Natural resource degradation poses a major challenge to the sustainable livelihoods of farmers in developing countries, hindering progress toward achieving sustainable rural development. Watershed development and management practices (WDMPs) are powerful tools for enhancing sustainable rural development in developing countries. These practices have been shown to significantly improve livelihoods and food security. This research examined how WDM programs help achieve sustainable development in rural areas, focusing on examples from Ethiopia. This study used a systematic literature review (SLR) approach following a PRISMA review protocol. The research question was formulated using the CIMO (context, intervention, mechanisms, and outcomes) approach: “Does the watershed development and management (WDM) initiative lead to sustainable rural livelihoods?” Considering this research question, the findings indicated that WDM contributes to the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability of rural communities. It does this by enhancing households’ livelihood in terms of income generation, employment opportunities, agricultural productivity, and improvements in social services and infrastructure, as evidenced by numerous studies, thereby leading to better livelihoods and food security. This research also emphasizes the importance of community participation and supportive policies and legal frameworks for successful WDM. Overall, the systematic literature review highlights the potential of WDMPs in promoting sustainable rural development in developing countries such as Ethiopia while also highlighting the need for a supportive policy and institutional environment.

The study sought to understand the spatio-temporal variation of land use and land cover (LULC) and its drivers under watershed management activities in Becho district, in Ethiopia’s Central Highlands. To gain a better comprehension of the subject, two micro watersheds were chosen to test the effectiveness of watershed management activities (treated-Shankur Tareqo and untreated-Mende Tufessa). LULC changes were detected using aerial photography (1973), and satellite images from Landsat 5 TM (1990), Spot 5 (2005), and Landsat 8 OLI (2021) obtained from the Ethiopian Geospatial Information Institute and the United States Geological Survey. In addition, key informant interviews (KII) and focus group discussions (FGD) were used to elicit LULC drivers. Between 1973 and 2021, the total area of woodland, and cultivated and rural settlement land LULC classes in the treated micro-watershed decreased by 24.65% (171.9 ha) and 7.34% (759 ha), respectively. Though, grassland, forestland, and barrenland increased by 30.83% (179.52 ha), 1% (3 ha), and 183.14% (755.28 ha), respectively. The overall area of LULC class for woodland, grassland, forestland, and cultivated and rural settlement decreased by 50.36% (316.16 ha), 41.23% (196.46 ha), 2.43% (11.85 ha), and 1.35% (138.6 ha), respectively, in the untreated micro-watershed, while barrenland increased by 175.86% (666.55 ha). According to KII and FGD, the drivers of LULC changes were identified as the expansion of cultivated land, population pressure, and government policy. According to the findings, local-scale watershed management activities was not as effective as expected. As a result, in order to achieve the desired outcome, the concerned stakeholders should reconsider how watershed management activities is undertaken.

Watershed development initiatives have emerged as key tools for achieving sustainable rural development, especially in countries experiencing environmental degradation and resource constraints. Despite the increasing acknowledgment of the significance of watershed development interventions, there remains a dearth of comprehensive frameworks for evaluating their effects on the socioeconomic progress of communities, particularly concerning rural livelihoods and household food security outcomes. Hence, this study addresses this gap by developing a comprehensive impact analysis conceptual framework tailored to assess the impact of watershed development on socioeconomic aspects. This study designed the framework by incorporating existing theoretical perspectives (the sustainable livelihoods framework, political ecology, theory of change, and community-based natural resource management) and making essential adjustments. This novel conceptual framework offers a multifaceted approach to assess the socioeconomic impacts of watershed development projects, particularly on rural livelihoods and household food security. Employing a mixed methods approach, the framework sheds light on how interventions affect the livelihood assets and strategies of rural communities, ultimately influencing their food security and well-being. Furthermore, it examines how community involvement and national policy affect these efforts. By providing a holistic understanding of watershed development dynamics, this framework allows researchers and practitioners to assess impacts, identify trade-offs, and evaluate interventions. This informs policymakers about evidence-based interventions to promote sustainable socioeconomic development in rural communities.