Full Text (PDF)
Abstract
The main objective of this systematic review is to examine Ethiopia’s adoption of watershed management techniques between 2015 and 2025, evaluating the effects on the environment, society, and agriculture as well as the main policy issues influencing their sustainability and efficacy. The six steps of the PSASAR methodological framework—Procedure, Search, Appraisal, Synthesis, Analysis, and Reporting—were used in the study. This research shows how Ethiopia’s adoption of watershed management techniques greatly advances Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 by increasing food security via increased agricultural output and revenue diversification. By enhancing groundwater recharge, controlling stream flow, and expanding access to water, it also advances SDG 6. Additionally, it helps achieve SDG 15 by encouraging ecosystem restoration, lowering land degradation, and boosting biodiversity through soil and forest conservation efforts. It also promotes SDG 13 by bolstering climate resilience through soil moisture retention and microclimate regulation. The findings indicate that the adoption of WMP differs depending on the context and is impacted by gender roles, the availability of extension services and NGO support in Oromia, education in Amhara, and incentive systems in the southern regions. Higher crop yields and efficient erosion control are important effects in Amhara, whereas diversifying livelihoods and preserving soil fertility are advantageous outcomes in Oromia. In the Southern region, WMP improved household income and resilience to climate shocks, particularly through gender-sensitive approaches. In Amhara, poor coordination and institutional disengagement following project completion are frequent challenges that result in sustainability problems. In Oromia, communities experience fatigue and a dearth of follow-up, especially in areas where short-term NGO projects are the norm. In the Southern region, climate-smart agriculture and WMP plans are frequently out of sync, which suggests a lack of policy integration. Dispersed institutional duties and insufficient policy enforcement pose a danger to cohesion and scalability at the national level. Regional institutional, social, and technical problems frequently impact Ethiopia’s adoption of WMP. The following gaps are identified by the review: Little research has been done on the Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, Dire Dawa, Harari, and Somali regions, despite their reliance on rain-fed agriculture and the threats posed by climate change. Long-term adoption trends following donor withdrawal are not well documented. Socioeconomic advantages are not well or consistently evaluated, especially when it comes to indices of income diversity and resilience. There aren’t many quantitative studies of environmental impacts, such as variations in soil fertility, groundwater levels, or erosion rates. There is a dearth of empirical research on the dynamics of involvement and the implementation of gender-inclusive policies, as well as on the post-project sustainability of watershed initiatives, policy enforcement, and institutional cooperation. To optimize long-term benefits, this review recommends policies and support systems must be coordinated, inclusive, and localized.
License
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Type: Review Article
EUR J SUSTAIN DEV RES, Volume 10, Issue 2, 2026, Article No: em0376
https://doi.org/10.29333/ejosdr/17947
Publication date: 01 Apr 2026
Online publication date: 18 Feb 2026
Article Views: 12
Article Downloads: 7
Open Access References How to cite this article