Optimizing water use in the Awash Basin Short general project overviewThe Strategic Basin Plan of Awash river in Ethiopia reports a significant gap between the available water and the demand, leading to increasing water shortages in the next ten years,  The Awash Awash sub-basin is important for supplying water and food to cities in the region. It is also one of the sub-basins most affected by water shortage. Water authorities and water users in Ethiopia lack quantified information on the water availability and its potential impact on water users. This hampers the capability of water authorities to develop a clear legal framework to enforce water allocation. Without such, water users have no incentive to change their behaviour. Unclear mandates and roles of federal and regional governments also hamper effective water governance.This pilot project is a three tier approach:1. water information;2. water governance;3. smart farming.The project will provide insight in the water availability, water demand, and water shortage, now and in the future. We will address the data scarcity by using open data and satellite data, linked to existing models. Relevant data will be disseminated in real time through a water information system, including a web page being accessible at limited bandwidth for selected stakeholders.Based on this the project will develop:- a water allocation plan to implement a quantified framework for water uses and- a water agreement to improve governmental cooperation on regional level,This development is achieved in cooperation with the main beneficiary and stakeholders and will be embedded into existing governmental structure to strengthen water governance.The water allocation plan will illustrate that current water use is not sustainable. This will be presented and discussed during stakeholder dialogues with water users in the Awash Awash basin, showing the urgency to change water use strategies. The dialogues will be used to assess smart farming options that lead to more efficient water use, while complying to the water allocation plan. The project partners cooperate with two large water users in a selected irrigation system to implement several smart farming water conservation measures, based on information from the water information platform.Initial activities and results of the project:The following outputs will be generated per phase or project component: Inception phase Inception report Water Information Platform:- Analysis and scenario’s to support water allocation plan and water agreement.- Operational Water Information Platform existing of:   1. Expert user of the client water information platform (“Delft-FEWS”),   2. AwBA user web tool,   3. Water user web tool.- Monitoring plan Water governance.- Water allocation plan agreed upon by all relevant stakeholders (governmental and water users).- Jointly developed draft water agreement, laying down the practical agreements between governmental bodies. Smart farming.- Irrigation water allocation and distribution map and advisory report.- Farming and irrigation improvement options package (documentation/video).- Consolidated pilots implementation report.- Consolidated smart farming and irrigation business/investment follow-up plan (small/large farmers) Sustainability and upscaling.- Sustainability strategy report.- Project flyers and folder.- Upscaling strategy report.- Final dissemination seminar.The project components will generally be implemented during the first 12 months of the project. The second year is reserved for evaluation and support activities on:- Support water information platform and tools.- Support of implementation process water allocation plan.- Support of implementation process water agreement.- Support and evaluation of farming options.The final dissemination seminar is planned at the end of year two.