OVERVIEW OF PROGRAMS
Three programs need to be implemented simultaneously to transform Irob. The success of these programs and overall impact are strongly interdependent. Each program will have multiple projects underneath. To catalyze progress, startup projects should be started under each program simultaneously. Feasible projects will be short-listed, and startup projects will be picked from the short list based on the degree of interdependence, urgency, and opportunity.
Irrigation Agriculture
Introduce small-scale irrigation for marketable horticultural cash crop development along the lowlands following Assabol Reservoir. The green areas are irrigable potential sites using gravity fed irrigation.
Assabol reservoir built by Adigrat Catholic Diocese, under the guidance of Bruno Strebel, needs to be managed properly and utilized efficiently to make this project a reality.
Alongside the urbanization project and TVET College manpower development project, this will create and opportunity for Irob youth who are resettled in Dawhan and Alitena towns.
The success of this program would have a ripple effect of releasing around 50,000ha of agriculturally unsustainable rugged mountainous region of Irobland for nature restoration and environmentally friendly livelihood practices like bee keeping, ecotourism, biodiversity restoration and research of extremely diverse and unique native flora.
Infrastructural Development
Alitena town
Alitena-Dawhan town and the surrounding areas are central localities for Irob with high potential to develop as urban center. Irobs have very strong historical attachment to Alitena, the historical capital of Irob. Alitena is Irob's central weekly market place taking place every Thursday, named after the day it happens “Hamusta” (“Thursday market”) . Alitena is also a principal gathering place for all major Irobwide ceremonies and services like funerals, holidays, summits, religious activities. Alitena town is historical place for the fact that it is home to the first academic school in Ethiopia, "Lideta" and Lideta-Mariam Catholic Church, founded in late 1830s. The Catholic minority here is probably the oldest in entire East Africa as it predates the Holy Ghost of Bagamoyo, Zanzibar at least by 3 decades.
Dawhan town
Under the current rural settlement pattern, it is impossible to provide satisfactory services to Irob population. The current settlement comprises a small hamlets occupying mainly high-altitude mountain chains and plateaus attributed to their original livestock-oriented livelihood.
The success of this project will improve the efficiency and affordability of public services (electricity, housing, water, communication, and health) delivery. It will also make possible the delivery of much needed technical training on agro-industry and entrepreneurship using the “Kallassaá Technical Vocational College”. Besides, the mountainous regions will be freed for restoration.
Urban expansion zone (wider highlight). The current Dawhan and Alitena Town zones are highlighted in central parts. The eligible villages for expansion would include Kallassa, Gibidawo & Daya.
Road infrastructure to connect Irob with Saho speaking Eritrean neighbors would play critical role in cultural, historical and and socio-economic revival of these sisterly minorities. Currently there is no single road to connect both communities. In addition most of the southern Red sea access is within Saho land. At least a single road network from Alitena to Arafali (blue) or Hirgigo (green) via Saho land would greatly impact the renaissance of Irob and Saho through trade and other economic activities.
Land Restoration
The ecological restoration of the rugged mountainous highlands of Irob will restore number of critical ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, biodiversity, non-destructive economic co-benefits from ecotourism, honeybee production, restored hydrology there by improving the quality and quantity of water resources.
More than 70,000ha of Irob is feasible for native vegetation restoration under the wide-scale restoration category. The population density is sparse in the mountainous highlands. The land is in a relatively better conditions to recover in its own with minimal support if left alone. The region also falls within the eastern most edge of the Africa’s great green wall initiative.
Assimba Forest park is already gazetted park since 2010. However, the enforcement is minimal. Other core mountain forest parks can be established in Aiga-Dambakoma, Alo-gade and Arae-Koma mountain chains on opposite sides of Zegarut river.
All the deep green areas in the map below are priority restoration areas based on the suitability model using the slope (steep slopes), elevation (highest first), and landcover map's Forest and Shrubland types.
Tourism Industry Development
Develop ecotourism and historical and cultural tourism industry. Irob is know as little Tibet for its scenic beauty. Mountain trekking has huge potential in Irobland if infrastructure is improved.
As an ingenious minority population, Irob is also endowed with unique cultures and history. Irobland is part of the wider region which is the epicenter of the pre-Axumite archeology awaiting exploration and discoveries. Gunda-Gunde monastery and cultural holidays are some obvious areas of potential for Cultural and historical tourism development.
Solla: Traditional barbeque in Irob
Unexplored graveyard in Alisan/Dakomat, Sangade