigray.

4. REST Goals and Objectives
Goals
 REST’s overall goal is to bring about a sustainable
development in food insecure livelihoods within REST
operational areas
Objectives
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
To promote sustainable natural resource management
To improve water security within Tigray
To strengthen household livelihoods within REST
operational areas
To improve the health and educational status of people
in Tigray
To promote empowerment of women in Tigray

5. REST’s Operational Areas
REST has Four major operational areas practiced in the target
watersheds .
1. Environmental Rehabilitation and Agricultural
Development (ERAD),
 Natural Resource Management




Soil and water conservation (SWC)
Reforestation and Agro-ferestry
Rural Access Road
Renewable Energy
 Agricultural Development Program




Livestock and forage development
Crop development and
Marketing and linking to MFI
Weather Crop Insurance
2. Water harvesting and Irrigation Infrastructures
Development



micro-dams, river diversions, pump installation, construction
springs,
community ponds,
open hand dug wells and underground tankers.

6. REST’s Operational ------Cont’d
3.Rural water supply for domestic use





3.
Hand dug well,
Spring water development,
shallow borehole,
Roof rain water harvesting and
deep Borehole
Health Programs





Maternal and Child Health,
Reproduction health and family planning,
HIV/AIDS and STIs prevention,
infectious disease mitigation and
basic personal hygiene and sanitation education.

7. 


Emergency Seed Provision
Project

8. REST’s Participatory and Integrated Watershed
Management Approach
The Participation and integration starts from the
planning processes
By establishing watershed committee at region, wereda and
watershed level.
A community watershed committee representing the
beneficiary of the village.
This helps to perform all necessary studying, planning,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the
interventions in the watershed.
Since 2002, Rest has been following Participatory and
integrated watershed approach.
Most of the activities have been implemented by
concentrating and integrating within the watershed.

9. Watershed Committee Establishment
The Community watershed committee has at least 10-15 farmers
who are selected by the community in the village.
The selection considers gender, age, wealth status, land holding
and active participant or model farmers
Major tasks of the committee is Planning,
implementation, monitoring and Evaluation of
projects within the watershed
The CWC with assistance of the development agents
and wereda watershed committees prepare Base and
development plans of the watersheds based on the baseline
information of the watersheds.
The weredas watershed committees have got technical
assistance from regional experts of REST and BOARD
during planning, introducing new technologies,
implementation and evaluation processes.

10. Members of Meara Community Watershed committee,
Hintalowajerat Wereda, evaluating progress of water
harvesting check dam construction in this watershed

11. Sketch base map of Daereka Watershed prepared by
the community watershed management committee

12. GIS Tools Used for the watershed Mapping
and Planning
•The watershed study are
supported by GIS tools
•REST has GIS Unit operating
watershed mapping, Planning
and designing
•The Regional and Wereda
REST experts are well trained
in GIS software to make the
watershed study more scientific
and reliable
•Some maps of the studied
Sample REST watersheds are
illustrated as next

13. KEY FEATURES OF THE REST Watershed
Approach
1) Participatory, Integrated, Linked and Sequenced
Watershed Planning:
Participatory planning based on existing potentials, and
implementation and ME
Designing interventions in an integrated, linked and sequenced
approach
Good for functional integration:
with in the project components (linking NRM with
livelihood….) and
with other projects/development actions:
eg. Coordination and integration with government
development plan, various REST projects, and other ongoing
initiatives

14. 2) Centrality of access to and control over
Water
Focus:
Effective Utilization and Management of
Water Resources in the rural community
Soil and water conservation: Intensive Upper catchments
treatments by different SWC measures and reforestation (PW
activities)
Developing water resource (ground and surface) utilizing
wide range of appropriate alternative technologies:
 Surface Water harvesting structures for irrigation (Diversions, dams, check
dam ponds, spring developments, ….)
 Ground water development: HDWs, Deep and shallow wells..
Water lifting and efficiency technologies (water pumps, Drip,
Rope and washer, treadle pumps)

15. 3) Flexible & Diversified Livelihood
Packages
Approach:
Demand driven packaging (size and type)
Provision of various assets based on potential
and choice of the HHs,
Application of Value chain at farmers
Technical training on Asset management &
productivity,
Provision of continued technical support
Demonstration/Promotion based scale up
and scale out approach

16. Flexible & Livelihood package Cont…..
Linking natural resource rehabilitation outputs to
household asset building

(Area enclosures for bee keeping, Livestock
fattening….)
Provision of productive assets both at individual
& group level (OHDWs, water lifting
technologies, etc.)
Facilitate market linkage (market sheds, market
groups, Value chain analysis etc.)
 Improving animal productivity by providing
improved breeds, animal forage and modern bee
keepings.
Improving its health status through intensive
health education focusing on FP, Sanitation &
hygiene, HIV/AIDS and promoting nutrition.

