Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | 26 October 2026
Mesfin Shenkut, Managing Director of MS Consultancy PLC, delivered the featured plenary presentation during the opening day of the 3rd Ethiopian Water and Energy Week (EWEW 2026), held at the Addis Ababa Science Museum.
Speaking during the Opening and High-Level Plenary, Mr. Shenkut presented on “The Evolution of Water Resources Development in Ethiopia: Historical Development, National Engineering Capacity, Potentials, Challenges and the Way Forward.” He addressed the gathering on behalf of Ethiopian construction, consultancy, drilling and supply companies operating in the water sector.
His presentation reflected on Ethiopia’s water resources development from its early foundations to the present day, highlighting major advances in water supply, groundwater, irrigation, sanitation, hydropower and broader water resources management.
A central focus was the evolution of national engineering and professional capacity. Mr. Shenkut highlighted the growing contribution of Ethiopian engineers, consulting firms, contractors, drilling companies, suppliers and institutions to increasingly complex water-sector assignments across the country.
He emphasized that Ethiopia’s future progress will depend not only on expanding physical infrastructure, but also on strengthening the national capacity required to plan, design, implement, manage and sustain that infrastructure.
The presentation also touched on the importance of stronger project preparation, institutional capability, appropriate technology, sustainable financing and effective partnerships. Mr. Shenkut underscored the value of collaboration among government, Ethiopian private-sector firms, academia, development partners and international organizations, particularly where such partnerships contribute to lasting national expertise and knowledge transfer.
Looking ahead, he drew attention to Ethiopia’s significant remaining water resources potential and the opportunity to translate that potential into sustainable development through stronger institutions, capable professionals and well-prepared investments.
His participation in the opening-day plenary also reflects MS Consultancy PLC’s longstanding engagement in Ethiopia’s water sector. For more than 25 years, the company has contributed to assignments in water supply, sanitation, groundwater development, water resources management, irrigation and related infrastructure in Ethiopia and internationally.
The 3rd Ethiopian Water and Energy Week, taking place from 26 to 30 October 2026, brings together government institutions, development partners, academia, private-sector organizations and professionals from across the water and energy sectors under the theme “Advancing Science-Based Policy and Partnerships for a Water- and Energy-Secure Future.”
For MS Consultancy PLC, the occasion provided an important opportunity to contribute to the national dialogue on the future of Ethiopia’s water sector and, in particular, the role that strong Ethiopian technical and private-sector capacity can play in shaping its next chapter.
For more information on the 3rd Ethiopian Water and Energy Week:
https://mowe.events/ewew/