Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU), in collaboration with eight partner institutions from across the globe, is conducting a major international research initiative titled “Policy Learning, Local Knowledge and Advocacy (POLKA) – Strengthening the Link between Practice and Policy for Food Production and Ecosystem Sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

The project brings together a diverse consortium of universities and research organizations, including IHE Delft (Netherlands), ASTU (Ethiopia), Meru University of Science and Technology (Kenya), Makerere University (Uganda), the Lake Chad Basin Commission (Chad), University of Juba (South Sudan), FRENASAP (Costa Rica), and ATREE (India). The overall objective of POLKA is to contribute to the transformation of food production systems in Sub-Saharan Africa. The project seeks to foster sustainable agro-ecosystems that are not only productive but also equitable and inclusive, which is achieved by promoting joint learning, collaborative research, and educational activities that build stronger connections between local practices and national policy domains. POLKA is financially supported by the Government of the Netherlands under its DUPC3 framework. Its activities include conducting case study research in participating countries as well as institutional capacity building through the financing and co-supervision of MSc and PhD research projects. The case site of ASTU is Lake Ziway Watershed in Ethiopia. As part of its project implementation, ASTU, in collaboration with UNESCO-IHE, is organizing a three-day workshop from September 17–19, 2025. According to Professor Mekonen Ayana, the project coordinator at ASTU, the workshop has brought together experts from the water and energy bureaus, irrigation, agriculture, environmental protection, gender offices, and selected staff from ASTU’s Department of Water Resources Engineering.