17. 4) Enhancing Community Institutions
Community institutions development: Watershed
committee, cooperatives, user groups…
Technical and managerial capacity building
At community level focus on watershed committee,
community technical leaders

Trainings, visits, material support (tools…)
Local government capacity building:

focus on Development agents, Cooperatives, Wareda level
expertise and administrators

18. Implementation Pattern
(From uphill to downstream of a watershed)–
Creating perennial water sources
Developing Natural Resource Base in the watershed
Sequential pattern of NRM planning and
implementation so that
perennial water at downstream are created and sustainable
developments are achieved within the watersheds.
The implementation of the natural resources
management activities starts
on upper catchments treatment using terraces, bunds, basins,
check dams, plantations, percolation ponds and channels,
check dams ponds and mini-dams and
 then water harvesting for irrigation and/or domestic use at
the downstream. ( See Figure )

19. Upper Catchments Treatment
Terraces and
Bunds
•Gully bank
reshaping
•Biological
treatment
Basins and
Simple check
dams
Gully
treatment
Sediment
Storage
check dams
Plantations and
area enclosures
Gabion and
loose rock
check dams
Percolation check
dams, ponds and
channels
Water Harvesting Check
dam ponds, Mini-dams
Creating perennial water sources for Irrigation and domestic
use
•Stream water diverting check dams
•Water Springs
•Water wells and boreholes
•Other water sources

20. Developed water for irrigation and
domestic use
Water Harvesting Check dam
ponds
Percolation check dams and
ponds channels
Gully
treatment
Upper catchments
treatment

21. Soil and Water Conservation Programs
of REST
In Tigray, the governmental based SWC program was
introduced in 1971 through food-for-work program
(Hunting, 1976).
Major SWC Activities
 Upper catchments treatment –
 Big gully reclamation Moisture harvesting on Farmland
 Micro scale Water harvesting
 Ground water recharging Capacity Building-

22. SWC structures on Communal land as well
as on farmland
From 1993 to 2010;
249,132hectarres of land have
been treated by various types
of SWC techniques in REST
intervention weredas.
Communal HILL LAND

23. Various types of SWC terraces, bunds and basins

24. SWC Terraces and basins on Communal land as
well as on farmland

25. One type of in situ moisture harvesting trench bund on
cropland as well as on communal land
Trench bund on cropland
Trench Bund on Communal
land

26. Big Gully Reclamation-
Gully physical, biological and mechanical treatment- Changed to
productive land
Big Gully Reclamation-Since1998
436big gullies have been fully
reclaimed and changed to
productive land.

27. Gully Plugging (Left) Loose rock and gabion based checkdams and (Right) Biological treatment
Loose rock check dam
Gabion check dam

28. Deep Gully Reclamation
Reshaping and Plantation elephant grass for animal feed,
T/Daereka watershed

29. Landless groups developing marginal lands around
Gully banks with fruits and fodder, Tigray
Church as a reference
point
Gully reclamation and bank
rehabilitation at early stage, 2008
Marginal land allocated for landless
groups and now under development,
2011

30. Percolation Ponds, Channels, Check dams and Deep trenches
The percolation structures have
been introduced in the REST
weredas since 2004.
These structures are designed to trap the
excess runoff water flows down from the
upper catchments and recharge ground
water and increase water discharge of
the different types of water sources

31. Water Harvesting Check dam
•Since 2004, water harvesting check dams have been introduced be applied
on big gullies and streams. This is an Indian experiences
•for irrigation- Full time as well as supplementary
•for biological gully treatment,
•recharging ground water, and
•as a livestock watering point and other domestic use.
So far more than 300WHCD have been constructed and scale out by the
government and NGOS in Tigray, Amhara and Afar Regions
BEFORE
AFTER
Water Harvesting Check dam built in 2006 Meara Watershed, Hintalo-Wajer

32. Water Harvesting Check dams- Check dam Ponds under
construction on dry gullies

33. One of the water harvesting check dam pond
constructed in 2007 for irrigation in Medhin Watershed,
Mereb-leke, Lowland Tigray
Before
After Construction

34. Water Harvesting Check dams- Cont’d
Before
Construction
After Construction

35. Check Dam Pond in Worileke Wereda, Maisesela
village

36. Flood Diversion in Raya Using Runoff
Diverting Check dams

38. Strategic Approach
Ensuring participation of all stockholders at all
levels (especially community Participation, etc.)
Selection of appropriate, affordable technology
and manageable to the end users.
Use the Water efficiently and upgrading existing
Traditional irrigation systems.
Focusing on sustainable small scale irrigation
projects
Integration and synergy with: Water shade approach
Gender, agronomy ,market ,credit and health
 Soil and water conservation Interventions

