Unlocking Ethiopia’s Groundwater: Global MapAid Showcases WellMapr at British Embassy in Addis Ababa
14/09/2026
14/09/2026
Image caption: Tamirat Assefa [centre right] presenting to Kirsty McNeill [right]
Global MapAid has showcased its AI-powered groundwater mapping tool, WellMapr, at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa. The demonstration highlighted how improved technology could develop organisations and local authorities identify promising groundwater sites, reduce failed drilling and strengthen water security for smallholder farmers.
The event formed part of a diplomatic visit during which Tamirat Assefa, Global MapAid’s Data Science & Data Lead, presented the results of the organisation’s work with the Frontier Technology Hub. The hub is funded by UK aid through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FDCO).
WellMapr uses a combination of satellite imagery, geological and hydrological data as well as information collected in the field to predict groundwater depth. During the pilot, Assefa worked with the Frontier Technology Hub to refine and test the tool’s algorithms, succeeding in improving its ability to identify areas where groundwater is most likely to be found – from 18 to 9 metres median average accuracy.
He demonstrated the updated tool to Kirsty McNeill, the UK minister for development at the time. The presentation showed how more accurate groundwater mapping could replace some of the guesswork traditionally involved in deciding where to drill.
Kirsty McNeill [centre right] speaking at the British Embassy in Addis Ababa
For communities across East Africa, climate change is making rainfall increasingly unpredictable. Smallholder farmers often face unreliable water supplies, limiting their ability to grow food and maintain their livelihoods during economic shocks.
Although groundwater can provide a dependable source of water for irrigation and household use, locating it has often been expensive and risky. Failed wells can waste scarce development funding, while poorly planned drilling can put pressure on aquifers.
WellMapr aims to address these challenges by helping users make better informed decisions before drilling begins. By predicting the depth of groundwater, the tool could reduce costs, improve drilling success rates and help ensure that groundwater resources are managed sustainably.
Global MapAid’s work is built on collaboration between tech specialists & researchers in addition to humanitarian organisations. Partners include the University of Arba Minch Water Technology Institute, the Czech Geological Survey under the Czech Academy of Sciences, George Mason University and the Frontier Technology Hub.
Together, they are combining hydrogeological research, satellite data, artificial intelligence and local knowledge. This approach recognises that technology is most effective when it responds to the needs of the communities it is designed to serve – smallholder farmers.
The partnership also placed local expertise at the centre of the pilot. Assefa led the local technology work, helping adapt and test WellMapr in an Ethiopian context. This fortified the tool’s relevance while supporting the development of regional skills in data science and groundwater mapping.
The embassy demonstration marked an important step in showing how WellMapr could support practical decision making. More accurate targeting could aid organisations and local authorities direct funding towards viable sites, improving access to water and reduce the possibility of overusing resources.
Global MapAid believes that affordable access to groundwater can help smallholder farmers increase food production and progress towards greater economic security.
