A key part of the project is empowering youth to take an active role in wetland protection. Through a youth-led Gambella wetland initiative, young people receive training in participatory mapping and ecosystem monitoring, while community- and school-based programs promote wetland conservation and environmental education. A milestone of this work is the co-development of a 2025 action plan, ensuring that youth voices are central in shaping the future of Gambella’s wetlands. Additionally, the project is collecting baseline data on the wetland ecosystem to support research, inform conservation strategies, and enable long-term impact monitoring. 

By fostering knowledge exchange, stakeholder engagement at both policy and practice levels, and the promotion of innovative conservation approaches, this initiative strengthens governance and promotes sustainable land and water management. Through a locally driven coalition, Gambella’s wetlands can be restored and protected—securing a thriving future for both its ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.