Cooperating countries: Ethiopia, Austria

Coordinating institution: BOKU University

Project coordinator: Stefan Strohmeier

Partner institution: University of Gondar

Project duration: 1 November 2025 - 31 October 2027

Budget: 39.980,00 €

Land degradation, driven by both natural and anthropogenic processes, is a growing concern affecting various agro-ecological regions. Climate change and increasing weather extremes further challenge agricultural areas already prone to degradation. Among the primary drivers of land degradation, rainfall-induced erosion is particularly significant, as it strips valuable topsoil and deteriorates soil fertility. This not only affects agricultural productivity on-site but also exacerbates broader environmental challenges downstream. Over centuries, various Sustainable Land Management (SLM) approaches have been developed, blending local knowledge, trial and error, and scientific research. While science-based solutions currently lead the way, their adoption is often hindered by several factors, including limited support from local stakeholders, especially farmers. The SWARM2 project aims to foster knowledge exchange between the Global North and South—specifically between Austria and Ethiopia—to address critical challenges in soil erosion and land conservation research. Both BOKU University (Austria) and the University of Gondar (Ethiopia) share a long history of collaboration, research exchanges, and joint projects. Overcoming the recent challenges to such exchanges due to political conflicts and other local crises, the KoEF initiative presents a key opportunity to revitalize this important partnership.