What We Do

The Coalition of the Willing work towards better soil and agronomy data sharing in Ethiopia and support the Ministry of Agriculture make informed decisions. The Ministry has embarked on institutionalizing database development, management and sharing’ as one of its priorities to transform the system. It is working towards digital data-driven agriculture and aims to employ precision agriculture as a means of advancing the agricultural value chain.

Demonstrate how national data access and sharing can be implemented while maintaining equity, security and privacy

Increase the usability of data while protecting security, privacy and data rights by providing guiding principles and rules to the soil and agronomy community

News Feed

CoW experience on soil and agronomy data sharing was presented in a Webinar organized under the theme

Webinar on Soil and Agronomy Data Sharing Perspectives: Lessons Learned from Ethiopia and Rwanda”.
Link: Webinar on Soil and Agronomy Data Sharing Perspectives: Lessons Learned from Ethiopia and Rwanda – YouTube

CoW conducted preliminary validation workshop to evaluate the newly developed EthiSoil Grid V.1 product

During December 27-28, 2021 in Adama, Ethiopia. In the meeting State Minster of Ministry of Agriculture, his Excellency Prof. Eyasu Elias, opened the workshop and gave direction to participants to validate and enhance the accuracy of the newly developed soil resource map of Ethiopia. Senior soil scientist were actively participated and gave expert inputs during the validation workshop meeting.

CoW conducted a two days planning and updating workshop meeting in Adama, Ethiopia

During May 19-20, 2022. The main purposes of the workshop were to update and discuss the overall status of CoW activities and outputs; to define clear and strategic entry points that can support the national agricultural transformation agenda and define clear path and strategy related to CoW future engagement . In the meeting more than 100 CoW member were participated.

CoW in collaboration with Digital Green and Green Agro Solution piloting climate-informed fertilizer advisory in five selected wheat growing districts of Ethiopia for 2022 main rainy season

The five districts are Basona, Lemo, Mareko Goba and Siya Debir. Fertilizer advisory was prepared and communicated to farmers through extension workers.

CoW published 10 articles on the special edition of Experimental Agriculture entitled “Mind the gap: Data solutions for enhancing agricultural productivity in sub Saharan Africa”

The edition consists of 17 articles, of which ten are based on the soil and agronomy data initiative of the CoW in Ethiopia, six articles report findings from other countries in SSA and one article attempts to assess the value of data governance in agricultural investments, using the CoW initiative as a case study

Link for the Blog:

Link for the article:

CoW Annual Assembly

May 1 & 2, 2023

Adama, Ethiopia

CoW conducted its first Webinar in collaboration with CABI.

Link : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRvSieEExwOrlzrR7M05GfKybKMvn0T7O

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Contribute to discussions around emerging issues and support the government in taking informed decisions and tackling problems with tangible evidence

Increase engagement and participation in the data sharing ecosystem

Enable researchers to more easily transform research data into actionable knowledge

Facilitate the creation and population of a Soil and Agronomy Database and establish and maintain a data sharing platform

The Coalition has the following objectives:

  • Increase the usability of data while protecting security, privacy and data rights by providing guiding principles and rules to the soil and agronomy community
  • Increase efficiency and reduce costs associated with duplication of efforts
  • Enable researchers to more easily transform research data into actionable knowledge
  • Demonstrate how national data access and sharing can be implemented while maintaining equity, security and privacy
  •  Increase engagement and participation in the data sharing ecosystem
  •  Facilitate information-based decision making
  •  Contribute to discussions around emerging issues and support the government in taking informed decisions and tackling problems with tangible evidence
  •  Facilitate the creation and population of a Soil and Agronomy Database and establish and maintain a data sharing platform

Current number of CoW members

Legacy Soil Profiles Extracted and Cleaned

Soil Profiles Collected

Crop Response to Fertilizer data collected and cleaned

Partners and Funding Organizations

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)

CIAT delivers research-based solutions that address the global crises of malnutrition, climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.

German Agency for International Cooperation or (GIZ)

GIZ is an international enterprise owned by the German Federal Government, operating in many fields across more than 130 countries. As a federal enterprise, they support the German Government in achieving its objectives in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development. GIZ offers demand-driven, tailor-made and effective services for sustainable development.

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)

EIAR was established as the first nationally coordinated agricultural research system in Ethiopia with a mission to formulate national agricultural research guidelines, coordinate National Agricultural Research System, and undertake research in its centers and sub-centers located in various agroecological zones of Ethiopia.

CGIAR

CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food secure future dedicated to reducing poverty, enhancing food and nutrition security, and improving natural resources. CGIAR Research Centers are non-profit research organizations conducting innovative research. Home to more than 9,000 scientists, researchers, technicians and staff, the Centers work to transform food, land and water systems in a climate crisis.