IWRIE-CoE has re-designed research themes, sub-themes, and priority areas to be cutting-edge and interdisciplinary in terms of science, technology transfer, and innovation, while also being relevant to the needs of industries and the country at large. The re-design of its research thematic area is based on the identification and prioritization of current urgent problems at the ground level (site level) related to water resources and irrigation engineering in the country-Ethiopia at large, and in the Awash River basin in particular. The main identified problems, among others, are hydraulic structures and watercourses sedimentation, land degradation and soil erosion, flood and droughts, water quality deterioration, poor irrigation water management, risks on water infrastructure