On 18 December 2024, the CGIAR Initiative on NEXUS Gains, in partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy, and International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), hosted an online workshop on groundwater governance. The workshop shared results from recent international research on groundwater governance and discussed opportunities for improving groundwater governance policy and practice in Ethiopia.

The event aimed to improve understanding of the capabilities and limitations of groundwater governance tools, including a conceptual framework and approach to help choose and combine policy tools to fit contexts; specific lessons and possible next steps concerning groundwater games and related tools; and strategies for strengthening nexus governance for water, energy, food, and ecosystems. Discussions helped to identify and clarify priorities and methods for how policy could support effective groundwater governance, such as roles and cooperation among stakeholders; multiple use of shallow groundwater; enhancing aquifer recharge; and linkages between groundwater and surface water.