About Us

Ethio Wetlands and Natural Resources Association (EWNRA) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization established in 2000. Further, EWNRA is non-political and non-religious organization and strives on the principles of equal opportunities for all citizens through all its development interventions. It is registered as an NGO with the Federal Ministry of Justice and has signed a general agreement with the Federal Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency and three regional states. On October 26, 2009 EWNRA is also re-registered (Re-Registeration # 0198) based on the new Charities and Societies Agency of the Federal Ministry of Justice of Ethiopia.

EWNRA was established at the end of three years European Union funded project, implemented in Illu Aba Bora Zone of Oromia Regional State. The prime objective, for which EWNRA has been established, is to raise awareness and understanding of wetlands, wetlands associated natural resources and other natural resources in the country. It also seeks to explore, through research and development projects, how these resources can be used sustainably to reduce poverty and improve environmental conditions and natural resource management in order to meet the needs of the community and to maintain the environment.

EWNRA recognises that wetlands must be considered as part of the total natural resource management system. Hence EWNRA is also interested in watershed/catchment management and ways of improving the use of forested areas so that they can be sustained.

EWNRA gives more attention to act on the perceived needs and interests of the local communities and the general public. It builds on the community skills, knowledge and local institutions. It also considers involving the interest of both gender group and has developed a working policy in all its intervention an involvement of 30% of the beneficiaries to be women group at this stage and eventually to meet equal proportion of beneficiaries from both gender groups.