39. Irrigation Development:
REST annual Capacity
39

40.  More than 51
dams Constructed
in different
weredas
 About 5500 ha,
irrigated
 About 22,000
households
benefited

41. Before and After:
Construction Mini Dams
41

42. River Diversion

43.  More than 95
Diversion
Constructed in
different weredas
 About 6500 ha,
irrigated
 About 26,000
households
benefited
43

44.  More than 250
check dams
Constructed in
different weredas
 About 4,000 ha,
irrigated
 About 3,000
households
benefited

45.  More than 15 spate
schemes Constructed
in Ray Azebo weredas
 About 2500 ha,
irrigated
 About 5000
households benefited
45

46. Community Hand Dug Wells
46

47. Underground Tankers
47

48. Pump Irrigation Infrastructure
48

49. Reforestation Programs of REST in Tigray
Tree Nursery Management, seedling transportation and plantation
From1993-2010 --197,992,249
seedlings have been produced
so far in both the central nursery
sites and the community nursery
sites and Planted
Average of the survival rate counts
for every year is 61.7%

50. Plantation
Gravilia Plantation in Adwa, Tabia Selam

51. Plantation Area- Before and After
Plantation
in Adwa/Tabia Selam
Degraded land Before
Plantation
AFTER

52. Biofuel-survival Rate of Jatropha plants from 2007
Jatropha Plantations
Total planted and
to 20011
Total
No. of
No. of
Survive Areas
Plantation Options Planted/ Survived d in % inHa
Sown
Communal areas
Individual plantations
Agro forestry
Apportioned hillsides
Gully sites
Social institutions
FTC
Total
49012478
159490
54020
10030
70021
43741
552
32536206
149380
52280
9392
65502
40280
542
66
94
97
94
94
92
98
19605
63
21
4
93
17
0.01
49,350,332
32,853,582
67
19,803

53. Jatropha Plantation --seed production

54. Agro-forestry / Farmland enclosure

55. Area enclosure Management,
Mawi watershed in Kolatembien (Left) and Ahferom
(Right)
From1993 to 2007 -- 172,399ha
of land have been enclosed as
natural regeneration as well as
plantation areas

56. Potable Water Supply
Hand dug well and Boreholes for Potable water
Supply

57. Agricultural Development Programs– Crop
and Livestock Developments and Weather Crop Insurance
Crop Development– Major Interventions
 Vegetable production

Include all improved and local vegetable seeds
 Oil crops

Such as ground nut seeds used for oil extraction and peanut/ butter for different
purposes.
 Fruit development

Purchase , Production and Distribution of Grafted and Non grafted Tropical and
Temperate fruit seedlings and seeds.
 Promotion of water lifting technologies such as

Small /Medium water pumps, electrical pumps, FDK, and rope & washer pumps
 Market linkage


Includes market sheds
Organizing groups
 Micro-garden- Vegetable production as micro garden on women
headed households

58. Fruit Production
Type of fruit seedlings
No. of fruit since
1996
Tropical fruits and High Land fruits
418,505
Coverage in Ha
872ha

59. Vegetable production
Provision of Improved vegetable seeds to farmers and
Microgarden

60. S/N
Micro-irrigation technologies
Description of items
1
3-4 hp water pumps
2
4-6 hp l W/pump
3
Rope & washer
4
Family Drip (500 m2 )
Description of items

61. Integration of Shallow Water well, FDK, and
Vegetable Production

62. Livestock Development Program
Major Activities of this Program in FY2012
Forage development
Livestock watering points development
Beekeeping development
Dairy development
Small ruminant rearing and fattening
Large ruminant/ Cattle fattening
Rural poultry development
Different type of capacity building activities: trainings,
Workshops, and exposure visits control and zero grazing
apiculture and sericulture.

63. Forage seed multiplication center Management Merebleke &
Ahferom
Alfalfa plantation management at nursery site

64. Livestock Watering Point Development

65. Dairy Development–
Provision of Improved Breed of Local Dairy Cows (Begait
Cows) as well as HF Cows

66. Colony multiplications and Honey production –
Integrated with Area-enclosures

67. Good poultry management is the key for the successful improved income
of female headed households Hintalo & Adua

68. Small Ruminant Production and Fattening
Small ruminant rearing is the best way of income of female

69. Large ruminant/Cattle fattening
by Women

70. Establishment/strengthening of farmers cooperativesFattening, Poultry, Dairy, Beekeeping

71. Weather Crop Insurance - HARITA from 2009 to 2012
Phase
I
II
III
IV
2009
2010
2011
2012
1
5
43
76
Teff
Teff , Barley and
wheat
Teff , Barley, Sorghum,
Maize, bean, and wheat
Teff , Barley,
Sorghum, Maize,
bean, and wheat
Insurance company
NISCO
NISCO
NISCO & AIC
NISCO & AIC
# of insured farmers
200
1,308
13,195
19407
Male
125
802
8740
Female
75
506
4304
Total Sum insured
115,000
974,400
15,883,726
Premium
27,600
357,014
3,633,636.5
No
No
295, 653.70
Production year
Covered villages
Insured crops
Payout
15334
4073
24,481,550
4,840,236.95
5,809,890

