The Oromia Land Bureau is the focal institution for the Participatory and Integrated Land Use Planning (PILUP) Project in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia.  The Bureau officially launched the PILUP II Project in Adama city in a launching workshop held from 16 to 17 January 2023 at Naflet Hotel. Representatives of regional, Federal multi-sectoral authorities, academia, local communities of the hot-spot areas, Civic Organizations and the Media attended the kick off workshop.

In his opening statement, Mr. Christian Mesmer, Project Manager at GIZ Ethiopia discussed the achievements of phase one of the PILUP and what is expected to achieved during the second phase of the PILUP II. Christian highlighted that the current project aspires to develop a spatial plan of the selected pilot areas in the Oromia region. The participatory and integrated spacial planning process will follow the meaningful participation vulnerable community’s women and and in line with respecting the basic human rights.

The launching workshop displayed communication and awareness raising materials at a dedicated place called “PILUP Market”. A number of study documents, posters, and photographs of that demonstrate the processes of participatory and integrated land use planning and the results of the previous phase of the PILUP Project. A documentary film that narrates the chronicles of the PILUP I was also displayed.

Mrs Zaaraa Kedir, Deputy Bureau Head of the Oromia Land Bureau officially opened the launching workshop. In her opening message she acknowledges the support and contributions of the Federal Government of Germany through GIZ and calls up on relevant actors and stakeholders to contribute their share for the success of the project.

During the event local subsidy proposal was signed between GIZ and Oromia Bureau of Land and Between GIZ and Land for Life, a CSO operating in the Oromia region. As per the local subsidy agreement, GIZ will contribute resources, so that the Bureau of Land and Land for life carries out during the implementation of the projects.

The kick off workshop also proposed modalities of steering structures of the PILUP II project in the Oromia. To this effect the roles and responsibilities of steering committee and technical committee tabled for discussion.

The PILUP II project will pilot the participatory and integrated land use planning processes in three regions in Ethiopia: Oromia, Benishangul Gumuz, and Amhara. Land Bureaus of each pilot regional states are the focal institutions of the PILUP II project. The focal institutions have identified their respective hotspot areas where participatory and integrated land use planning will be practiced.

The consortium AMBERO-AHT supports the implementation of the PILUP II project in Amhara, Oromia and Benishangul Gumuz Regional States.