The Dawaro River (Somali: Webiga Daawa; Amharic: ዳዋ ወንዝ; Italian: fiume Daua) is found in East Africa, covering an area of 58,961 km2.

[2] It is known for its complex geological environment, evident through its diverse lithology and structural framework, coming from the river's closeness to multiple volcanic-tectonic events.

It has a diversified lithology and structural framework, formed as a result of the basin's location in close proximity to multiple volcanic-tectonic events.

Typically, along the river, the basement complex is laterally positioned in the middle parts of the basin, in between the northwest highland, volcanic rocks and the southeast lowland extensive sedimentary formation.

In the humid highland regions, the flow of water occurs directly from local rainfall and groundwater discharges, mostly as springs.

[4] On the other hand, in the Semiarid region in the southeast, water occurs indirectly from flash floods and following extreme rainfall periods, from shallow groundwater in the wadi beds.

In most cases, groundwater extraction by communities occurs artificially through the hydroelectrical power plant, or simple well drilling.

These include: Diospyros Mespliformis, Ficus sycamorus, Mimusops kummel, Tamarindus indica and African mahogany Trichilia emetica.

[5] A study from the Simons foundation project based in Botswana International University examined the impact of rainfall and temperature on the growth rate of plants surrounding the hot low-lying lands of the Dawa River and concluded that if rainfall decreases by 1.5% then the herbivore population will disappear in the lowland zone and go extinct or migrate to other regions.

[8] Which once was characterised by water flowing through the river, it now has exposed hot and dry soil, with no plants growing and animals unable to be fed.

[2] Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya on the 14th November 2014 agreed to construct a multipurpose dam and a hydro power station on the River Dawa.

[9] The project was initially launched in 2010 but received setbacks due to issues related to the resettlement of residents living close to the Dam.

Due to the challenge in locating quality groundwater most of the year, the proposal sought to solve the persistent drought that covered the region surrounding the Dawa river.

[9] The hydroelectric plant received a total investment outlay of US$451 million and was built by a Chinese firm called the China Gezhouba Group.

[10] Irrigated farming and land cultivation has been used by communities along the Dawa River, mainly the Borona pastoralists, since 1983/84, specifically, households in Hadhessa and Qorati.

The government in the last 10–20 years has encouraged irrigated farming along the Dawa River due to the severe droughts, and declining livestock numbers that impacted all communities across the country.

[7]  In addition to this important economic activity throughout the dry southern parts of Borena, the communities collect gums and resins from trees of Commiphora and Boswellia.