International Ethiopian Professionals Support

June 24, 2013

On June 22^nd
2013 Ethiopians composed of experts from different disciplines across different
continents established an international organization called International Ethiopian Professionals Support
for Abay (IEPSA).  .

IEPSA’s main objective is
to mobilize Ethiopian professionals across the world to provide support in their
professional capacity for the successful completion of the Grand Ethiopian
Renaissance Dam (GERD); and for ensuring the continuous utilization of Abay (Nile) River by Ethiopia based on fair, equitable
and internationally acceptable principles. 
The major factors for the establishment of the IEPSA are: firstly, there
is no other non-governmental body to deliver researched and organized information
to the international community about GERD which is currently under construction.
Secondly, the majority of the Egyptian people know only what they are told by
their politicians and have no information about the significance and importance
of the GERD for upstream countries. Furthermore, the people of Egypt do not understand
the rights of other riparian states on the Nile and as a result their attitude
to upstream water development projects is very biased and negative. . Thirdly,
there are also questions raised by Ethiopians about the size and location of
the GERD-which needs clear answers. Fourthly, there is no formal arrangement made
to bring the professionals of other riparian states so that they can play a constructive
role regarding the GERD. And fifthly, there has not been any platform or
mechanism to bring Ethiopians across different countries together so they could
professionally support the efforts of Ethiopia on water and related projects.

With the aim of filling the
aforementioned gaps and the necessity of focusing on the ongoing projects on Abay (Nile) River, the IEPSA aspires to achieve certain
objectives mainly providing scientifically conducted and research based
information about the GERD to the concerned entities, provide  professional support and work in cooperation
with the National Committee for
the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of the Grand
Renaissance Dam on different issues which need expertise, working towards
maintaining and protecting Ethiopia`s national interest on the international
stage through strengthening public relation works and lobbing, establishing a database
to make any information on the Nile River, in general and the GERD in
particular, available for the public and answering all questions regarding the
Nile in general and the GERD in particular. IEPSA will also support the
national committee to mitigate and answer the critical questions raised
by the international environmental organizations on the GERD. 

IEPSA is
composed of professionals from different disciplines who are mainly university
professors, doctors, researchers, expertise in different fields working in big
companies; and doctoral students and
university graduate scholars mainly from America, Europe and Canada. The
composition includes engineers from different disciplines, economists, environmental
scientist and conservation professionals, water management experts, and trans-boundary
water management professionals, international law experts, information
technology professionals; and international relations/hydropolitics
researchers.

It is with
great privilege we invite all Ethiopian professionals and scholars to join us the
‘International Ethiopian Professional Support for Abay
.Your contribution and participation in this timely issue would be greatly
appreciated. You can rich us by email: [email protected]

ዓለምአቀፍ የኢትዮጵያ ባለሙያዎች  ድጋፍ ለአባይ (ኢፕሳ)

International Ethiopian
Professional Support for Abay (IEPSA)

Email: [email protected]