Mekelle University Strengthens Women’s Empowerment through Peri-Urban Agroforestry Training
As part of the REVITAL-MU-ADU Project, titled “Revitalizing Mekelle and Adigrat Universities’ Academic Capacity Post-Conflict: Introducing Peri-Urban Agroforestry for Climate Resilience, Forest Restoration, and Women’s Livelihood Enhancement,” Mekelle University successfully conducted a two-day capacity-building training on peri-urban agroforestry practices for 100 women farmers selected from Debri District, Hadinet Sub-City, Mekelle, on 05–06 February 2026.
The training was officially opened by Dr. Tigist Araya, Director of the Institute of Climate and Society, who highlighted the critical role of climate-resilient agroforestry in strengthening women’s livelihoods and supporting post-conflict recovery. Then, an overview of the project objectives and implementation progress was presented by Dr. Haileselassie G.Mariam, a delegated Principal Investigator.
This training is part of the broader REVITAL-MU-ADU Project, a collaborative initiative between Mekelle University, Adigrat University, and BOKU University (Austria), with financial support from the Austrian Agency for Education and Internationalisation (OeAD). The project aims to revitalize academic capacity in post-conflict settings while promoting peri-urban agroforestry for climate resilience, environmental restoration, and sustainable livelihood enhancement, with women’s empowerment as a central pillar.
The training was delivered by multidisciplinary experts from Mekelle University, including Dr. Zenawi Zerihun (Department of Psychology), who facilitated sessions on psychosocial healing, resilience building, and gender equality, and Mr. Hintsa Muruts (Assistant Professor of Agroforestry and Head of the Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection), who provided technical training on agroforestry systems, species selection, soil–water–tree management, and sustainable production practices. The program combined classroom-based learning with hands-on field demonstrations at the REVITAL-MU-ADU agroforestry demonstration site, enabling participants to gain practical experience in compost preparation, fruit and selected tree species management, and integrated agroforestry system design.
Participants highly appreciated the training, emphasizing its relevance in addressing post-conflict livelihood challenges and climate risks. The initiative marks an important milestone in Mekelle University’s community outreach efforts, directly contributing to livelihood recovery, environmental restoration, and inclusive development. In his closing remarks, Mr. G.Mariam Yikunoamlak, Head of the Hadinet Sub-City Agricultural Extension Office, expressed his strong appreciation for the initiative and reaffirmed his office’s continued and committed support to ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of the project interventions.
As a next step, the project will provide in-kind support, including seedlings and planting materials, along with continued technical assistance, to enhance adoption and ensure long-term impact.
