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In keeping with this year's World Water Day theme, Japan has been "making the invisible visible" in Ethiopia by being a pioneering supporter of groundwater investigation and development since funding Ethiopian Water Construction Authority in the early 1970s. We have tackled this challenging theme in two ways, human resource development and field demonstration of groundwater exploration and management.

In 1998, JICA supported the established of the Ethiopian Water Technology Center (currently Ethiopian Water Technology Institute) in collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia. Its mission is to provide basic and practical skills training for Ethiopian water technicians and engineers in groundwater investigation and development. Many Japanese experts have visited to share their expertise and developed training curriculum for borehole drilling technology that makes groundwater potentials visible.

JICA has also been a premier practitioner in supporting groundwater exploration and management across the country. Groundwater studies were implemented to compile hydrogeological maps in some basins having complex geological conditions or water scarcity, such as the Rift Valley Lakes, middle Awash, Jarar and Shebele basins. Furthermore, JICA has promoted protection of shallow groundwater from contamination and improved livelihood using affordable technologies such as Rope Pumps in the Southern region, followed by scaling up in Amhara and Oromia regions. As a result, 80 towns have benefited, reaching 600,000 people.

Currently, 65% of Ethiopia's water supply is sourced from groundwater. It is vital to ensure sustainable utilization and management of this precious resource. JICA will further collaborate with the Ethiopian government to enhance the water sector using Japanese experience and technologies.

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