72. Environmental Impacts of the Watershed
Development Programs of REST
 The active interventions of the programs by REST, the
government and the farmers have resulted in
considerable improvements on the natural resource
management base and rehabilitating environment in
Tigray.
 Significant improvements have been observed
regarding to
 Soil loss reduction,
 Biomass production,
 Soil moisture improvement
 Groundwater recharging and
 Prevention of flood hazard.

73. Average sediment budget for cropped plots with stone
bunds in Tigray Highlands (after Desta, 2003).
68% of soil loss reduction---11cm of soil depth has been saved

74. Raised ground water table and Improved ground
water discharge in Daereka watershed

75. Water harvesting Check dams:
Recharging ground water and rising ground water table

76. Stream diversion and water hand dug wells for irrigation
in Daereka Watershed Ahferom district
Stream Diversion
Water well

77. In addition to irrigation, Recharging groundwater
using check dam ponds for potable water supply
Check Dam Pond
Hand Pump Potable water

78. Vegetation cover improvements
REST has been working effectively on the reforestation
activities since 1993
Vegetation Cover changes- Image of Daereka watershed
1986
2000
2007

79. Improved vegetation cover (Area
enclosure Management)

80. Vegetation cover change of the landscape over 30 years
in Kushet Birki, Tabia Mesanu, Woreda Kilte Awlaelo;A) Photo taken by Neil Munro in 1975, B) Photo taken by
Jan Nyssen in 2006 on the same landscape
A) Photo in 1975
B) Photo 2006

81. Economical benefits
Crop yield improvement
64507
70000
60000
50000
44554
42761
Soil loss zone (Upper zone)
Middle
Zone
40000
zones
Crop yeild difference in the three
Comparison of average grain yield (g/m²) on the accumulation zone, the middle
zone and the loss zone (After Desta, 2003) in Doguatembien
30000
20000
10000
0
Area between two bunds
Accomulation
Zone

82. Irrigation Development: HDW + Agronomy
82

83. Irrigation using the check dams,
Debdibo watershed, Ahferom

84. Crop and fruit Production during dry season-Hintalowajerat– Irrigation using check dam ponds

85. Enhance Production using Check dam ponds

86. Livestock Grass Production and
Watering Point
on gullies
Grass production
Communal Grazing land

87. The rural people celebrating the gabion based ‘Maegel’
(Diverting Check dam)and showing the boosted production of
sorghum,in Raya

88. Horticulture- Apple mango

89. Area enclosures--- an opportunity for beekeeping
intervention and honey Production

90. Lessons Learnt
Watershed as a planning unit: helps to facilitate integration &
synergy b/n various development actions and to achieve
sustainable development .
Participatory and community managed watershed development is
very important
Water centered strategy is essential for accelerating the rate of
food production, and enhancing the natural resource base that
supports agricultural productivity in moisture stressed areas of
Tigray.
Management and Development of Natural Resource Base is a key
for improvement of the livelihood of the community in the
watershed
Good integration and working together with the community and
government relevant offices and bureaus is very crucial for
successes of the project.

91. Lessons Learnt..
 Linking the poor HHs to MFI and Market is very essential for
sustainable food security at HH level
Profitable income diversification strategies based on
appropriateness for participant HHs, and assessment of
market potential are required to enhance purchase power in the
context of escalating food prices, lower crop yields and poverty
reduction.
Dissemination of high value crop inputs and commercial
oriented technologies like irrigation, are critical to transforming
smallholder farming.
Training should be paired with access to inputs and links to the
private sector.
The need of Weather Insurance to farmers for better investment
and adapting climate change

92. Observed Challenges:
Legal entity of Community WMCs to manage their resources
(Esp Financial Resources, Revolving fund)
To many meetings of the community by government
Limited managerial capacity of WMCs & user groups (financial,
technical, managerial)
Low literacy of the CWMC Members
Shortage of Fund to covet the need of the community
Staff Turnover at all levels
Shortage of skill and capacity at community level for
maintenance and management of technological inputs
Efficient utilization of common resources (irrigation water using
drip system
Market Price inflation of inputs and technologies

93. Opportunity
Commitment of the community for labour mobilization for
environmental rehabilitation and agricultural development
Conducive government policy and commitment of the
government bureaus and offices
Commitment of donors to work with REST in watershed
development
Good integration and working together culture with
government bureaus and offices
Good Awareness of the community of the effects of severe
land degradation problems in their areas.

94. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION
YEKENIYELEY