Odo Shakiso is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Borena Zone, Odo Shakiso is bordered on the south by the Dawa River which separates it from Arero, on the west by Hagere Mariam, on the northeast by Uraga, on the north by Bore, on the northeast by Adolana Wadera, and on the east by Liben. The map of the Oromia Region published by Disaster Prevention and Disaster Agency shows that this woreda is part of the Guji Zone.1 Towns in Odo Shakiso include Shakiso and Megado.
Two of the major mines of Ethiopia are located in Odo Shakiso: the Lega Dembi gold and the Kenticha tantalum mines, both near Shakiso. Gold has also been extracted by placer mining from the Awata River, which flows between Shakiso and Megado.2Coffee is an important cash crop in this woreda; over 5,000 hectares are planted with it.3
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 133,466, of whom 63,954 were males and 69,512 were females; 31,559 or 23.65% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 11.6%. With an estimated area of 4,144.53 square kilometers, Odo Shakiso has an estimated population density of 32.2 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 21.1.4
Odo Shakiso was one of four woredas that suffered from a wildfire that started 10 February2000 and burned a total of 70,000 hectares before being brought under control.5
