Economic growth particularly that of agriculture is constrained by deteriorating regional natural resource base and environment. For instance, Ethiopia’s loss of fertile top soil due to runoff erosion is estimated to reach two billion metric tons per annum. This huge soil loss is mainly attributed to abuse and misuse of arable and non-arable land over centuries. Employing the majority of the people, generating the overwhelming proportion of GDP and nearly the whole foreign exchange earnings, agriculture is the mainstay of the region’s economy. The availability of ample cultivable land, huge water resources, and the current backward crop and livestock husbandry practices are some of the elements evidencing the huge potential of the region to increase agricultural and food production.

If the horn of Africa region is to sustainably feed and improve the livelihoods of its population, the need for conservation of its natural resources cannot be overemphasized. Cognizant of this need, SuDCA organized a very strong Natural Resources Management Consulting Program. The program has a number of units including Soil and Water Conservation, Forestry, Soil Fertility, Resource Survey, and Environmental Impact Monitoring and Evaluation.